Watching That Budget and Eating Gluten-Free
Does it feel sometimes like you are fighting a loosing battle with your food budget? Let's face it, living a gluten-free lifestyle is far from inexpensive. Are you trying to feed a family this way? I am, and on one full time income, it's a challenge some times. Four out of the five family members that live here can not tolerate gluten. It is a challenge that feels impossible some times, but over the years, I' ve found a few tricks to help get us through.
First of all, we have really changed how we think about food and what we really "need" to make a meal complete. As some of you who have followed my blog know, I was and still am a cook from scratch kind of girl. We had biscuits, bread or toasted garlic bread with almost every evening meal. In addition to that, pasta was a huge part of our diet as well. If I was to continue cooking with the same idea about meals and how they go together, we would not be able to afford it.
Over time on this journey, we've learned to adjust. We don't have pasta all the time, usually only two or three times a month. Drastic difference from the two or three times a week. Yes, we ate that much pasta. Remember, I'm feeding a large family and wheat based pasta is in inexpensive "filler" for a meal. My kids loved pasta with butter and Parmesan cheese for lunch. Now, it is one of those "once in a while" treats that we have on the weekend.
Another change is the bread with every evening meal. Now, it is served only occasionally and it is not in abundance. We eat more fruits and vegetables, rice and potatoes. Simple and easier on the budget. Are we feeling deprived? Not often, but there are some times when a loaf of french bread or a pan of corn bread is just what a meal needs to make it complete. Thankfully, the cost to make those items once in a while is manageable.
Breakfast was one of my biggest challenges at first. We love breakfast here, all of the classics from pancakes to waffles, French toast and bread pudding. All containing gluten, but thankfully all of them are easily made gluten-free and fairly inexpensively if you are able to buy some of your flours in bulk and make your own mixes. This is what I have done to allow us to have some of these favorites!
One huge change we made for breakfast was to have yogurt with homemade granola several days a week. Find a good gluten-free yogurt, there are many on the market and add your own granola. Want to really save, buy a large container of plain yogurt and add your own fruit or jam, even add a bit of honey. This is my kids favorite snack lately, mine too. It is so good for you and quite tasty!
Take some time and really look at how you used to eat, how you can change it and what will fit within your families budget and taste. Everyone is different, every family likes different things, the key is to find what works for you. Feeding a family gluten-free foods is not impossible, and can be done on a budget. Some changes may have to happen on your weekly menu, but the options are limitless! We eat a lot more corn tortillas, rice, potatoes, even polenta.
It can be overwhelming at times, but trust me, my family is living proof that it can be done. It may take a different mind set, a different way of cooking, a whole new way to shop and stock your pantry, but it can be done!
Comments on This Post:
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Feb. 23, 2010
Reply to This PostGood ideas Valerie. May I add some of our favorite inexpensive foods? Buckwheat pancakes, corn tortillas, brown rice cooked with roasted peppers & potatoes "nuked" in the microwave. Slightly more costly - but a big plus in the nutrition department - are quinoa added to rice, and teff seeds added to hot buckwheat cereal.
Charles Luce -
Feb. 23, 2010
Reply to This PostPLEASE...feel free to add to the ideas!! I am sure I am not the only one that is on the look out for inexpensive options. This was just a small sampling of ideas. I would LOVE to see what other people do to cut costs. Thanks for sharing, feel free to share more if you have any! :-)
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Feb. 23, 2010
Reply to This PostGood stuff, as usual. I agree completely. Everything about the way we eat changed when we went gluten free. It has really been for the better, though, we're a lot more aware of what we're putting in our bodies. It's made us healthier all around.
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Feb. 23, 2010Reply to This Post
I think that is the biggest part of this lifestyle change that we have noticed. We DO notice more, think more and are constantly aware of "what" we are eating. Trying to find nutritious options that are also gluten-free is not hard, having to find options that fit those criteria and are also inexpensive is a challenge at times. Not impossible, but definitely add an added challenge to it all.
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Feb. 24, 2010Reply to This Post
We have made a lot of the same changes, but I have found it more efficient to use a modified recipe with Pamela's bread mix in my breadmaker due to the amount of time required otherwise. Chex having some GF options has helped our budget a LOT for quick breakfasts (family of 5 = takes forever to get all the pancakes made, etc.) Also, BeFreeForMe.com periodically provides coupons for GF stuff. Right now they have a link for a GF Kettle soup coupon.
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Feb. 24, 2010Reply to This Post
Thanks for the tips rinnie1! I am cooking for a family of 5 also. It would be wonderful if you could share your recipe for bread from the bread machine. I'm always on the look out for good recipes to try, and know I'm not alone there.
