Saving Money on Healthy Groceries

Feeding your family healthy meals on a budget requires a little time and organization, but it can be done. Consider starting by creating a weekly meal plan based on what you have in your pantry and what's on sale at the grocery store. Having what you need to make at least five meals (plus leftovers) will help you avoid takeout temptation.

Look for manufacturers' coupons to match with in-store sales to really maximize savings. It's easier than you think. If your kids are old enough, have them cut the coupons out of the paper for you. Put your coupons savings towards something you can all enjoy together: a night away at a hotel or a new video game. Look for coupons online to find valuable coupons that can be downloaded in seconds. It doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing prospect. If you start by only using coupons for the products you normally buy already, you have nothing to lose.

Consider adding more inexpensive sources of protein to your diet such as beans and lentils. Look for produce that's in season at your supermarket or shop food co-ops and farmer's markets (since food is grown locally, you're not having to pay hefty shipping costs). Stock up on meat when it's on sale and freeze it for later. Also, experiment with flavorful ways to use cheaper cuts of meat. Crock pots are great for making tougher cuts melt-in-your-mouth tender.

Finally, consider making more food items from scratch. Whole-wheat bread is easy to make if you have a bread machine, plus it tastes better than its store-bought counterpart. In general, the closer to its natural state food is when you buy it, the cheaper it is. You pay a lot for processing, so avoid it when possible and you'll not only save money you'll be improving your diet, too.

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