Five Frugal Food Treats: Save Money, Save the Planet

I've been blogging frugal food for a couple of years now, and thought I'd summarize a few greatest hits in belated honor of Mother's Day. But these ideas do more than just save money. Food that has been processed less can be healthier than the store-bought alternative; using less packaging it saves resources as well.

1. The Internet's Most Famous Red Lentil Soup

2. Pasta with grated cheese, olive oil and a bit of leftover lentil soup. Much more frugal than Amy's Mac N Cheese, and healthier too.

3.  Pumpkin Tahini

4. Your own Chai: Spiced Tea

5.  Sweetened-up yogurt instead of commercial flavored yogurt cups, as suggested by Marion Nestle in her book, What to Eat. Use fruit preserves, honey, or just plain sugar. With a little more trouble (but not much) you can make your own yogurt, no machine required.

I feed my sons plain yogurt with a dot of vanilla and a half teaspoon of sugar for dessert. They think it's an amazing treat. I tried giving them jam in yogurt but they don't like it as much.  

Check out the calorie values.              

	amount	calorie
lo-fat plain yogurt	8 oz	154
sugar	1 tsp	16
vanilla	drop	0
Total home sweetened yogurt	8 oz	170
Lo-fat vanilla yogurt	8 oz	208
Lo-fat fruit yogurt	8 oz	250

So your home-brewed flavored yogurt can have less sugar in it than the store-bought stuff; it also uses less plastic (especially if you make your own) and has no preservatives or other fillers. Thrifty eating is better for the health of the planet.

Bravo to all the Moms (and Dads and other caregivers too) putting food on the table every day.

Comments

[Alison Chaiken]

I can vouch for the pumpkin tahini.