Kitchen and Cooking Tips, Articles, And Product
Review
This is an excellent article! Hey, and
Dine Without Whine does
numbers 1 and 2 for you!
Smart Shopping: 25 Ways to Slash Your
Grocery Bills
No doubt about it, convenience foods save you time. But - and it's a big but -
convenience foods don't save you money. If you rely on frozen dinners, helper
foods, kits and take-out you are spending too much money on food. These tips
will help you lower your bills and eat healthy, flavorful meals.
1. Plan meals by the
week.
2. Make a grocery list,
grouping foods by category. (Meat, dairy, produce, etc.)
3. Only buy what is on
your list. Don't succumb to impulse buying or kids' demands for products hyped
on TV.
4. Shop at stores that
have the most specials.
5. Use coupons for
healthy foods only. Don't buy a product just because you have a coupon.
6. Roll your cart past
"helper," "partner," "bakes" and "kits." These products are over-priced,
over-salted, and you can't even pronounce some of the ingredients.
7. Mix up your own rubs.
They take only minutes to make and you can customize them to your tastes.
8. Buy store and
less-known brands, often made by top manufacturers.
9. Buy lean hamburger.
It is better for you and there is less waste.
9. Drink water instead
of pricey soda pop, which is often loaded with sugar and erodes your teeth.
10. Make your own salad
dressing. You'll save a bundle!
11. Make your own
granola. Lots of recipes are posted on the Internet and kids will enjoy helping
you.
12. Eat boxed hot
cereal, not the kind in packets.
13. Buy day-old bread
and coffee cake. The bread is perfect for French toast and grilled sandwiches.
Stale coffee cake makes some of the best bread pudding you will ever taste.
14. Stores put pricey
foods - the foods they want to push - at eye level. Bend down and look on the
bottom shelves for bargains.
15. Learn how to cut up
a whole chicken.
16. Eat seasonal fruits
and vegetables.
17. Buy staples in bulk.
18. Make your own
pudding. You will get twice as much for your money.
19. Buy a refrigerated
or prepared crust and make your favorite pizza.
20. Use meat for flavor,
as in stir-fry, instead of making it the feature of the meal.
21. Maximize leftovers.
Make cream sauce for a little left over spinach. Use leftover vegetables in
soup.
22. Put leftovers in
sturdy plastic zipper bags to prevent freezer burn and waste. Label and date the
bags.
23. Turn old bread into
new, delicious croutons. Cut the bread into cubes, drizzle it with olive oil,
sprinkle with garlic powder, oregano and basil. Bake in a 350 degree oven until
crispy.
24. Make your own baking
mix and store in a tightly covered jar. (Recipes are posted on the Internet.)
25. Involve kids and
grandkids. The involved kids of today will turn into smart shoppers tomorrow.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2006 by
Harriet Hodgson
http://www.harriethodgson.com
http://www.healthwriter.blogspot.com
Harriet Hodgson has been a nonfiction writer for 27 years and is a
member of the Association of Health Care Journalists and the Assocition
for Death Education and Counseling. Before she became a health writer
she was a food writer for the former "Rochester Magazine" in her
hometown of Rochester, MN. Her 24th book, "Smiling Through Your Tears:
Anticipating Grief," written with Lois Krahn, MD, is available from
http://www.amazon.com A five-star review of the book is
posted on Amazon. You will find another review on the American Hospice
Foundation website under the "School Corner' heading.
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