5 Ingredients Frugal Chefs Love

If you use the FamilyWize Prescription Discount Card, then you already know that a little planning can save your family a lot of money on prescription medications. Well, a little menu planning can also save you a lot of money on your weekly grocery bill!
We combed through some of the most popular budget food blogs to identify five inexpensive (and healthy!) ingredients that even the most frugal chef will love.
Beans Skip the canned beans – basic dried beans might be the quintessential cheap health food. Canned beans have added sodium – and a higher cost – than dried beans, which you can often buy in bulk.
According to WebMD, “A serving (1/3 cup of cooked beans) contains around 80 calories, no cholesterol, lots of complex carbohydrates, and little fat. In addition, beans are a good source of B vitamins, potassium, and fiber, which promotes digestive health and relieves constipation. Eating beans may help prevent colon cancer, and reduce blood cholesterol (a leading cause of heart disease).”
Rice Avoid instant rice, boil-in-a-bag, or any other packaged products; buy rice in bulk. Nutrition-focused budget experts encourage brown rice over white, but most varieties are inexpensive and can be used in a wide variety of ways – just be sure to plan for additional cooking time, depending on your cooking method.
Eggs The all-powerful egg is considered to be one of the best, inexpensive ways to keep protein in your diet. Read price tags carefully – some supermarkets will put cage-free or organic options on sale from time to time, giving you even more choices on a tight budget.
Oatmeal Again, avoid the “instant” oatmeal or individual packages and buy plain, old-fashioned oats. Oatmeal lasts a long time in your pantry, provides solid nutrition, and can be prepared a variety of ways (have you tried the overnight oats trend?).
Carrots, cabbage, potatoes, and onions We put these veggies into one category because at most supermarkets they are all extremely inexpensive (artisanal varieties excluded), extremely nutritious, and extremely multipurpose. Keeping these basic produce items on hand makes it easy to pull together a healthy, inexpensive meal.
For even more ideas, check out the Food Network’s 10 Healthy Dinners for about $10.
Motivated to save? Make sure you download the FamilyWize card or app today!
Sources: http://www.thesimpledollar.com/a-guide-to-extreme-food-budgeting/ http://www.gracefullittlehoneybee.com/35-frugal-foods-buy-youre-broke/ http://www.frugalfarmwife.com/article/a-healthy-diet-for-20-00-a-week/ http://eatwellspendsmart.com/the-best-inexpensive-healthy-foods/

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