Stay within budget without compromising healthy habits.
Food costs are rising these days. But that doesn’t mean you can’t maintain healthy habits, while prioritizing a budget. I've enlisted food and nutrition professionals advice to share their best tips for saving money on groceries. With a bit of out-of-the-box thinking and flexibility, there are many ways to get food on the table without breaking the bank.
There’s An App for That
Many grocery stores now have apps for online ordering, but you can also use this technology to check sales and unit pricing to find the best deals. Download the app and look at the front page of the store flyer. This is where the supermarket advertises their weekly ‘Loss Leaders.’
Loss leaders are foods on sale at bargain prices. In fact, the prices are often so reduced that the store loses money when you buy them. They are drastically reduced in price to motivate you or ‘lead you’ to visit the store.”
There are also more and more apps popping up that can help in other ways. Many dietitians are using Flashfood. I’ve been using the Flashfood app to pick up discounted groceries that are close to their sell by date. There are pictures in the app and most items are 50 percent off. Apps like Flashfood partner with local grocery stores, which share marked down items, foods close to their expiration dates, or overstock. You can order the food right on the app, then pick it up at your store that day at your convenience. By planning your meals around the discounted items, you’ll save a ton on your grocery bill.
Hit the Holiday Clearance Section
Another fun suggestion on a festive way to save some money. Grab holiday clearance food! From Halloween to Christmas, Valentine’s to Easter – you can often find foods that are 75 to 90 percent off, simply due to their holiday packaging. This won’t be the case for all types of food, but savvy shoppers save money where they can. example: After Christmas, duck meat might be on sale. After Easter, lamb meat might be on sale. After Thanksgiving, sweet potatoes, pumpkin puree & green beans might be on sale! While you’re probably not going to come across all produce or meat this way, you might also find great deals on dark chocolate, condiments, coffee and other snacks.
Open Up Your Produce Possibilities
Fresh produce has seen huge spikes in prices but there are steps you can take to eat your fruits and vegetables while saving some cash. Be flexible with what produce you buy. If you notice that pears are on sale, but your grocery list says apples – grab the pears instead. The same goes with vegetables. If the head of cauliflower you were planning to roast is $4.99, but broccoli crowns are on sale at $.99 cents each, grab two broccoli crowns instead OR swap out fresh cauliflower for frozen (which tends to be cheaper but is just as healthy!).
It’s a little-known fact that frozen produce is just as nutritious as fresh. Buying more frozen produce is wise advice. Fresh produce is great, but unless that food is in-season, it can be expensive. Frozen produce can be a great, typically less expensive option. And these days, there are so many amazing options in the freezer aisle!
Take Stock of What You Have
Numerous dietitians suggest on checking what you have on hand before heading to the store. Always scan your pantry closely before making your grocery list. If you’re not doing this every week, chances are you’re forgetting many of the items in the back and are buying duplicates unnecessarily. Whether it’s our pantry, fridge or freezer, so often we don’t know what we have. Take a few minutes to get things in order and see what’s really in there. You’re practically guaranteed to uncover some hidden gems that can be spun into supper.
Buy In Bulk
Many experts suggest buying in bulk – check your store to see what they offer. Shop in the bulk section, if your store has one. It’s a great place to get spices for cents instead of $5+, and depending on the store, you can get lots of grains, nuts, baking supplies. Buying in bulk is a great money-saving tip, but some may not need bulk amounts nor have the room to store them. I also suggest shopping with a friend. “…If you bring a friend, you can easily buy in bulk or at least divide up some of your stash. For example, maybe you don’t need the 20-pound bag of frozen salmon fillets, but the cost is much cheaper than a smaller bag. Enter your friend, who takes half the salmon and also pays half.
Buy Meat Mindfully
Fresh meat and poultry are some of the most expensive items in the store but there are ways to be more frugal. Consider the weight of bones when buying meats by the pound. While boneless is more expensive, you will get more edible portions per pound. Buy the entire chicken instead of single cuts like chicken breast. The price per pou
nd of chicken breast can be over a dollar more than the price per pound of a whole chicken. Cook the whole chicken, remove and shred the meat for your recipes, then use the bones to make your own bone broth. Also be on the lookout for daily specials at your local butcher’s counter and build your meal around that protein.
Embrace Imperfections
One creative way to save money on groceries is to buy damaged or discontinued items. A lot of people don’t know it, but most grocery stores have a section for these items that are sold at a discounted price. There are also companies dedicated to reducing food waste and repurposing foods, such as Imperfect Foods and Misfits Market.
Now you have a few more tools when it comes to saving money but still keeping your health at the forefront of your goals!
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