Avoid a Nutrition Recession and Save Money on Groceries

Grocery shopping can be such a pain. We have more choices than ever before. My friend told me she was “overwhelmed” by the eggs at a recent shopping trip – eggs! Evidently, there are too many varieties (whole grain, omega-3, cage-free, etc.).

We’d also like to keep food costs down, which is not always easy, but increasingly important in this economy. But I worry that the economic recession is going to drive well-meaning people into a nutrition recession, too. Don’t let this happen to you. It is possible to save money on your grocery bill without sacrificing nutrition and I’m going to tell you how in this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvuC33j-_Xk

• Put fresh produce first. In-season fruits and vegetables are inexpensive and they have the best nutrition for the calories. Think of all the different ways you can enjoy the bounty of the season. Summer vegetable soup (corn, zucchini, onion, tomatoes, black beans, and vegetable stock) or try grilled peaches for a healthy dessert. Ice cream novelties are $1 a piece, but you can get fresh fruit for less than 20 cents – now, which is the bargain?
• Save money on protein purchases. Canned tuna is a lean, healthy protein you can often find on sale. Use tuna in lunch sandwiches or salads. Beans are a very inexpensive food and they are a great source of protein. I buy black beans, chick peas (garbanzo), kidney beans, and white beans at every trip. I keep rinsed beans in the fridge for salad and wrap toppers. I also look for frozen seafood like shrimp and salmon fillets. You can stretch out your protein by making it the “side dish” in a meal – salad toppers or mixed in with rice and veggies.
• Buy in bulk. If there is a special deal on large portions of healthy foods, stock up! For example, a sale on grape tomatoes can have you putting garden salad starters and fresh tomato basil pasta dinners on the menu. Grape tomatoes also make a great snack. So don’t hesitate to take advantage of the larger portions of healthy foods. Just make sure you don’t waste it.

What money-saving grocery shopping tips work for you?

How to Save $2000 on Your Grocery Bill

Gas prices got you down? Fed up with the cost of food? Me to!!! I realized quickly that if I was going to make it through these penny pinching times, I’d need to re-evaluate my grocery shopping habits. I cut out sodas and nearly all processed foods. Chips, pretzels, candy, ice-cream, gelatin and pudding were a few items on my “sometimes” list that just got placed on the DL. I focused on choosing items that would give me the most nutritional bang for my buck. I gotta say that I don’t miss any of that extra “stuff” that would just show up in my cart.

If you want to save some serious scrilla, check out this web page from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln Extension Program. They have tips like shopping from a grocery list, avoiding food waste, clipping coupons, skipping out on frills like bottled water and convenience snack foods and much more. The best part is that this advice can save you $40 a week or $2,000 a year! Cha-ching!

Other reading: Web MD – saving money on your grocery bill