Eating Well on a Budget - My New Year's Resolution

I've decided to make a New Year's resolution this year.  I want to get spending under control.  In the past I've worked on a loose budget, but after living in the new house for a couple of months I realize that I need to tighten the purse strings a little.  The biggest place for me to start is to curb my dining out.  It's gotten so that I maybe cook once a week which is just insane.

The problem is that saving money and eating healthier don't always go hand in hand.  Healthier foods are generally more expensive, and when you get into organic and specialty foods it's even more expensive.

The thing is I know that when I put my mind to something I can accomplish it.  I mean just look at my weight loss.  Friday will be one week since I joined Weight Watchers and I'm about 125 lbs. lighter since then.

So now I'm making this my challenge.  Bring my budget under control while at the same time continuing to eat healthy, continuing my weight loss and maintaining it once I reach my goal.  I know I can do it.

To borrow a page from the Weight Watcher's handbook I'm going to start tracking my spending.  Especially in the food area.  I think I need to prove to myself how much I can save by cooking at home.

I just went shopping and have saved the receipt so that I can price out the different components of tonight's dinner and future meals I will prepare.  Since I'm not starting with a completely bare pantry from time to time I'll use something that I already had on hand.  These items are sunk costs (I've already spent money on them), so I'm not going to worry about including them in the cost of the meal.

Tonight's dinner was something I've never made before Shepard's Pie.  The ingredients are simple enough.

The shopping list:
Kroger Beef Broth (14oz can) - $0.89
Yellow Onions (3lbs = 8 onions) - $2.99
85/15 Ground Beef (3 lbs) - $6.99 - Preferred 93/7 ground turkey at $2.99 / lb, but they were out.
Carrots (2 lbs) - $1.77
Idaho Potatoes (5 lbs) - $2.69
Silk Original Almondmilk (1/2 Gal) - $2.99
With Tax:  19.66

Recipe:
Shepard's Pie

6 Servings ($0.93 per serving)

6 Weight Watchers POINTS Plus

1 Can Beef Broth - $0.89
1 Onion (chopped) - $0.37
1 lb Ground Beef - $2.33
1 lb Carrots (sliced) - $0.89
1 lb Potatoes - $0.54
1/2 cup Almondmilk - $0.19
1/2 Tbsp Butter Buds (sunk)
2 tsp Salt (sunk)
2 tsp Black Pepper (sunk)
5 sprays cooking spray (sunk)
4 cups water
Total cost (with tax):  $5.83

Preheat over to 385 F

In a pot place potatoes and water and bring to a boil.  Once tender drain water.  Add milk and Butter Buds and mash well.

Spray a skillet with cooking spray and add onions.  Cook over low heat until onions are tender and browned.  Add beef and cook until beef is browned (make sure to break up large chunks).  Drain excess fat from pan.

Transfer beef/onion mixture into a baking pan.  Pour broth over it.  Layer sliced carrots and finally top with mashed potato mixture.  Sprinkle salt and pepper over dish.  Place in oven and bake for 25 minutes or until potatoes are browned.