Good and Cheap: How to Eat Well on $4 a Day

As the final project for her Food Studies master's degree at New York University, Leanne Brown decided to write a cookbook for eating healthy on $4 a day -- the amount of money that SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program aka "food stamps") recipients must live on.

"I wanted to create a resource that would promote the joy of cooking and show just how delicious and inspiring a cheap meal can be if you cook it yourself," she notes. "Even though food stamps help millions of people across the United States every day, benefits were reduced in November despite rising food prices. It's more important than ever to make the most of what you have with savvy shopping techniques and skillful cooking."

And so was born Good and Cheap

Using real, whole foods as the starting point for her recipes, Brown offers shopping tips and cooking techniques that help users optimize both the dollar and nutritional value of their meals. While the cookbook was conceived as a tool for SNAP recipients, who wouldn't like to eat better for cheaper?

But that's not all. Through her Kickstarter campaign, Brown is not only offering a free PDF download of Good and Cheap, but also a Get-One-Give-One donation level of $25 wherein donors get a physical copy for themselves and give a copy to someone in need.

Brown blew past her original $10,000 fundraising goal and is about to leave $85,000 in the dust. The more money she raises, the more cookbooks she will print, sell, and donate to nonprofits serving underprivileged families. So, dig in!

Websites associated with Leanne Brown and the Good and Cheap project: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/490865454/good-and-cheap and http://www.leannebrown.ca/cookbooks

This article originally appeared on Shareable


About the Author

mccartney kellyKelly McCartney Having won prestigious literary competitions in both grade school and junior high, I attended college with a Scripps Howard Foundation scholarship, earned a BA in Journalism, and interned at Entertainment Tonight. Since that time, I have worked in pretty much every aspect of the music industry -- except artist, and I'm happy to sit that one out. After a number of years working with artists in various capacities, I have shifted my focus back to journalism -- mainly music, but not exclusively. I currently contribute to ShareableVelvetparkNo Depression, NoiseTrade, the VC Reporter, and Elmore magazine. On the side, I am collaborating with a few wonderful musicians on a multi-media theatre series while also developing a couple of music-related video projects.


Recommended book: 

Idiot's Guides: The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook
by Denise "DedeMed" Hazime.

Idiot's Guides: The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook by Denise "DedeMed" Hazime.The Mediterranean Diet is considered one of the healthiest diets in the world and has long been acceptable for people with serious health issues, such as diabetes and heart disease. With more than 200 recipes and simple guidance on cooking the Mediterranean way, this easy-to-follow cookbook is a must-have for any home library. From hearty — and heart-healthy — breakfasts to delicious desserts, the recipes in this book will help bring good health and vibrant flavor to anyone looking for a better way of eating.

Click here for more info and/or to order this book on Amazon.