As for whether herbs and spices are affordable, this family was not living on boxed dinners the whole way through. They were trying to eat *healthy* on a food stamp budget. That means prioritizing. And it is not the same thing as “being frugal.” If you’re just “being frugal,” that means you had a *choice* to spend more, and you *chose* not to do so. So naturally, you can *choose* to eat healthier and still get the herbs and spices. But if you are on food stamps and that’s your only food money, you have no *choice.* You have to work with what you have and you have no more wiggle room than that. If she chose to eat seafood and that meant she had no money left for chili powder, then so be it. And I happen to know that even at a “cheap” price, with that $1.40 she had left over, you can get maybe 1.5 bottles of herb or spice. The “cheap” stuff at Kroger tends to run a dollar a bottle around here.

And speaking of which. The words “inexpensive” and “spices” do not belong in the same sentence. Call me an insufferable snob but I don’t know how grocery stores are allowed to so ill-treat herbs and spices and still claim that they improve cooking. With most spices you have some leeway because they are hard plant materials and can better retain their volatile oils–but with leafy spices, not so much.

I came to understand this years ago when I grew some of my own herbs. I had several of those and also my own potted bay tree. The fun part was pruning everything. The bay tree in particular was a delight, it perfumed the entire room. Then I dried the leaves and was surprised to learn that freshly-dried bay leaves are still dark and glossy, just like they were when fresh. This did not square with my experience with store-bought bay leaves, which are just sad–all faded and dull. I didn’t use all my bay leaves before my life fell apart and I had to leave a lot of my stuff behind, but eventually they got old and took on that sad faded look. Then I understood the problem.

Grocery-store dried herbs and spices are sold in clear containers under UV lights. They are not new in the first place when they get to the store. You’re getting plant parts that have not been stored properly, have not been sold quickly and have been in stock so long that they have lost much of their color and volatile oils. They do not taste as strong as freshly-dried herbs.

On top of that the store then overcharges for what you are actually getting, even though you are getting less than you *should* be getting. At least twice the reasonable price for half the flavoring power or less. It’s like buying one-ply toilet paper to “save money” and then finding that you need to use it doubled up if you don’t want to get your hands nasty. Not at all frugal.

On top of that herbs and spices are supposed to have health benefits but as their volatiles have been so radically reduced, they’re not doing much of anything for you, not to mention not adding much flavor. I wouldn’t be surprised if some people never learn how to cook with herbs and spices *because* they are so disappointing.

So feel clever that you find a shaker of thyme for a dollar, or that you bought one of those huge restaurant-size refill containers for so little per ounce–but it’s in a clear plastic container and it’ll lose its flavor by the time you get through the canister. You’re not getting what you think you’re getting.

It is total nonsense to claim that one has to forgo spices on a low-budget diet. I eat frugally and use plenty of spices. Wal-Mart has inexpensive spices, to mention one place.

I doubt that the government refuses to pay for spices on food stamps. I recently saw someone purchase an enormous cake on food stamps.

We took a big pay cut when my husband transitioned into being an associate pastor two years ago, and we’re learning how to make it work, since I stay at home. A challenge for sure, so I’m always looking for help!

Thanks again, and God bless.

Wouldn’t it be great if there were a co-op that provided meat at direct-from-farm prices and could accept food stamps for those who need it? Actually, it would be good for people who can’t afford to buy or store a whole or half cow at a time too. I wonder how one could organize something like that.

I am not on a tight budget, but am looking for ways to cut wasteful food costs. I have already cut it back, by not buying so many processed foods. Pop, cereal, baked goods, etc. will always be more expensive than what we can make at home. And I am upset at how much money I was wasting on non-nourishing food.

Six months ago I was existing on frozen bean burritos, processed pasta meals, lots of cereal, toast, and sandwiches, and lean chicken or fish 2 times a week. I was not being nourished, and we were spending a lot on food! I was never full either, so I overate, was always tired, etc.

Makes me so sad to think that many people are hungry in this country, and it is largely due to making the wrong choices, unknowingly. I was always hungry on a high-starch processed diet, but never nourished. And we spent A LOT to eat that way! I hope that you can send your findings to some magazine or newspaper or groups who feed the hungry. I assume that people who live off things like boxed Mac and Cheese could never be full, but they live on that stuff because they only know how to “cook” processed foods. Your ideas would be such a help, if people only knew what the heck to do with food! There is such a disconnect for everyone, with regards to what REAL food even is. So money is an issue, but even I didn’t know how to eat well with a GOOD food budget. Sigh.

You also make a good point about how time consuming it is to eat well, and doing that on a tight budget must be maddening. I am a SAH Mom so I have more time, but even I get exhausted trying to work it all out. Add in food intolerances and I sometimes skip meals due to not having a good, quick option! But it is worth persisting and making small changes each week.

My son, for example, is getting MUCH healthier only after 3 months of re-thinking our diet, and his teeth are healing! He was in danger of getting 4 pulled, due to decay, but we hesitated, changed his diet, and one of the worst teeth has filled in with white enamel!!! It is like a miracle.

I love your site, really want you to know how much good you are doing. I have just ordered “Nourishing Traditions” too, and can’t wait to get at those recipes.

Best wishes,
Clarissa K.

I can purchase grass-fed meat for less than the cost of natural beef at the grocery store. Similarly, grass-fed lamb is considerably less expensive when purchased farmer direct than the grain-fed lamb available at the grocery store.

Ahh…the proverbial buy direct from the farmer. I’m assuming your talking in bulk here? Yes, buying a whole, half, or split-half (quarter) can be much cheaper on the per pound price. Of course that assumes you can afford the up front cost which around here is somewhere north of $400 or more. I know many families (without the so called luxuries that are often pulled out) that can’t afford that. Without that in my area we’re talking more than $5/lb for grass-fed ground beef…forget about the so called “cheap” cuts of beef. They end up being far more than we can afford.