RETRO FARE
In a world where food is at our fingertips, and with the hefty price tag that comes with convenience, our secret weapon is to plan, plan and then plan again. Whether you live on your own or as a family of 10, having a meal plan is always a good idea. Basic Kitchen Lessons
KNOW YOURSELF: Be realistic. If you are only a two-person household and you pick up a 10-pound bag of potatoes simply because they are on sale, it may seem like a deal on paper — but the taters are likely going to grow roots before you use them for a second recipe. Are you really saving money if things are going bad before you use them? Buying one or two at a time makes more sense in this case. KNOW YOUR SCHEDULE: It may seem like common sense, but it’s important to understand each member of your family as well as their schedules and food preferences. If you’re a busy family that needs to eat on the run a few days a week, that fact needs to be taken into consideration when meal planning. Buying ingredients to make dinner from scratch might be cheaper than buying pre- made options, but if you don’t have the time to execute it, you’ll end up stopping for takeout, which is even more expensive. Be realistic about your family’s schedule and what your time allows. MAKE A PLAN: Most of us have some form of meal plan for family gatherings and holiday meals, but we don’t apply the same level of planning
to everyday meals. We stare into the fridge hoping something falls out and makes itself (hence all of the delivery services that have popped up over the years). If you are budget-minded, making a weekly or even monthly plan may be a good idea. Pencil in everything from social events to upcoming sales at the grocery store to when items from the fridge and freezer need to be used up. The more you plan, the less you’ll waste and the more prepared you will feel, so there is less temptation to succumb to takeout. Aside from meal planning, there are many other takeaways from the Depression-era kitchen that are, unfortunately, applicable today. These include maximizing ingredient use (leftovers, anyone?), substituting cheaper alternatives and prioritizing nutrient-dense foods. Some can even be fun — like growing your own vegetable or herb garden in your backyard to have an unlimited supply of fresh produce all summer long. What these lessons really teach us, though, is resilience. While retro fashion is a lot more fun to talk about than retro food trends and the need to penny pinch in line at the grocery store, the resourcefulness, frugality and community in times of hardship will always be in fashion.
54 SAVOUR MANITOBA | FALL 25
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