I Fed Myself On $35 a week.

Other friends have fed families well on Food Stamps. Here’s how.

Photo by Nadya Spetnitskaya on Unsplash

A friend of mine pointed out recently that while most of us have food choices, there are people who can’t afford anything but McDonald’s.

I don’t totally agree, and here is why.

It’s true that not everyone can afford, say, pastured grass fed beef or pastured chicken. Not everyone can afford many specialty items. This is true.

But the alternative for those on a budget does not have to be McDonald’s.

When I was in graduate school, I had a food budget of $35 a week. Yet I never got fast food, unless a guy I was dating wanted to take me out.

But, you see, I grew up with an Indian mother. I knew how to make dal and other legume based staples and how to cook delicious rice and vegetables.

A local market sold items like rice, beans, and spices in bulk. There was a small local grocer that bought from nearby farmers, and I could get seasonal produce there. Seasonal fruits and veggies are cheaper and healthier. If it wasn’t in season, I wouldn’t buy, except for onions and potatoes which were staples.

I’d balance out this vegan fare with either yogurt or eggs.