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How Do You Eat Your Words?

Food For Writers 


How Do You Eat Your Words?

Consumables For Writers on a Budget  


I’ve discovered over time that writers are into food. We’re into cooking, restaurants, and grocery store lists. Henry Miller, Roald Dahl, and Anthony Bourdain come to mind. Sometimes we can’t afford to go out to restaurants as much as we’d like, but we still want food that tastes good and doesn’t take an entire afternoon to prepare, eating up precious time that could have been spent writing.

Here are some essential low-cost items with pretty long shelf lives to have in your kitchen while working on a project:


  • Eggs 


If you shop at Aldi, you can get a dozen for around $1. Add toast and butter to the mix and you have a meal that can fill you up for less than a couple dollars.


  • Cheese


Yes I’m talking about the process stuff, and many of you wouldn’t even call it cheese. It can make or break a sandwich, soup, omelette, plate of nachos, or potato casserole, so always have plenty on hand. If you get it on sale, you can stock up in the freezer!!


  • Frozen Pizza 


It’s about the quickest and easiest hot meal that can be prepared. If you know how to shop, you shouldn’t end up paying any more than $3 per pie. Try adding some veggies and experimenting with different spices like turmeric and garlic.


  • Lasagna 


Aldi makes a great frozen lasagna that rivals Stouffers for less than $3. At first you don’t think it will fill you up, but once you take that last bite, you know you’re good.


  • Pot Pies 


They’re hot, delicious, and very inexpensive especially when you buy them on sale. Try mixing it up with beef and turkey when buying them in bulk.


  • Bologna 


There I said it. But when you don’t feel like spending time in the kitchen making lunch or dinner, two of these sandwiches can be thrown together with cheese, mayo, and mustard pretty quickly. It’s harder to find, but salami is sometimes priced about the same and offers a bit more in terms of flavor and texture.


  • Chili 


It’s a soup, meal, and condiment all in one. One of my personal favorites and a dish that I love to experiment with. Next time try adding a cup of kidney beans to thicken it up or pour it over a plate of tortilla chips. 


  • Chicken Patties 


It’s so quick and easy to take a couple out of the freezer and make a great chicken sandwich. I like mine with mayo, mustard, pickles, and cheese, but one could just as easily add bacon to make it a club sandwich, or provolone and marinara sauce to go the chicken-parm route.


  • Ice Cream


Particularly Ice Cream Sandwiches or Sundae Cones for speed and easy access. Never ever buy candy bars at the grocery store. Have you compared the price per ounce on a carton of ice cream? The cost difference is staggering. If you have a sweet tooth, the desert bill can really start to add up, so again, grab the good stuff when it goes on sale!