If you know me, you know how much I love cooking and food creating.
You know that the kitchen is my happy place, and that I love getting creative.
If you really know me (comment if you’re one of the few😝) you know that I have some really strange food combo loves (sweet potato with cinnamon and peanut butter and chicken and banana anyone)? You also know that I’m pretty meticulous with my budget, because I’m a student, and I want my money to go toward blessing others more than my own groceries.
While I recognize that I need an abundance of food to live, I don’t need to live in excess.
SO, I keep this passion alive while on a tight budget of $150-200 per month toward groceries by following a few little guidelines every time I shop:
1. Do I need a grain? Am I stocked up on cool/creative pastas, cereals, rice, flours, etc.? If not, I’ll grab one new one. Also, oats are a necessity for me. *Story time* a lady at the bus stop today literally saw oats in my bag, pointed them out, and we proceeded to have a lengthy conversation about how amazing and versatile oatmeal is. We swapped a few recipes.
2. Veggies. These I buy weekly. Depending on how full the fridge is, I usually buy one green variety and one starchy variety. I’ve been loooving pumpkin recently!
3. Fruit. I usually stock up on two types and they’ll be gone by the end of the week. My most heavily used are bananas and frozen cherries/blueberries. I also love apples and dates!
4. Fats. If Im out of a cooking spray, a sauce, or, most importantly, nut butter, I’ll grab a new one!
5. Proteins. I get most of my meat and eggs in bulk from a local farm, so it’s purchased on special trips with my momma! If I need chicken or want to try a fish or something I will, and I also almost always have chickpeas handy!
6. Treats. Treats are important. My go to’s are popcorn, flavoured drinks, dairy free ice cream, chips, dark chocolate, etc.
Having these staple foods at hand is, for me, perfect for making creative and delicious meals!
Like the ones linked here.
I really hope these were relevant tips for some of you students out there!
Tell me– when you go grocery shopping, do you just shop, or do you go in with a list?
by 
Cassie
Cassie
