GROCERY SHOPPING & COOKING ON A BUDGET: 5 Tips for Helping Your Family Stretch Food Dollars

Feeding a growing family can be challenging, especially as food prices rise and monthly budgets get tight. The good news is that with a few smart strategies, you can shop, store food and cook in ways that can make your groceries go further. Here are some tips that integrate a little bit of planning and forming some simple new habits so that your family can enjoy more nutritious meals while keeping costs lower.

Tip 1: Plan Before You Shop: Make a List and Stick to It

A great way to save on mindless spending is to plan meals before you shop for groceries. By choosing a few simple recipes for a week of meals, you’re able to better prevent last-minute purchases and avoid wasting food. Once you’ve figured out what meals you’ll make for the week, write your grocery list of the ingredients you’ll need and take the list with you to the store. Challenge yourself to stick to the list and only buy what’s on it. Hot Tip: We’ve compiled some easy-prep meals that are also good for your family.

If thinking through a menu for the week feels overwhelming, start small. Choose two or three main dishes and fill the rest of your list with foods your family often eat or that can be used in various recipes like cheese, pasta, rice, beans or frozen vegetables. These ingredients can be inexpensive, versatile, and easy to incorporate into full meals.

Tip 2: Shop the Basics First

The most cost-effective groceries are often simple, whole ingredients. Families can save by putting some of these items at the top of the list:

• Dried beans and lentils are affordable, full of vitamins and protein, and easy to cook in large batches for soups, tacos or rice bowls.

• Rice, oats and pasta are budget-friendly and can help stretch meals.

• Frozen fruits and vegetables are just as nutritious as fresh, but they are often much cheaper and last much longer.

• Canned items like beans, tomatoes, tuna and vegetables are inexpensive and great for whipping up a quick meal.

• Eggs and peanut butter are reliable, lower-cost protein sources and are delicious any time of day.
  

Hot Tip: Buying store brands instead of name brands can also bring down prices significantly without sacrificing on quality.

Tip 3: Make Fresh Food Last Longer

Fresh fruits and vegetables are tasty and important, but unfortunately, they can spoil quickly if not stored properly. Here are a few ways to store foods for longer to help stretch your budget:

• Use the freezer: Many fresh items can be frozen before they go bad, such as berries, bananas, onions, peppers, broccoli and bread.

• Prep produce right away: Washing, chopping and storing vegetables in airtight containers keeps them crisp and makes them easier to use quickly to make week-day/night meals.

• Keep “quick-to-spoil” items visible: Put foods like berries, cucumbers or spinach at the front of the fridge so they’re used or snacked on first.

• Store herbs well: Wrap herbs in a damp paper towel and place them in a bag to keep them fresh longer.
  

Tip 4: Cook Once, Eat Twice (or More)

Cooking in larger batches can be a great way to save money and time. Doubling a recipe doesn’t usually mean that the cost is doubled, it just provides more leftovers that can be used for packed lunches, another dinner meal in a day or two, or frozen for future meals. Soups, casseroles, pasta dishes, beans, rice and taco meat and fillings all freeze well. Hot Tip: Label your containers with the food type and date so your family can keep track of what’s ready to reheat on a busy night.

Tip 5: Build Flavor on a Budget

A small collection of inexpensive herbs and spices can turn basic ingredients into tasty meals. Dried herbs, like garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin and Italian seasoning, last a long time and are often more affordable than buying them fresh every week.

Additionally, you can stretch meals by using less expensive proteins like beans and lentils, eggs, canned tuna or chicken, chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts, ground turkey or pork products.

Hot Tip: Try to pick meals that use some of the same ingredients (meats, veggies, sauces) to spread the groceries over a few meals, if possible.

A Little Planning Makes Grocery Costs Go Further

Cooking on a budget just takes a bit of planning and trying a few new habits. With smart shopping strategies, good storage habits, and simple recipes, your family can enjoy a variety of good-for-you meals that stretch your dollars further.

Know a family that could use some grocery budget-stretching tips? Share this blog! It takes a village to help parents feel more confident and supportive helping their young children grow healthy and happy for strong futures.