Previously published on myRegence.com

But good food is expensive right? Well yes, it can be. But lately I’ve learned a few shopping tricks that have allowed me to enjoy the foods I love and save money.

Shop the bulk section
Find a grocery store that has a bulk section with flours, grains, pastas, dried beans, dried fruits, cereals and spices. You’d be amazed how much money you can save – and you’re only buying the amount you need.

The other day I ran out of bay leaves. Instead of spending $6.50 for a pre-packed bottle containing about 10 leaves, I purchased a small plastic bag full for 30 cents. How’s that for saving money? Whenever I need whole wheat pastry flour (which needs to be stored in the refrigerator by the way), instead of spending almost $10 for a package that’s more than I need, I can buy a couple cups for around $2.

Buy whole meats
At the meat counter, look for meats that haven’t been cut into individual portions. It’s about 30% more expensive to buy single cuts because it takes human labor – and that labor is reflected in the price you pay.

Two boneless, skinless chicken breasts weigh about 1 pound. For the same price, you can buy a whole chicken that yields 6 individual cuts – 2 legs, 2 thighs and 2 breasts. If you’ve never cut apart a chicken before, check out the video I did on Chicken Provencal (add link). With a little practice, you too can break down a chicken in a few minutes. As a bonus, you now have bones to make a chicken stock that costs four times less than the prepackaged version.

Looks for products in season
When shopping for fruits and vegetables, try to buy what’s in season. These ingredients are less expensive because there’s a flood of them on the market. That means lower prices for you and me. As an added benefit, produce that is picked when ripe actually contains higher concentrations of vitamins and minerals. So instead of buying that little tiny box of $5 blueberries this winter (which were picked before they were ripe and given a ripening gas during transportation), try some apples, pears or citrus fruits.

Make a larger batch
If you’re going to take the time to make a great meal, why not make a larger batch and save the leftovers? A couple years ago I purchased a vacuum sealer machine, and it’s probably one of the most used appliances in my kitchen. If I have leftovers, I can freeze individual portions in the vacuum seal bags. Not only do I prevent freezer burn, but now I have a quick and easy dinner for later. Simply reheat the frozen meal in a pan of warm water for 10 to 20 minutes and dinner is served!

Plan ahead
When ingredients spoil, you’re throwing money into the garbage. Instead of going to the grocery store once a week, plan out your meals every week and try several smaller shopping trips. Once I changed my shopping habits and only purchased what I’d be eating for the next couple days, I threw less spoiled food away. By looking back on what I spent on groceries, I found I could save about $50 a month.

Develop a relationship with your butcher
Get to know the person behind your meat counter. I’ve found that by developing this relationship, I learn what’s really fresh, what’s going to be on sale, and where the good values are. Often times I will tell my butcher what I’m cooking and he will steer me toward cuts of meat I haven’t considered. I’ve saved a bundle by following his advice.

Happy – and healthy – eating!



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