If you're like me you're horrified at the rising cost of groceries these days. So I've fallen back on some old standbys from our early days of marriage. We eat very little meat and when we do it's sort of a garnish instead of a full meal. An example is that I'm baking a ham right now and it will show up all week in soups, salads, casseroles, egg dishes, and sandwiches. I eat a pretty vegetarian style diet most of the time anyway and Hutch has quit being the carnivore he was in years past.
Another thing we're both doing that saves money and calories is just plain eating smaller portions. Since we don't eat out much anymore we can control our portions in the kitchen easily without the temptation of the HUGE platters of food that are served in most places here in the South.
We also drink mainly water. I have soy milk on my oatmeal and granola, but otherwise I drink ice water. I don't even miss my morning coffee amymore. I tried to drink a cup last week and wondered why I ever liked the stuff to begin with.
Right now I'm eating a whole grain dish for breakfast- usually oatmeal, then I'll have a salad and a piece of fruit for lunch, and for supper I'll have a soup or maybe another salad with meat on it with fruit for dessert. I can honestly say it was very hard at first not to eat bread and baked goods. I was apparently very addicted to sugar because when I quit I had a whale of a headache for almost a day and a half! I think I'll go back to only one sweet thing at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. That's what I used to do and it worked for me fine.
So if you're budget is tight I suggest going to the Hillbilly Housewife icon to the right- she has some really great budget menus and recipes. In fact I think she's got a super duper low cost menu for a week that costs around $25. Of course it may cost more like $50 but for a family of four that's pretty good.
I personally like beans alot. I know, I know....it sounds like starving student fare. But I like them in most soups and when you add some brown rice to the soup with the beans it makes a complete protein [like meat]. I wish I'd taught our kids to eat a healthier way when they were small, but thank goodness they are learning now.
On a typical night I'll fill the crockpot with water and throw in enough beans to make soup. I'lll set it on
low and let it cook overnight. In the morning I'll drain off the water and fill it back up to cover the beans well. Then I'll add whatever I have on hand.....a diced onion, a couple of chunked potatoes,a can of tomatoes, a can of corn, green beans, bouillon cubes or a bit of meat [Polish sausage chunks make a good meal]. You can season it to suit your fancy...just don't put the salt in yet because I think it makes the veggies tough. I'll let it simmer away on low until about an hour before supper then if I haven't used potatoes I'll add a starch of some kind [rice or ww noodles]. I'll salt and pepper it right before I serve it.
Add a piece of fresh fruit for dessert and you're all set.
Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. 
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