For a family on a tight grocery budget, it can be crucial to make every grocery dollar count. For some families, the grocery budget is the only place in the spending plan that has any wiggle room at all. Since diet makes up so much of our health, it is important to not sacrifice your health to save a few dollars. It is possible to eat healthfully on a limited budget. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Focusing Money Where It Counts
For a family on a tight grocery budget, it is crucial that every food dollar provide as much energy and nutrition as it can. Focus on "nutrient-dense" foods over "empty calorie" foods if you are going to save money without sacrificing health and nutrition. Nutrient-dense foods pack the greatest amount of vitamins and minerals per calorie, whereas empty calorie foods pack calories without many nutrients. For example, 1 oz. of cheese curls contains 160 calories, with little or no vitamins or minerals. But 1 oz. of roasted almonds packs a similar number of calories and gives you 13 percent of your daily recommended phosphorus, 37 percent vitamin E and 35 percent manganese.
Some of the most nutrient-dense foods include whole grains, meats, fish, seafood, fruits, and vegetables. The adage "shop around the perimeter of the grocery store" can be powerful in eliminating unnecessary purchases. Grocery stores tend to keep the "whole foods" around the sides of the store, with the processed "impulse" foods in the center aisles.
Tips for Saving Money
Once you are focused on buying "plain," it is helpful to know how different ways of buying can affect how much you pay. Buying the larger container often means paying less per unit. For example, if the 1-lb. bag of navy beans costs $1 and the 5-lb. bag costs $2, you essentially got 3 lbs. for free. Taking a calculator to the grocery store can help you sort out the cheapest deals.
Purchasing foods from the bulk bins can often save money because you are not charged for the packaging. Compare prices of rice, for example, in bags versus scooping it out of the rice bin yourself. Most grocery stores have a "bulk" section where dry items can be purchased in this way. Another option is to join a food cooperative, where many food items are available from bulk bins.
If meat is costing a disproportionate amount of money in your budget, consider buying soup bones from the butcher. These are usually very inexpensive and give the nutrition of meat without the cost. Soup bones can be stretched very far by simmering in a lot of water to make soup, and using the meat on the bone to add to the soup.
Stay away from recipes that call for spices and other ingredients that you must buy especially for the recipe. Using what you already have on hand is the best way to eliminate wasted money.
Recipes
Recipes with few ingredients are simple and inexpensive to make. Soup recipes are often the best nutritional value for the money because they stretch far with water, and also are comprised of vegetables, whole grains and a small amount of meat (if desired). Coupled with some homemade bread, soup can be a full meal.
Eggs are an inexpensive source of complete protein, and are tasty for breakfast, or for other meals in the form of a savory quiche or omelets.
Tags: grocery budget, budget crucial, bulk bins, calorie foods, empty calorie, empty calorie foods