Cheap groceries: Angel Food Ministries
Angel Food Ministries, a nondenominational Christian organization, offers low prices on foods that are staples in many American kitchens, including meats like chicken and beef, to anyone that eats.
Here's how it works: find a host site near you, place an order for boxes of groceries, and pick up the boxes at your host site several weeks later. Here's a link to what's included in the monthly menus for their $30 signature boxes, designed to serve a family of four for a week, as well special boxes of meats or fresh produce. Each comes with recipes for what's included.
Some of the families I met also bought boxes of "convenience" meals that could be packed for a work lunch.
They also sell holiday boxes, and the order deadline for $36 Thanksgiving boxes is Oct. 28.
Anyone can take advantage of these low prices, no matter what their financial situation is like. In fact, even if you can afford groceries in a traditional store, purchasing groceries from them allows the organization to harness the power of bulk buyng, Angel Food's spokesman said.
One woman I interviewed, Katrina Watson of Nottingham, said the program has saved her both time and money. "I wish I could show you my spreadsheet," she said, because she had taken the menu list to her supermarket and compared the prices.
Gina Kolb of Rosedale said that the food requires some planning to figure out how to use up the meat, which often comes frozen. She's tested lots of crockpot recipes from the Internet, she said, and learned to enjoy foods she thought she hated, like broccoli and cauliflower.
Have you tried Angel Food Ministries? What's your experience been like?
Comments
I did for the first time last week. And for as long as it’s offered I will be shopping! I LOVE the food! It’s interesting to me the food is small sometimes. Such as the 3# apples. 8-10 means they are small-sized. But very flavorful and nice. The eggs were medium. I began to think this is a better way. Frugal and I don’t need the extra calories in giant-sized everything. I feel satisfied the same as when fruit, etc. is larger sized. I began to feel good about my portion control. My menfolk tend to overeat the meats I cook. I can make a 5# meatloaf and more than half is gone at a meal. The Angel Food eliminates the tendency as I carefully plan portions as I use it up. I feel we are all healthier. Another benefit is I’m legally blind. I ride public transportation to get to shop and there is a limit of time and only 5 bags allowed. Since the bulk of my foods are prestocked, this is very manageable. I wish I had discovered them years ago. And I thank God over and over again for this help.
Posted by: Retha Naylor | October 28, 2009 6:34 AM
Angel Food is awesome. It saves so much on groceries and you get a good variety of different foods. The senior meals are great, especially for people who aren't able to cook that much and they make great lunches for people to take to work. The special boxes are great, especially the chicken nuggets for kids, my grandkids love them and don't want to stop eating them and they can go through a whole bag. The steaks and meats are all vacuum sealed and the taste is great. The food is for everyone who eats. You can pay with anything, cash, credit or debit card and food stamps. Try it you'll like it. You can order online also.
Posted by: Pat Drumm | October 28, 2009 11:52 AM
I am wild about spreading the news about Angel Food. I order up to seven boxes of food a month for my family of seven. The food is more fresh than grocery stores, it has variety, keeps me from the higher cost impulse items at the store and saves me shopping time. My freezer has never been so full but I'm spending less. I do believe that a box feeds a family of four for $30 if you're counting dinners mostly. I like the frozen convenience meals, they are high in veggies and fiber and taste yet are ready for the microwave and $2.80 apiece. It is exciting.
Posted by: Kerry | November 22, 2009 8:53 PM