When it comes to cooking, you may feel it’s more expensive than buying takeaway. In the long run, counting what you save on your health and wellbeing, it definitely isn’t, and with a little planning it can actually cost you far less.
Learn to cook with what you have
Building your confidence and your repertoire of dishes will help you cook on a budget. Learn to cook from the ingredients you have rather than from a recipe: buy healthy ingredients that are on special, take them home, see what else you have, and create from there.
Convenience foods are tempting when you’re in a hurry, but they’re generally less healthy and more expensive. You don’t need to be a chef. Start with simple recipes that need just a few ingredients, build up a repertoire you can repeat, and learn to improvise. Soon you’ll find cooking from scratch is just as quick and easy as heating up a packaged meal.
Shop smart
- Shop weekly, on your own, with a list of needs, not wants.
- Visit a range of shops and stock up on dry goods when they’re on special, rather than waiting until you run out.
- Try home-brand items, and compare value using the price per kilo.
- Keep a clean, well-organised pantry so nothing goes to waste.
Buy in season and preserve
Buy what’s in season, then preserve, cook and freeze, or dry fruit and vegetables. This gives you variety all year round at a good price. Ask your greengrocer if they have seconds at a reduced price. My local sells boxes of seconds for a few dollars each; just use them within a day or two.
Grow your own
I live in a sensational climate and grow a lot of my own, and you can too. Just grow what suits your climate. I grow plenty of edible greens, such as snow pea tendrils, nasturtium leaves, rocket, wintercress, watercress, butter lettuce and cos, plus herbs, which are costly at the supermarket. Now I feel ripped off if I have to buy them! Harvest and preserve your produce at the peak of the season.
Go meatless at least three times a week
You’ll save money and improve your health. Try adding some of these to your pantry for extra variety:
- Fresh vegetables. Most of us don’t eat enough, so vary the types for a balanced diet.
- Eggs and dairy. There are plenty of healthy dishes you can make with these. Greek-style yoghurt is higher in protein than regular yoghurt (and you can make your own). Choose free-range eggs.
- Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah), a protein-rich, gluten-free seed.
- Whole grains such as brown rice, barley and buckwheat.
- Legumes and pulses such as kidney beans, chickpeas, white beans, black beans, pinto beans, edamame and lentils. Eating a variety of legumes, grains, nuts and seeds over the day gives you all the amino acids your body needs.
- Nuts. Add them to the dishes you cook for you and your crew; a handful per person per day is a healthy amount.
Buy in bulk and share
Buy in bulk and share with friends. Investing in a sprouter, yoghurt maker, food dehydrator, vacuum sealer or extra freezer space can soon pay for itself.
“So get to it, and start shaving away at your budget and your waistline today.”
