Eat on the Cheap: Guide to Supermarket Savingsby Shawn McKee
eDiets Staff Writer
Times are tough.
That's something my dad always used to say when we would complain about eating the same leftovers repackaged as something different. And, well, times were tough. I always had enough to eat, but it got old eating so much chicken.
Times continued to be tough as I left for college. It was an amazing feat that I could live on such measly means. I worked, but $6.25 an hour doesn't go very far. Plus, most of my monthly food budget was guzzled down during late night beer runs and Saturday afternoon football games. My priorities were a little different then.
I mostly subsisted on tuna sandwiches, ramen noodles, macaroni and cheese, PB&J, pizza and beer -- primarily pizza and beer, though. It wasn't the healthiest diet, but I was in college and, like I said, my priorities were different then.
Now, as the country teeters on the edge of recession, gas prices hit astronomical numbers and food prices force me to cut the frills from my food purchasing, I find myself all grown up, living on my own and realizing how difficult it really is to make ends meet.
Times are tough.
However, I still have my health (another of my dad's favorite sayings), and I think that's crucially important to remember. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine keeps some sense of normalcy as prices spiral out of control.
Since we're all about eating healthy here at eDiets, I thought now would be the perfect time to share some terrific tips to savvy shopping. You can't just stop buying food if it gets too expensive -- that's not an option. However, if you maintain a certain level of food flexibility, you can still eat healthy, delicious meals without blowing all your dough.
"You have to be flexible when it comes to meal planning, switch things around and make substitutions to really make your dollar stretch," explains eDiets Director of Nutrition Services Pam Ofstein.
Pam recommends looking for sales on protein sources first. Substituting skinless dark meat chicken for white meat can save some money without adding too much fat to your meal. Pork can also be an inexpensive meat alternative. It is, after all, "the other white meat."
"The key with any kind of meat is trimming the fat and watching portion sizes," according to Pam, who recommends trying pork loin or a nice lean pork chop.
One area you shouldn't be flexible on is planning.
"Planning is the key. If you can plan your meals, it's much easier to eat healthy on a budget," Pam says.
So here's Pam's 5-point plan to keep your waist thin and your wallet fat:
1. The scoop on the coupon. Check the newspaper and Internet for advertised savings and specials before you make your grocery list. This is a good way to find places to cut costs and get an idea of what you want to eat for the upcoming week.
2. Plan your meals. This will let you know exactly what you're going to need, which is essential for the third step:
3. Make a list, check it twice. A list will tell you exactly what you're going to need, give you a good idea of what you will spend and keep you on track when you go to the store. If it's not on the list, it's not in the cart. This step will also help limit trips to the grocery store, which will limit your chances to make unnecessary impulse purchases -- which can account for as much as 40 percent of what you buy, according to industry insiders.
4. Generically challenged. Pam recommends trying store brands, which can be significantly cheaper. Many of the store brands are made in the same factories, by the same companies as the pricier nationally known brands. What you pay for is the branding and ad costs. Check the ingredients and you may be getting essentially the same thing for less money -- without sacrificing quality.
5. Little numbers make a big difference. Most supermarkets will display a "price per unit" on the shelf's price tag. This number gives you the exact cost of what you're paying per unit -- whether it's ounces, pounds or portions. It's the easiest way to compare prices regardless of package size. Just because you're buying in bulk doesn't mean you're necessarily saving money. In fact, if the larger portion spoils before you finish it, you're actually wasting money.
Pam offers one final tip to avoid impulse purchasing:
"Never go to the store hungry. You will buy things you don't need. Eat, then shop. Impulse purchases are almost never healthy and usually unnecessary and expensive."
Hopefully these tips will help you stretch your food dollar a little further, and just remember: It could be worse. Times were really tough in my grandfather's day. Not only was money tight, but he had to walk uphill, both ways, in the snow just to get to school. Now those times were really tough.
Do you have some supermarkets secrets to save money? Share your tips here and help to be healthy on a budget.
eDiets Staff Writer
Times are tough.
That's something my dad always used to say when we would complain about eating the same leftovers repackaged as something different. And, well, times were tough. I always had enough to eat, but it got old eating so much chicken.
Times continued to be tough as I left for college. It was an amazing feat that I could live on such measly means. I worked, but $6.25 an hour doesn't go very far. Plus, most of my monthly food budget was guzzled down during late night beer runs and Saturday afternoon football games. My priorities were a little different then.
I mostly subsisted on tuna sandwiches, ramen noodles, macaroni and cheese, PB&J, pizza and beer -- primarily pizza and beer, though. It wasn't the healthiest diet, but I was in college and, like I said, my priorities were different then.
Now, as the country teeters on the edge of recession, gas prices hit astronomical numbers and food prices force me to cut the frills from my food purchasing, I find myself all grown up, living on my own and realizing how difficult it really is to make ends meet.
Times are tough.
However, I still have my health (another of my dad's favorite sayings), and I think that's crucially important to remember. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine keeps some sense of normalcy as prices spiral out of control.
Since we're all about eating healthy here at eDiets, I thought now would be the perfect time to share some terrific tips to savvy shopping. You can't just stop buying food if it gets too expensive -- that's not an option. However, if you maintain a certain level of food flexibility, you can still eat healthy, delicious meals without blowing all your dough.
"You have to be flexible when it comes to meal planning, switch things around and make substitutions to really make your dollar stretch," explains eDiets Director of Nutrition Services Pam Ofstein.
Pam recommends looking for sales on protein sources first. Substituting skinless dark meat chicken for white meat can save some money without adding too much fat to your meal. Pork can also be an inexpensive meat alternative. It is, after all, "the other white meat."
"The key with any kind of meat is trimming the fat and watching portion sizes," according to Pam, who recommends trying pork loin or a nice lean pork chop.
One area you shouldn't be flexible on is planning.
"Planning is the key. If you can plan your meals, it's much easier to eat healthy on a budget," Pam says.
So here's Pam's 5-point plan to keep your waist thin and your wallet fat:
1. The scoop on the coupon. Check the newspaper and Internet for advertised savings and specials before you make your grocery list. This is a good way to find places to cut costs and get an idea of what you want to eat for the upcoming week.
2. Plan your meals. This will let you know exactly what you're going to need, which is essential for the third step:
3. Make a list, check it twice. A list will tell you exactly what you're going to need, give you a good idea of what you will spend and keep you on track when you go to the store. If it's not on the list, it's not in the cart. This step will also help limit trips to the grocery store, which will limit your chances to make unnecessary impulse purchases -- which can account for as much as 40 percent of what you buy, according to industry insiders.
4. Generically challenged. Pam recommends trying store brands, which can be significantly cheaper. Many of the store brands are made in the same factories, by the same companies as the pricier nationally known brands. What you pay for is the branding and ad costs. Check the ingredients and you may be getting essentially the same thing for less money -- without sacrificing quality.
5. Little numbers make a big difference. Most supermarkets will display a "price per unit" on the shelf's price tag. This number gives you the exact cost of what you're paying per unit -- whether it's ounces, pounds or portions. It's the easiest way to compare prices regardless of package size. Just because you're buying in bulk doesn't mean you're necessarily saving money. In fact, if the larger portion spoils before you finish it, you're actually wasting money.
Pam offers one final tip to avoid impulse purchasing:
"Never go to the store hungry. You will buy things you don't need. Eat, then shop. Impulse purchases are almost never healthy and usually unnecessary and expensive."
Hopefully these tips will help you stretch your food dollar a little further, and just remember: It could be worse. Times were really tough in my grandfather's day. Not only was money tight, but he had to walk uphill, both ways, in the snow just to get to school. Now those times were really tough.
Do you have some supermarkets secrets to save money? Share your tips here and help to be healthy on a budget.
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