Eating Well on a Budget

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the cost of feeding a family of four can run between $146 to $289 a week, which means the average family spends upwards of $15,000 a year on food. If that sounds like a big chunk of change to you, here are ways to cut back on your bill without sacrificing the quality of your meals.

Use Your Freezer

It’s easy to let your freezer fill up with boxes of premade meals that are years out of date and cartons of ice cream that were never quite finished. But there are plenty of things that are worth stashing in the icebox, allowing you to keep food fresh for longer and minimize wastefulness. Fruit, cheese, broth, soup, homemade or store bought dough or cookie dough and even eggs can be frozen. Here’s a comprehensive list of how and what to chill.

Visit the Farmers Market

If you’re lucky enough to live near a local farmers market or greenmarket, it is worth it for both your wallet and your taste buds to pay it a visit. Many farmers sell produce, eggs, meat and dairy products at wholesale prices, which means that you pay (on average) half the price you would at the supermarket. Not to mention, when you buy at a farmers market you’re buying locally, which benefits your neighborhood growers and the local ecosystem.

Buy Seasonal Produce

Part and parcel with buying at a local farmers market is buying produce that is in season. You’ll typically pay less for in season produce because the product hasn’t had to travel as far, which adds additional fuel costs, handling fees and tariffs. And now that it’s summer, markets are offering a variety of delicious fruits and veggies. Depending on where in the country you live, you’ll find stone fruits, berries, summer squash, cucumbers and corn by the bushelful.

Grow Your Own

There are plenty of reasons to grow your own vegetables, including freshness and controlling what goes into your food, but getting friendly with the earthworms will also benefit your bank account. If you’re new at the homegrown thing, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, squash, bell peppers, lettuce are all great starter vegetables. If you’re low on space, try growing herbs. They are hearty, require little maintenance and certain varieties (like thyme and rosemary) can last for years.

Buy in Bulk

You’ve probably heard this before, but buying in bulk can save you a great deal of money on your weekly supermarket run. But make sure to avoid buying anything that will expire before you have the chance to use it (ie: produce, dairy and meat) unless you plan to freeze it. Instead opt for items like cereal, dried beans, rice, vitamins, toilet paper and diapers. 

Eat Less Meat

According to Fox News, meat prices in the United States are soaring. On average, a ground burger costs $3.26 a pound, up from $2.99 a year ago. To cut costs, we suggest instituting a Meatless Mondays policy into your family’s meal plan. Not only will your wallet feel fatter, but you’ll see the benefits in your heart health and waistline, as well. If you have a hard time getting your kids to eat their greens, try these recipes from Yummly that have cleverly hidden veggies.

Shop in Your Pantry

Even though you’re about to head to the grocery store, chances are good that you’ve got a well-stocked pantry full of grains, canned goods and dried fruit. Why not skip the trip and use what you’ve already got on hand? It might be fun to experiment with ingredients you don’t use very often (which is why they’re probably sitting on the shelf untouched). Need some culinary inspiration? Recipe Matcher lets you search recipes by ingredient.