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I understand your problem and trust its getting really crazy out there with food prices lets start with you and your girlfriend share with the responsibility that will help! Your on a low sodium meal it doesn't mean you can't use other seasoning how about Mrs dash she has all different types with no sodium and as far as your girlfriend goes there are otc you can take or don't eat peppers its not worth the stomach misery! Now lets get down to food you can do a lot with chicken and make casseroles,you got a crock pot you can take and make soups stews,different bean soup!do what your doing keep asking low sodium cans veg. Get coupon on line in news paper go to food banks other organizations that help well I hope this help you and may god bless you and all !

You can get a 3 lb. rump roast for about $12.  Cut in 1/2 & use one piece for cube steaks, cut in small strips for stir fry, freeze it then partially thaw it & slice it paper thin for steak sandwiches.  The other 1/2 can be boiled in water & plenty of your favorite spices for abour 4 hours.  Save the broth for soups or add to other recipes.  The meat will be fall apart tender & you can use it for soups, hash, pasta & cheese dishes, use a food processor & make filling for home made ravioli or manicotti.  For your $12 you can make about 8 - 10 meals.  Same for chicken.  Similar recipes for ham.

Eggs are cheap & you can make mini quiche in muffin tins with home made or store bought pie dough.  You can use any meats or veggies. 

There are several food & recipes sites you can join & search for "ground beef recipes".

Stuffed cabbage or peppers are easy & cheap. 

When boiling any type meat, save the stock for soup or stews.

When cleaning cooked meats, use 1 bowl for bones to discard, 1 for the meat you will use &  1 for edible pieces, (skin, gristle etc.) for the pets.  They like cheap treats too.

Search your library for cook books to get ideas. 

Plan your weeks menu before you go grocery shopping to avoid over spending. 

Be creative with rice, beans, pasta & eggs.  Frozen burritos are about $2.50 a dozen.  You can make your own even cheaper.

Food banks, usually at churches, may be able to help you.

Good luck !    Jim 

I shop at a grocery that does NOT accept coupons (Aldi'S) and I do better than at a major chain that does and they accept our EBT card.  They only have one brand of major things you need for supplying your pantry And much less junk food to tempt you.

Next I noticed in an above suggestion they said to throw away bones.--I always wrap them in a cheese cloth bag with celery,carrot,onion and garlic and reboil for 1-2 hour.  You have more stock that is surprisingly very flavorful.

I throw away nothing--have leftover beans,peas or corn from a meal-freeze them and put in your soup.  Leftover broccoli can be used to make a quiche--- 

Think outside the grocery store.  Some weeks my Walgreens has eggs-pizza- jello and canned fruit much cheaper than going to grocery.

Being here in Florida we flea market shop alot where bananas can be found-6 lbs. for $1.00-melons,pineapples and strawberries are cheaper there also. 

Potatoes are a costly item here in Fla. so I watch and use frzoen where possible and save the fresh for Sunday meal.

Hope some of these ideas help you.  I know it is hard to make your funds last the whole month.  Folks who are blessed just don't realize how tough it is for some but with some good thinking and planning we can make it work.

Don't know your age but our area has a Center where Seniors can go for lunch 5days a week for free plus they get a bag on Monday with cereal and box juice for week.

I agree with lots of the others and would like to add a few things.

Beans- black, white, pinto, split peas, butter, garbanzo- etc

Rice- you can buy 10lbs for around $4.

Potatoes- you can find 50# sacks for about $10 certain times of the year from local grocers and Save-A-Lot stores.

Pasta- consider buying in bulk at a Cash-n-Carry or at Sam's, Costcos, or other local retailer.

But what is on sale- lately, it's been chicken cuts at .99 per pound.

Oats- cheap, healthy, and one barrel could do you both for 2 weeks at about $2.50 to $3 for breakfast.

Eggs- our Aldi has them for .49 a dozen. A perfect food! Fried go further for breakfast. Use them for a main dish as in the case of strata, quiche, and frittata.

Onions- they run on sale at 3lbs for .99. Very healthy and very cheap. Make onion soup, finely chop to add to ground meat to stretch. (By adding ground veggies and bread crumbs, I can stretch one pound of meat to make 8 patties!)

Carrots and sweet potatoes when they are on sale- I grouped these together because they can be used in a similar manner. Boil, drain, add a dab or butter and honey or molasses. Mash if you like. Shred in your ground meatloaves and patties or baked meat dishes such as Enchilada Bake. Roast with butter and parsley.

Celery- cheap and you can stretch soups, ground meats, and eat raw.

Cabbage- cheap, good for any soup, use rice and a little ground meat in cabbage rolls. Goes very far as slaw!

Bulk, sales, and outlet type stores (such as bread, or dented can outlets and the like) are great places to find cheap food.

Learn to can and freeze when you buy in bulk. Always take any food that is given to you. Save all scraps in the freezers for casseroles and soups. Boil bones from chicken etc for a healthy broth.  Buy turkeys when they are on sale in November. One could last you two for 14 meals.

Check out momsfrugal.blogspot and ThePrudentHomemaker. The PH feeds a family of 8 for less than $3 a day! She has some very very good ideas!          Blessings to you both!

One other thing that I can suggest is I know Sam's Club accepts EBT now. On some things it is better to buy in bulk then seperate into smaller meal sizes. Another thing is when you have time make a big meal, something that would last for a couple of meals in the week....then freeze them for a quick reheat on busy days. I know there is a great bean soup out there that you can use left over ham bones to flavor the base.

Also plan your meals out ahead of time to make the best of what you can get from the food pantrys as well as any food drops that are nearby.  My 3 1/2 year old son and I make due on $234 a month of food stamps as well as his SSI and TANIF, so I know it can be done....he is on a strict diet due to Autism.

Hope this helps.....and keep smiling!

Hi,

Tonight I took a box of Hamburger Helper Taco mix and 1 big fat chicken breast instead of hamburger. It tasted great! And it fed 4 people. I am also on food stamps since I was recently disabled. Chicken seems to stretch the best because I found if I am making a casserole, I can use one chicken breast for two people. I am going to write you again in a few days when I get some really great tips from my ex-girlfriend. She knows how to stretch a buck. I have a pregnant 23 year old daughter and she has acid refluc really bad. She seems to be fine with what I have been cooking so I may have some Ideas for you