I'm Dining on a Budget

I heard somewhere that the French do not "eat," they "dine."  I always liked that saying...


Well, here I am, smack dab in the middle of the COVID-19 outbreak here in the US.  Thankfully, I have shown no signs of being infected, as when I saw the virus start to creep across the country I made preparations to keep myself at home and away from people as much as possible.  I have asthma, so I'm very concerned about compounding the breathing challenges that I have with a severe illness.

A little about me for new friends.  I work in the Trade Show and Events Industry, which means now that there is a pandemic spreading across the world, all of my work is cancelled at least through May.  My last day of work was 28 February and I have since been home, looking at how the next three months (at least) of no income will affect me.  I have money in the bank, but I don't want to get myself deeper into debt than I have to.

So, since I have nothing but time on my hands, I decided to explore how I can make healthy and delicious meals while trying to keep the food budget under $5 a day.

I try to keep unnecessary fillers out of my diet such as sugars and processed foods, along with most high carbohydrate foods like rice, pasta, potatoes and breads.  Since these foods seem to be the least expensive foods at the store, there is a definite challenge in budgeting.  I prefer to get my carbs from fruits and vegetables, which can add up financially very quickly.  While my diet might not be right for everyone, it's something my body responds best with, so that's what I have chosen to focus on to get me through this period.  And, if things change and my budget tightens even more, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

The other challenge with keeping within a tight budget is that I'm only cooking for one.  Sure, we all love to shop at the warehouse stores where we can get 10 pounds of chicken super cheap and broccoli to feed the entire neighborhood for just pennies on the dollar, but when you live alone, eating these foods day after day after day gets boring, and if you keep them too long, they spoil.  And there goes the value of buying in bulk.

Thus, I'm Dining on a Budget is meant for the single, health conscious, picky eater who likes variety and wants to save money wherever possible.

Let's get started...