Thanks to our ailing economy, we’ve been budgeting more than ever before in our house. Unfortunately this has started to affect our fair-trade and 100% organic food budget. We now buy non-organic oils and run-of-the-mill organic sugar. These are items that cost half as much as their organic or fair-trade counterpart. A part of me mourns how we may be compromising our values, while a part of me applauds how we’ve found ways to cut corners. I keeping reminding myself that this is temporary.

In an effort to cut costs, we’ve stopped buying protein bars and have come up with more cost-effective and healthy snacks. Here’s one that I make a few times a week.

Mix up 3 parts peanuts to 1 part raisins and 1 part dried cranberries. If we’re having company I may add chocolate chips and coconut flakes. You could substitute any type of nut or dried fruit. The combinations are endless. And SO tasty.