Frugal Friday: Food Currency

Generally, in order to procure a product you must input time and/or money.  As you well know, Eric and I tend to spend more time than money by scavenging and buying things second-hand. We’re growing more food this year than we ever have, but we’ll still have to rely on other sources for food. At the farmers’ markets and grocery stores we focus on buying ingredients in their most whole stages, which lessens our monetary loss by taking on a greater commitment of time.

Popcorn is one of the best examples of reversed food currency. According to the EPA, the United States is the largest producer of corn in the world. I could write an entire book on the backward system of corn production in our country, but I’ll leave that for another time. For now, I’ll just say that you can buy popping corn by the pound (and organic, too) for about the price of a box of 3 microwave pouches.  Not to mention you can pop just enough for a single serving, and you’re not subject to all the added salt and fat in many commercial brands. 

All you have to do is heat up a little canola oil in a pan, add the corn kernels, then cover and cook over low-to-medium heat, moving the pan a bit to keep the corn from burning. Altogether, it takes less time than the 3 minutes it takes in the microwave, and you have a cheaper, healthier snack.

I’ve also gotten into the habit of making a tray of granola every Sunday to give myself a week’s worth of breakfasts, way cheaper than a box or two of cereal. I’ve posted my recipe here for anyone who’s interested.