Food Stamp Challenge: The Basics
How much is the budget, and how did you arrive at this number?
The budget for this month is $227, or the average Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Benefit for a household in 2008.  Yes, some single folks earn $200 in benefits.  Some households earn less than $227; some households earn more – but $227 was the average benefit and thus seemed a fair and reasonable number to use.
Are you including personal care and household items in your budget?
No, supplemental nutrition assistance cannot be applied to non-food items such …

This week was disheartening at best. It makes me shake my head with sorrow at our broken food system and the challenges that face poor, underprivileged and impoverished families. They are fighting an uphill battle – and few are on their side despite the lip service paid by government officials and corporate spokespersons.
And, now at week 2, I’m left with startling but sturdy conclusion that some of you may call premature: No, it’s not possible to eat optimally on a food stamp budget. I know that this …

On Saturday morning, my son and I got dressed, packed my bag with a calculator, Seafood Watch’s Pocket Guide and the Environmental Working Group’s Wallet Guide to the Dirty Dozen and the Cleanest Fifteen, my cell phone for last minute customer service calls and  a pocket book of cash.  We headed thirty miles down the road to the next town over where all the big grocery store chains are located to start shopping.
Week 1: $67.67

2 Crowns of Organic BroccoliS: $1.98
10 lbs Conventional PotatoesS: $2.99
5 lbs Organic Carrots: $2.99
2 Dozen Omega-3 …

The Challenge
The challenge is simple, but difficult too: in October, maintain a foodstamp budget while feeding your family wholesome, nourishing and unrefined foods.
Due to loss of jobs, inadequate wages and other unfortunate situations, many, many families derive the bulk of their food budget, or even their entire food budget from governmental assistance programs. Mothers often wonder just how they can feed their families well while subsisting on supplemental nutrition assistance programs like WIC and foodstamps. Just how can you make good food work on a few hundred dollars a …

If you’ve read Nourished Kitchen for a while, you know about my love and enthusiasm for high quality local and traditional foods.  Real food.  Vibrant organic fennel.  Flavorful berries.  Wild-caught salmon.  Fresh raw butter and fresh raw cream.  What you don’t know, however, is that while my belly may rumble the traditional foods of my ancestors, my heart trembles for the modern (design, that is).  Those clean sleek lines.  The vibrant and often stark colors.   That’s why I am thrilled to have teamed up with AllModern.com in this giveaway for …

Eating well on a budget and keeping food frugal is on my mind … a lot … actually.  Looking at our bank account and realizing that payday just doesn’t come fast enough, often enough or large enough has me understandably worried.  Never mind the looming bills and the fact that every paycheck for the next several months is earmarked for one purpose or another.   So, understandably, frugal foods are at the forefront of my thoughts, but here’s the catch: I’m not about to sacrifice quality or health in order …

Let’s face it: not everyone has access to the highest quality of food at all times. Nor is pastured chicken and biodynamically grown vegetables available in every area, but we should all be working in that direction.
So here’s a simple guide.  When the very best is available and within your price range: buy it.  If you can’t find the best, then just shoot for the next best thing.
Red Meat & Pork

Best: Wild game or local grass-finished meat and pasture-raised pork purchased from a rancher you know.
Better: Non-local grass-finished meat and …

This post is part of Real Food Wednesday’s focus on frugal real foods.  I’m taking the easy way out, though, and rather than surprise you with something new, I thought I’d highlight some classic, frugal recipes from the Nourished Kitchen recipe collection.

Baked Oats will feed your family breakfast for a week on less than $10.
Kale & White Bean Soup serves up 8 – 10 portions for under $1.50 a portion.
Apples & Pears Sautéed in Butter provides an inexpensive and nourishing dessert for 6 at less than $8.

Tips for reducing costs:

Bake …

The end of the month is approaching fast, and it’s time to reevaluate our budget, a few things have changed during the last month. Fortunately, they’ve changed to our benefit.
In working with a budget, it’s wise to spend as much as you can comfortably spend while purchasing the highest quality ingredients available to you. Remember, cost saving measures should come from proper kitchen management before you start to cutting costs by spending your money on inferior ingredients.
There is no one-size fits all budget. The cost of food …

It’s a constant theme in conversations I hear: “I can’t afford to eat organic foods.”
That’s exactly what Nourished Kitchen is here to battle. Indeed, you can afford to buy organically grown fruits and vegetables as well as humanely raised animal foods. The truth is, because of their health benefits, you can’t afford not to buy them.
Purchase high quality ingredients. Saving money should come from proper kitchen management, not from skimping on the quality of food you purchase.
Kitchen Management

Maintain an inventory of the foods in your pantry, cupboards, …