The best time to save on shopping for food is now, when the summer’s harvest is at its peak with vegetables and fruit. Vegetables like corn, peppers, squash, beans and fruit like apples, strawberries and blueberries are a plenty this time of year and, as such, are inexpensive.
Here are some ways to save when buying food for your family:
1. Bulk up! It makes sense to buy vegetables and fruit in bulk and freeze them for stews, soups and jams. Buying vegetables and fruits in the winter is more expensive. You’ll save throughout the winter season by bulking up on inexpensive produce now.
2. Use beans as a filler. You can’t go wrong adding beans to any recipe. Beans are one of the cheapest vegetable you can find and they’re packed with fiber and protein. They have a good shelf life and you can toss them in salads, pasta, stir-fries, soups and they make for an easy dip. Dried beans are even less expensive than canned. Cook a big batch then freeze extras for when you’re ready to use them in a recipe.
3. Skip the meat. Choose a non-meat meal a few times a week to help save on your food budget. Barley, brown rice and whole-wheat pasta are economical whole-grain choices. Shop around to find the best price on more expensive whole grains, such as quinoa and wild rice.
4. Choose your meat wisely. If you like your meat but can’t afford the price tags that go with a choice cut steak, choose ground meat. There are many options for ground meat such as beef, chicken and pork. Buy in bulk and freeze smaller portions for future recipes. You can save money buying a whole chicken instead of a pack of boneless chicken breasts. Use the carcass for making a mean chicken stock for soups and you’ll get a few dinners out of one chicken.
5. Watch for sales and coupons. Your local grocer will offer sales each week on produce. Plan your meals around what is on sale to save. Watch out for dollar sales where you can bulk up on certain items to save even more.
The more you plan your meals and line your pantry shelves the more money you’ll end up saving in the long run. It will involve more work on your part, but the food will taste better knowing you spent wisely!
To find out more on how to save, visit our Blog and click on HOW TO COOK ON A BUDGET: https://www.occa.ca/how-to-cook-on-a-budget.
Recent Comments