Expenses - solutions

Anyone who follows the G/F allergen lifestyle will tell you it's expensive. It is indeed. I hear responses like, "oh but my family's health is worth it." That is a very true statement - however - you STILL have to have the money to pay bills and deal with emergencies so while your family is worth it there are always circumstances which anyone, even die-hard organic G/F folks wish for inexpensive options. I have a few...

Potatoes - very easy to grow, cheap to buy and fantastic for a main course or side - baked, fried, mashed - you name it

Rice - again very plentiful and there are many varieties and many options for cooking from rice balls to risotto to pilaf

Grits - So much fun, expands so nicely - great as a side dish and you can really dress this food up by even going the polenta route.

Quinoa - not as common but getting more and more accessible. You can make it sweet or savory. It comes in flakes too! Make cookies this way :)

Rice Chex - all Rice Chex are G/F (whew) make sure you check the label on most cereals in the breakfast section though before you get too trusting.

Corn tortillas - versatile! Fry them or steam them. Make cinnamon sugar crisps, enchiladas, soft tacos or even huevos rancheros (painfully simple)

Honey - but WATCH the label. Some honey factories add things to their honey!

Veggies - hit the produce section of the store and you'll find a lot of bargains. Heck you can even do farmers markets. It's a lot of fun to try new things this way. I am not a fan of many cooked veggies. So raw is typically the way I like most things. If you don't like something normally, try it raw and it might surprise you.

Eggs, milk and cheese - no two ways about it, most of this is spendy but if you are saving $ elsewhere you can afford a little splurge. Farmers markets can help here.
You can make your own yogurt and cottage cheese (if you want recipes let me know).

There is a local dairy close to where I live and though they are not considered "organic" because if the exceedingly strict regulations of the term "organic" they get their milk from about 6 different dairies and the cows are NOT treated with hormones and they don't feed antibiotics to cows unless they are sick and IF they do. the milk is dumped.

Meats/fish are expensive but I live in Alaska and I always have friends who fish and hunt. I can get stuff that way no problem. However, for the everyday consumer these things present a problem. Stores are now offering more "natural cuts" of meats now which are reported to be fed no hormones or antibiotics.

Make your own jams and jellies - very easy and lasts a year and a half! and you KNOW exactly what went into them. No guessing there

If you have any other ideas, please feel free to let me know!