I am going backpacking through Italy and France with a friend. We don't plan on going to any fancy restaurants except maybe once, and not a very expensive on either. But the rest of the trip we want to spend as little as possible on food. What would be the best way to do this? I guess just buy a sandwich and coffee or something like that.? How much could we sspend daily?

Even cheaper than buying a sandwich, and I think better and more fun, is buying the ingredients for a sandwich. You can buy small quantities of cheese or cold cuts by weight or by piece (e.g., small goat cheeses), bread to share, olives (if you like them--I do), sometimes things like roasted peppers or marinated vegetables by weight, fruit, nuts or dried beans that are eaten like nuts. You can get these things at outdoor markets, or if you can't connect with a market, at various stores that sell each type of food, e.g., fruit and produce stores, bakeries, delis that sell meats and miscellaneous items. It's a very cheap way to eat, but you can eat well, though simply, and it can be fun shopping with the local people and interacting with the merchants, and finding pleasant places to eat your small picnic meals outdoors.

I can't quote you prices, but in France look at the street vendors. You can get crepes, crepes, and crepes!!! In Italy, everywhere you will find pizzerias and paninis. Take away or eat there. Remember, if you sit at most cafes, it will cost more than if you stand at the bar. For something more elegant, especially in Paris, look for restaurants that have a fixed price menu. In Monteparnasse especially I found great food, wine and prices like this (didn't find this as true in Italy though). In Italy, look for places that have communal seating. These are usually neighborhood establishments and gives you a chance to meet the locals. But, always save some money in Italy for a daily gelato!

You shouldn't have any problem as there are many cheap restaurants in France and you don't have to buy sandwiches or coffee as those items aren't especially cheap in comparison to other foods. Just look at menus and find cheap things to order. I actually don't think it is cheaper to buy sandwich items in a grocery store and fix things yourself, I think you can dine cheaper in restaurants. Also, you will have greater variety and a place to eat and enjoy your meal. I also don't think it is very enjoyable to eat cold cuts and sandwiches, or that healthy, and you will waste a lot of food. Buying condiments and things like that is expensive because you have to buy larger sizes.

There are many restaurants in Paris where you can get pretty cheap prix fixe meals. If you don't want to eat in a cafe or bistro, you'd do better to buy prepared foods from deli-type places where you can get small quiches, hot dishes, etc., much better than buying sandwich fixings. I still think you'll eat just as cheaply in a restaurant, though.

In Italy I thought I had died and gone to heaven with their wonderful antipasti and thin crust pizzas. We found these dinners in Rome to be very reasonably priced. But don't cheat yourselves out of wonderful Italian food. I found that to be one of the highlights of the trip.