I certainly hope things have taken a turn for the better! Contacting your local food pantry is an excellent idea.
most people don't realize it, but many of the healthiest foods are also the least expensive. Ready-made foods are the least cost-effective in the long run.
get the basics, and eat at home. Here are some important and less expensive staples:
beans
chickpeas
rice
potatoes
carrots
beans and chickpeas are an excellent source of protein. Combine them with rice for greater nutritional value. You can do whatever combination you wish. If you can manage it, a green vegetable would be a very good idea, as would milk. Oatmeal is extremely good for you.
one of the cheapest and best things to make is SOUP. Make a big enough batch and it can last you for days. Make a minestrone. Adding a new ingredient everyday will keep it interesting. I heard a food radio interview with a chef who did a successful experiment buying all of her food shopping at the dollar store that carried fresh produce.
I don't know what it's like where you are, but our butcher gives away bones for making stock for free. Boil an onion, a carrot and a celery stick with it and you have a very basic stock that you can use as a base for any soup. Good luck! Let us know how things go!
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