This autumn has already been a difficult time for people who live on the margins.
Get the backstory
In November, food pantries struggled to keep up with demand as a record-breaking federal government shutdown turned off food assistance for more than 100,000 Marion County residents.
And even before the 43-day shutdown, more than half of Marion County respondents said they experienced food insecurity during the prior year, according to an Indy Hunger Network survey.
So staffers at Mirror Indy and at our support organization, Free Press Indiana, put our heads together to share some tips on how to stay fed during financially challenging times.
We’ve also got a list of food pantries in Indy and an explainer on where to get help with rent, utilities and other necessities.
Cheap recipes that keep you full
The go-to for me has always been legumes, a can of tomato sauce, onions, carrots, potatoes, limes and chiles. You only need a little bit of the more expensive items (onion and limes). A bag of pinto beans or lentils still goes for less than $3 and that goes a long way if you’re feeding more than two people.
Typically, a can of tomato sauce or paste is also less than a dollar. All you have to do is soak the legumes overnight. The next day, when they are plump, you boil them until soft (about one hour). In a separate pan, drizzle a little bit of oil, sauté diced onions and add cubed carrots and potatoes. Cover with tomato sauce and let cook until soft. Add cooked lentils or beans and then add a little bit of water, salt and pepper.
The nice thing about cooking this way is you can adjust depending on what you have in your pantry — you can add different broths or herbs, a splash of wine, and diced chiles for a little kick. In my opinion, a soup or stew is not ready for eating until it has a squeeze of lime.
Something I’ve used before is the app MyFridgeFood. You can check off different ingredients you already have at home (think staples like broth, chicken, eggs, pasta and produce) and it will generate recipe ideas that use those items. It’s a good way to make use of things that have been in your kitchen for a while.
When I’ve gone through tough times, I’ve relied on ol’ faithful: instant ramen. But the packets can get old quickly. So I would add things to boost the calories and nutrition — an egg, a handful of spinach or other greens, a tablespoon of peanut butter and green onions. This combo got me through a particularly hard winter several years ago. And I save the ends of the green onions and put them in water to grow. Boom, infinite onions.
And: rice and beans! These cheap staples can be adapted to just about every culture. My go-tos include a Tex-Mex bean bowl, Japanese and Thai curries and congee.
When I was growing up, it felt like my mom made turkey and collard greens and cornbread all the time. In our sometimes 10-person household, it was imperative that she made something that could stretch at least three days. Now that I’m older, I realize just how filling and nutrient-dense the meal was.
You’ll need to buy at least four or five bundles of turnip, collard or mustard greens and one onion. This will cost you less than $5. The amount of greens depends on how many you’re cooking for. Remember that they’ll cook down.
Our recipe also calls for two turkey legs, but if it’s not in the budget, try a cheaper option like turkey tail or wings. Pick up a box of Jiffy cornbread mix at your local Dollar General for 50 cents. Pick and wash your greens, start your pot with your turkey and chop your onion. Season to your liking. Enjoy!
Whenever payday seems really far away, the Saenz household relies on bean soups. You can make a pot that’ll last several days for about $11, especially if you team it up with some corn bread.
A great northern bean soup has only a few ingredients — mostly cheap veggies. You can add or remove ingredients depending on how close you are to getting paid. Another good choice is a 15-bean soup, which sounds luxurious, but it’s really cheap. Plus, you get to learn about beans.
Don’t take my word for it. Here’s what my notoriously picky mother-in-law said last time my wife made some:
I have two go-to meals when I’m in between paydays: turkey chili and ground turkey with cabbage.
My chili recipe is very easy and kid approved. Add one pound of sautéed ground meat to a pot. We use turkey at my house, but ground beef is good, too. Then add two drained cans of your go-to beans. I like to use black beans and kidney beans. Two cans of diced tomatoes. One diced yellow onion. A quarter of a can of tomato paste.
Add 1 to 2 cups of vegetable stock. For all my high blood pressure folks: use water. (That’s what I do.) Then season it up! (Extra seasoning if you used water.) Garlic powder, onion powder, a little salt, paprika, chili powder, pepper, sazon or whatever you have in the cupboard. Let it simmer for a few hours. Boom! Then you have chili for the rest of the week.
My other meal is turkey sausage and cabbage. That’s it! Slice them and sauté. Don’t forget seasoning! Add a yellow onion if you have it. Rice on the side always helps.
I’m a big fan of simplifying meal-making with as few ingredients as possible and rely on three- to five-ingredient recipes. I have a few three-ingredient cookbooks and a five-ingredient, 30-minute cookbook. Many of these I found at the library, and if I liked the meals I made, I bought the books at second-hand stores. This minimizes the shopping list, makes meal prep simple, and uses up everything you buy.
Another easy tip: slow cooker recipes. Often, slow cooker (or Crock-Pot) recipes are dump-and-go. You just add the few ingredients you need, set the pot, and after a few hours, meals are ready and there’s often enough for leftovers. Check your local Goodwill or second-hand store for cheap, still-working slow cookers. I have one I bought for less than $10, and it still works over a decade later. And again, check your local library for slow cooker cookbooks.
Saving cents at the store
My grocery shopping method is all business. For a long time, I was a Kroger girl. I’d identified my staple items and scouted coupons to make my pockets hurt less. But recently, my boyfriend converted me to the Aldi life and guys, I’m telling you — I’m never going back.
Some tips — bring your own bags and a quarter to unlock your shopping cart. Also, you’ll have to give up your brand loyalties, but you can find a dupe version of almost all your favorite items. By my own calculations, I’ve been saving over $100 a month (!!!!) on groceries since I started shopping at Aldi. Definitely worth keeping a quarter on hand for your next grocery run.
My corner Mexican store has everything at reasonable prices: bulk legumes, rice, tortillas, cheese, sauces, and cleaning supplies, too. In times I’ve had to stretch my money to the max, I’ve even been able to find cute gifts in the form of ceramic mugs and plates that are less than $5.
Clip coupons with caution. I’ve recently assigned a hierarchy to coupons. I ignore anything that only gives me a $1 discount or less, especially if it asks me to buy multiple items. I’m more likely to use coupons that give multi-dollar discounts on a single item, or help me buy an item and get another half off or free.
Grocery stores publish their weekly ads online. I typically shop at two grocery stores that are across the street from one another. Checking the ads helps me find the best deal on groceries, and the proximity of the stores keeps my trip efficient.
I’m a bit ritualistic about my shopping. I always make a list before I leave, and I sign up for all of the rewards programs. A few bucks off of each shop may not feel like much, but it adds up over time.
I’ve been really into the Meijer app lately. It allows you to scan items as you shop and skip the longer checkout lines. It also clips coupons for items you’ve added to your cart and applies discounts at the end so you never miss a deal.
I’m going to second Carley on using the Meijer app — or any rewards program at the store where you shop the most. My thing is to remember to check how many points you’ve earned before each trip and spend them sooner rather than later so you don’t forget.
Alternate your stores if you can. I rotate among Costco, Kroger and Aldi. Even Family Dollar. I get smaller (fun) items from Kroger and Aldi and bulk meat and toilet paper from Costco. (Look for online deals on Sam’s Club or Costco memberships. My first one was $25.) I clip coupons on the Kroger app for deals.
I plan my meals ahead of time. I make a grocery list based on what I’m making and go from there. I try to fit in healthy-ish snacks, too. Can’t forget the chocolate!
I always look for the clearance section at my favorite grocery store. Sometimes it’s at the end of certain aisles or departments, on bakery trays, or in those odd, completely-filled grocery carts in a seemingly random aisle.
Often, the items have manager’s special or clearance stickers. I make a habit of stopping by clearance sections and browsing items that are approaching their use-by date, or are being pulled due to overstock or package rebranding. It’s a great chance to find just what you are looking for at a bargain price.
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