Three dollars a day?

[Karen]

Oddly Karen, produce is more expensive here. As is wine...which is produced in the state as well. I was rather shocked when we moved here at the high prices of groceries.

Well that's just weird! We get told all the time by environmentalists how we should "buy local" because the cost of transport is built into the cost of food trucked from far away ... To which I say - "Yeah, try finding green vegetables grown "locally" in Massachusetts in February ..." but you'd think when they are only transported a few miles, they'd be far less expensive ...

[caseysmom]

Karen, that is definitely not the case.

[lvpets2002]

Hey ketsup or tarter sauce is pretty darn good on a saltine.. I used sqeak by on a package of saltines & add a topping on top.. yum yum Yup to pay bills & not much money for groc then you would be suprised what you can live on..

[RICHARD]

To which I say - "Yeah, try finding green vegetables grown "locally" in Massachusetts in February ..." but you'd think when they are only transported a few miles, they'd be far less expensive ...

There is something that makes me think, SCAM-it's the 'enviro' fruits and veggies. THey are touted as pesticide free and organically grown.

How do we know that? They are priced as much as 25-50% over a market offering and aren't any different.

The stands are more a touristy kind of offering but if you go up the road to Palmdale around peach/pear and tomato season you can buy in bulk at some really outstanding prices.

[shepgirl]

I've done the cheap food trick recipes with friends to see how far our imaginations and creativity would take us. Amazing what you can buy and stretch into nutrtious meals if you have to. And we did sample everything we thought of, only a few weren't tasty. As for fresh produce, no matter where you live you can have a hydroponic garden anywhere in the house and grow lertuce, tomatoes, cucs, zuchuni, beans, peppers, etc.
Homemade soups with lentils, white or brown beans, lima beans, black beans, etc, all high in protein and very filling. Many variations to think of, all delicious.Just amazing what you can throw into a huge pot of homemade soup.
Buying in season and freezing or canning helps a lot.