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This too shall pass.
(I had posted this in another thread on Main, then decided it would be good to put it here where it might be easier to find.)
On food costs, I came across a video a couple of weeks ago where a woman explained how to feed one person for two weeks on $5. I examined her shopping list, and given her prerequisites (some spices already in the pantry), and a willingness to eat one or two meals a day, it could just about be done. Double it and add a vegetable garden and a pair of laying hens, and it could be done quite nicely. So, maybe twenty bucks a month per person for a very basic but reasonably healthy diet.
Okay, I found her video (keeping in mind this is meant to be a survival diet for someone in dire circumstances):
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7epGiZxp9dA&t=333s
SHOPPING LIST (Dollar Tree)
1- 16 0z Tortilla (12 count)
1- 16 oz. Beans
1- 14 oz. Pepper Stir Fry Mix (Frozen)
1- 2lb Bag Rice
1- Dozen Eggs
BEAN PREP
1. Soak entire 16 oz. Bag of Beans in 7 quarts or more of water over night either on the counter or in the refrigerator ( I don't recommend keeping the beans out on the counter over 12 hours).
2. Once soaked, drain water and rinse beans a few times.
3. Cook beans in about 12 quarts of water and 2-3 tbsp. of salt for 1 hour or until soft and easy to squish between 2 fingers (but not mushy).
4. Once cooked drain beans and reserve the liquid for recipe listed below.
VEGGIE SCRAMBLED EGGS (2 servings)
2 Eggs Beaten
1/4 Cup Pepper Stir Fry Mix (diced)
2 Tsp Oil
Salt & Pepper to Taste
ONE POT RICE & BEANS
4 Cups Bean Liquid (or water)
2 Cups Rice (rinsed 2-3 times and drained)
1 Cup Beans (pre-cooked)
3 Tbsp. Oil
1/3 Cup Pepper Stir Fry Mix (diced)
1 Tsp Italian Seasoning
1 /2 Tsp Complete Seasoning
1 Tsp Garlic Powder
1 Tsp Onion Powder
1/2 Tsp Cayenne
1/2 tsp Chicken Bullion (or seasoning salt or veggie bouillon)
1/2 tsp Beef Bouillon (or seasoning salt or veggie bouillon)
**Cook low and slow for about 25-30 minutes after adding liquid
BEANS & RICE (2 Servings)
1 Cup Rice (cooked according per package directions)
3 Cups Bean Liquid (or water)
1 Cup Beans (pre-cooked)
2 Tbsp. Oil
1/4 Cup Pepper Stir Fry Mix (diced)
1 Tsp Italian Seasoning
1/2 Tsp Black Pepper
1/2 Tsp Cayenne
1/2 Tsp Complete Seasoning
1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Chicken Bullion (or seasoning salt or veggie bouillon)
**Cook on med heat for 1 hour (stirring every 15-20 minutes)
STIR FRIED RICE (2 Servings)
2 Cups Cooked Rice (preferably a day or more old)
2-3 Tbsp. Oil
1 Tsp Garlic Powder
1 Tsp Onion Powder
1-2 Tbsp. Soy Sauce
1/4 Cup Pepper Stir Fry (diced)
1 Egg (optional)
3 1/3 Cup Beans (optional)
(Back to Kathleen) Personally, I would have to make some changes in her ingredients because of our health issues, but still, we could live on that. I haven't been in a Dollar store in years and never did buy much food in one, so I don't know if you could actually get the ingredients she mentioned for a dollar each. But I do know that only twenty years ago I used to feed youngest daughter and myself and a big dog and get our paper products for $100/month, so I know it can be done if you have to.
ETA: Here is where a good knowledge of wild-food foraging would come in really handy. The ingredients she lists (along with some form of fat, which she apparently assumes you already have in your pantry, but which would have to be purchased if you don't) would provide enough calories to survive on. But you could add a lot of value to the basic ingredients with some foraging in all but deep winter.
Kathleen
On food costs, I came across a video a couple of weeks ago where a woman explained how to feed one person for two weeks on $5. I examined her shopping list, and given her prerequisites (some spices already in the pantry), and a willingness to eat one or two meals a day, it could just about be done. Double it and add a vegetable garden and a pair of laying hens, and it could be done quite nicely. So, maybe twenty bucks a month per person for a very basic but reasonably healthy diet.
Okay, I found her video (keeping in mind this is meant to be a survival diet for someone in dire circumstances):
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7epGiZxp9dA&t=333s
SHOPPING LIST (Dollar Tree)
1- 16 0z Tortilla (12 count)
1- 16 oz. Beans
1- 14 oz. Pepper Stir Fry Mix (Frozen)
1- 2lb Bag Rice
1- Dozen Eggs
BEAN PREP
1. Soak entire 16 oz. Bag of Beans in 7 quarts or more of water over night either on the counter or in the refrigerator ( I don't recommend keeping the beans out on the counter over 12 hours).
2. Once soaked, drain water and rinse beans a few times.
3. Cook beans in about 12 quarts of water and 2-3 tbsp. of salt for 1 hour or until soft and easy to squish between 2 fingers (but not mushy).
4. Once cooked drain beans and reserve the liquid for recipe listed below.
VEGGIE SCRAMBLED EGGS (2 servings)
2 Eggs Beaten
1/4 Cup Pepper Stir Fry Mix (diced)
2 Tsp Oil
Salt & Pepper to Taste
ONE POT RICE & BEANS
4 Cups Bean Liquid (or water)
2 Cups Rice (rinsed 2-3 times and drained)
1 Cup Beans (pre-cooked)
3 Tbsp. Oil
1/3 Cup Pepper Stir Fry Mix (diced)
1 Tsp Italian Seasoning
1 /2 Tsp Complete Seasoning
1 Tsp Garlic Powder
1 Tsp Onion Powder
1/2 Tsp Cayenne
1/2 tsp Chicken Bullion (or seasoning salt or veggie bouillon)
1/2 tsp Beef Bouillon (or seasoning salt or veggie bouillon)
**Cook low and slow for about 25-30 minutes after adding liquid
BEANS & RICE (2 Servings)
1 Cup Rice (cooked according per package directions)
3 Cups Bean Liquid (or water)
1 Cup Beans (pre-cooked)
2 Tbsp. Oil
1/4 Cup Pepper Stir Fry Mix (diced)
1 Tsp Italian Seasoning
1/2 Tsp Black Pepper
1/2 Tsp Cayenne
1/2 Tsp Complete Seasoning
1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Chicken Bullion (or seasoning salt or veggie bouillon)
**Cook on med heat for 1 hour (stirring every 15-20 minutes)
STIR FRIED RICE (2 Servings)
2 Cups Cooked Rice (preferably a day or more old)
2-3 Tbsp. Oil
1 Tsp Garlic Powder
1 Tsp Onion Powder
1-2 Tbsp. Soy Sauce
1/4 Cup Pepper Stir Fry (diced)
1 Egg (optional)
3 1/3 Cup Beans (optional)
(Back to Kathleen) Personally, I would have to make some changes in her ingredients because of our health issues, but still, we could live on that. I haven't been in a Dollar store in years and never did buy much food in one, so I don't know if you could actually get the ingredients she mentioned for a dollar each. But I do know that only twenty years ago I used to feed youngest daughter and myself and a big dog and get our paper products for $100/month, so I know it can be done if you have to.
ETA: Here is where a good knowledge of wild-food foraging would come in really handy. The ingredients she lists (along with some form of fat, which she apparently assumes you already have in your pantry, but which would have to be purchased if you don't) would provide enough calories to survive on. But you could add a lot of value to the basic ingredients with some foraging in all but deep winter.
Kathleen