It really is possible to keep your grocery bill low, even as food prices rise. All it takes is a little creativity, a little flexibility, and a willingness to experiment.
Here are some quick tips to reduce your family’s food costs. Not all these ideas will work for everyone—but that’s okay. Even one or two small changes can make a big difference.
How are you cutting costs, even as food prices rise?
Make it yourself. Many packaged foods—like tortillas, tomato sauce, refried beans, and mashed potatoes—can be prepared more frugally and healthfully from scratch. Make big batches whenever you can, then freeze for later use. You’ll save a bundle!
Grow your own. Fresh-from-the-garden produce and herbs are key ingredients in many inexpensive, healthful meals. Even if you only plant tomatoes and basil, you’ll have the makings for pesto all summer long. Plus, you can preserve your garden’s bounty by canning, drying, or freezing excess.
Go meatless. Try incorporating one or two meatless meals into your weekly menu plan. Some tasty choices include baked macaroni and cheese with broccoli, rice and bean burritos, vegetable noodle soup, pasta topped with sauce and cheese, and hearty vegetable omelets. If your family wants at least a little meat, try preparing dishes that call for only a few ounces of meat, but lots of fresh veggies and whole grains (spaghetti with meat sauce and fried rice both come to mind).
Drink water. Fruit juice, soda, and drink mixes are not only expensive—they’re also unhealthy. You’ll save money and improve your health by drinking water at most meals. Just make sure you’re not buying expensive bottled water. Donnie and I use a Brita filter to remove impurities, but I grew up drinking plain tap water, and am no worse for the wear!
Be prepared. Create a shopping list and menu plan every week. Keep your freezer stocked a few with individual- and family-sized portions of your favorite foods, in case you need a quick last-minute lunch or dinner. If you work outside the home, make sure you have plenty of healthy snacks on-hand at your desk.
Here are some quick tips to reduce your family’s food costs. Not all these ideas will work for everyone—but that’s okay. Even one or two small changes can make a big difference.
How are you cutting costs, even as food prices rise?
Make it yourself. Many packaged foods—like tortillas, tomato sauce, refried beans, and mashed potatoes—can be prepared more frugally and healthfully from scratch. Make big batches whenever you can, then freeze for later use. You’ll save a bundle!
Grow your own. Fresh-from-the-garden produce and herbs are key ingredients in many inexpensive, healthful meals. Even if you only plant tomatoes and basil, you’ll have the makings for pesto all summer long. Plus, you can preserve your garden’s bounty by canning, drying, or freezing excess.
Go meatless. Try incorporating one or two meatless meals into your weekly menu plan. Some tasty choices include baked macaroni and cheese with broccoli, rice and bean burritos, vegetable noodle soup, pasta topped with sauce and cheese, and hearty vegetable omelets. If your family wants at least a little meat, try preparing dishes that call for only a few ounces of meat, but lots of fresh veggies and whole grains (spaghetti with meat sauce and fried rice both come to mind).
Drink water. Fruit juice, soda, and drink mixes are not only expensive—they’re also unhealthy. You’ll save money and improve your health by drinking water at most meals. Just make sure you’re not buying expensive bottled water. Donnie and I use a Brita filter to remove impurities, but I grew up drinking plain tap water, and am no worse for the wear!
Be prepared. Create a shopping list and menu plan every week. Keep your freezer stocked a few with individual- and family-sized portions of your favorite foods, in case you need a quick last-minute lunch or dinner. If you work outside the home, make sure you have plenty of healthy snacks on-hand at your desk.
5 comments:
Agreed on the water! And if just can't take the blandness of it, throw some tea bags in a pitcher of cold water for another cheap drink.
Thank you so much for those ideas! I never thought of making my own tomato sauce. And I really appreciated your ideas on meatless meals. I have a hard time coming up with some that sound good! :-)
I drink diet soda.. because of my "diet" but I probably could do without YIKES lol It's my husband.. he doesn't even know what WATER is.. lol
I have been switching the kids to water too. I also do one meatless meal a week for the family- usually spaghetti night. Thanks for the new ideas; I'm gonna add them to my bag of tricks. :-) Kelly
Thanks for the great tips! I am lucky that my son LOVES water over anything. I love water and have noticed in the past couple of weeks that cutting out soda and crap and replacing it with water has helped me lose some of my baby weight.
I would LOVE to have 2 meatless meals a week, but my husband is a meat guy.... sometimes it drives me crazy.
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