Healthy Eating in a Down Economy

A recent USDA report announced that one in nine Americans are on food stamps, and of course countless more of us are finding ways to cut back, whether due to pay cuts, benefit cuts, or fears that a job that looked stable a couple years ago might not be so rock-solid. And cuts to food budgets can range from difficult to disastrous for families with food allergies. Many common allergens are inexpensive, otherwise healthful sources of protein or fiber -- the very foods budget eating websites often tell families to stock up on in times of crisis (think large jars of peanut butter, bags of powdered milk, or bulk quantities of pasta).

There are some tried-and-true ways to reduce your grocery bill without sacrificing fresh healthful choices -- we've found that a local CSA is far less expensive than buying the same amount of produce at the supermarket, and we've begun making foods (sausage, allergy-friendly bread, and the like) that we used to buy and spend a lot more on. Have you cut your food budget back? If so, how are you managing?