[bantam]

Where in heck are you finding those prices??
You have a time machine?

[blackdog]

The discount area of the meat case for the ground meat. The clearance aisle for the Prego Sauce. The spaghetti was it's normal price. The flour I buy in 50 pound bulk. The butter was on the coupon app.

If you shop for price and not what you are in the mood for, food is still to be found for cheap. I found 32 ounce jars of roasted red peppers for $2.12 each, next to the Prego sauce.

If it's on sale, buy it. Portion it. Freeze it. Can it. Dry it. Cure it. Make cooking and preparation a family activity. The only thing I get a chilly reception to is when I find a lot of eggs on hand and I hard boil and pickle them in jars. I love them, but not the rest of the family.

We also make Italian giardiniera, when we find cauliflower, carrots, peppers, celery, on sale or grown at home in the summer. We put it up in gallon sized jars. It keeps great for years. You always have a tasty vegetable to serve in a pinch.

[blackdog]

And home pickling actually improves the nutrition values of most things. Another great find is mushrooms getting a bit old. They are either $5 for an 8 ounce container, or just about free as they begin looking aged. Pickle them in garlic, cider vinegar, olive oil, hot peppers, etc....

And yes, these shopping and food preparation habits are time consuming, but convenience comes at a very heavy price.