Divas: The best foods to buy when you’re broke

With the tax day deadline looming Monday, many folks are thinking about ways to be more careful with their money.

One of the few spending areas we have absolute control over is our food budget. By stocking your pantry with super value foods you set yourself up for significant savings. Why spend more than you have to? Not just when you’re broke but to ensure you’ll never be broke in the first place.

These items were chosen because of their low price, high nutritional value and versatility.

Whole chicken – this is the Holy Grail of budget foods. Watch for sales and stock the freezer. A family of four can stretch one chicken into three meals. First, bake the whole chicken and use the pan drippings to make gravy. Slice and serve the breasts with a green vegetable and mashed potatoes smothered in gravy. Next, pick every morsel of chicken off the bones. Set some aside for soup and make the rest into a covered dish like chicken and rice or pasta, burritos, teriyaki chicken with veggies or chicken pot pie. Lastly, simmer the chicken bones to make a rich bone broth and use that to make a satisfying soup. Winner, winner, three chicken dinners.

Old-Fashioned Oats – Not just a power-packed breakfast but cookies and granola bars, too. Enjoy as a topping for fruit cobbler, as filler for burgers or meatloaf, as breading for chicken and fish. Oats can even be ground into flour for baking.

Dried Beans and Rice – These beauties are essential for meatless meals, soups, casseroles and side dishes. I list them together because together they provide a complete protein. Brown rice costs a bit more but delivers extra fiber, nutrients and flavor. Buy them in bulk for added savings because they will keep in the pantry for months without spoiling so there’s no waste. One money-saving meal is Dirty Rice and Beans made with onion and a small amount of ground beef or sausage for flavor. Add a splash of hot sauce and you’re good to go.

Eggs – Not just for breakfast anymore. Although more expensive than last year, they’re still a bargain at about 16¢ per egg. Add leftover veggies to make a filling scramble, add to rice and veggies to make fried rice, make quiche, frittata, or French toast.

Tea Bags – Ditch the sodas and make your own zero calorie hot or iced teas for pennies per serving. Plus, tea is filled with anti-oxidants.

Popcorn Kernels – For a great low-cost snack, place ¼ cup kernels in a brown paper bag and microwave for 2 minutes, no oil needed. Add your favorite spices and it’s movie time!

Shift your thinking to always be looking out for sales. Watch for manager’s specials and day-old bakery items.

Learn when stores mark items down and be there to grab the best bargains and stock up when the price is lowest. Keep track of what you buy and make a solid plan to use it. All of it!

Spoilage is a total waste of your hard-earned money. We can’t have that, can we? That’s not very Diva.

Frugal Food contributed by Patti Diamond from Divas On A Dime – Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! www.divasonadime.com