Frugal Friday: Food and Money Shortage

Having a bit of a money shortage lately and scrounging for cash, to feed my family of teenagers - Hungry people teenagers - has given me a different viewpoint on food. It is all very nice to follow a certain diet, or tell everyone to sit at the table together and freeze leftovers etc but what if you don't have any money or any leftovers?  Here's what we did - 1. we bought cheap basic staples like bread, mince, potatoes, butter and whatever veges were the cheapest. 2. we had less choice - there was 1 type of fruit in the fruit basket (whatever was on special) 3. we got more bang for our buck - there was a 5 kilo bag of potatoes for $5.00 so we ate potatoes - mashed, spicy wedges, baked, on sheperd's pie, in soup, fried - we became friends with the humble potato and the carrot. 4. all concepts of dieting (which is a choice) went out the window. There was no "is this lowG.I.?" or "I can't eat white rice" it was what will fill the bellies with the coins I have or the food that is in the fridge. 5. all leftovers were used (Margaret Fulton has just brought out a book about this and never throws food away but she does not use the word leftovers) 6. mother became all important in putting out snacks and meals because teenagers could not SEE there normal food choices and thought there was no food 7. a list was made of what foods there were, ranked in meal types, so everyone could see what was available when the munchies struck 8. more time was taken in preparing meals just like the olden days 9. more people became involved in helping prepare food 10. we actually looked in the pantry, right in the back, and used up all the food that was hiding there and also the freezer 11. we found a site where you can punch in (for free) what food you have and it will generate meal ideas - Supercook recipe resource Frugal Food Recipes and Tips: super salads choose a challenge frugal suggestions seasonal fruit & veges save at supermarkets lower your grocery spending