What Can I Buy With a $200 per Month Grocery Budget?

I have mentioned in a couple of previous posts that I plan on a grocery budget of $200/month this year. This budget needs to fit the following parameters:

• It is for one person only (I am not trying to feed a family on this budget)
• It must include as many whole foods as possible and minimize prepackaged "food products"
  
• It must include funds for household supplies (toilet paper) and toiletries (shampoo etc.)
• It must include funds for occasionally eating out.

Is that a tall order? I don't think so. I have come across a number of posts and forums where people claim to feed a family of 4 on under $200/month (I'll have to hunt around for those links and get back to you). Some resources that have been recommended are the Grocery Game and Coupon Mom. I haven't used either of the services so I can't say how useful they are.

So how do I intend to pull this off?

1. I know my eating habits and preferences.
2. I am willing to put in the time to prepare my food at home (I think!)
3. I am not an impulse snack shopper; I shop with a list.

Here's the breakdown for the month:

Budget

Meats: $50
Chicken/red meat: $20
Fish: $30

Vegetables: $40
Salad greens: $15
Onions: $5
Tomatoes: $5
Potatoes: $5
Misc. Seasonal Vegetables: $10

Grains/Beans/Lentils: $15 (super cheap stuff and can provide the bulk of your calories)
Rice: $5
Lentils and beans: $5
Oatmeal (old fashioned): $5

Fruits: $20
Berries: $10
Seasonal fruit: $10

Dairy: $30
Cottage cheese: $15
Plain yogurt: $15

Desserts: $10

Oil/Condiments/Spices: $10

Household Supplies: $10

Dining Out: $20

No alcohol, cigarettes, or recreational drugs needed.

When I lay out the numbers like that, it doesn't look like that's a lot of food. However, these numbers are based on actual prices from my local grocery store, and a skeleton menu plan. I didn't do any comparison shopping to find these prices.


Menu

I find a skeleton menu plan very handy. I decide how to balance my meals and then just do slight variations over the weeks. Here's what a typical day would be like for me:

Breakfast
I cup slow cooked oatmeal (takes 5 min in the microwave)
I cup cottage cheese
I cup chopped berries

Lunch
3-4oz meat/chicken/fish (takes 5 minutes to grill in the toaster over, or I can stew up enough for the week)
salad greens
cooked vegetables (spinach or potatoes etc.)
Fruit

Dinner
3-4 oz chicken/meat/fish
rice (bless the rice cooker)
lentils/beans
yogurt
a spicy condiment

Dessert
Ice cream or a piece of chocolate

There are usually some left-overs from the meals so I can have a couple of snacks during the day as well.


Possible Hurdles

1. Laziness (ahem!). If I'm not careful about planning sufficient time to prep my meals, then I will be sorely tempted to resort to using prepackaged items.
2. I may want to hang out with friends at restaurants more often than I am planning. I will have to come up with strategies to deal with that.
   
3. I've been reading The China Study and am wondering if I need to rethink the amount of animal protein that I have in my daily diet. After I spend some time mulling that over, this whole menu might change. Hmmm.
   

Household supplies
I am not a big consumer of household products. My biggest expense in this category is toilet paper. I don't use use chemical cleaners or paper towels. Shampoo and toothpaste last quite a long time. I really don't have to lather, rinse, and repeat. Laundry detergent also lasts a long time. Which TV ad convinced moms in the 1950s that you can't wear your clothes a few times before you wash them? How absurdly wasteful!