Anyone else feeling pinched by higher than normal grocery bills? While my husband and I aren’t spending as much on gas, travel, or entertainment, we are still spending money on food. As someone who usually takes pleasure in the entire process — from planning meals to picking out ingredients to making the meals each night — I’ve quickly realized I had to shift my mindset. I can’t buy groceries the same way I used to. I’ve had to adapt my menus to what’s available in the store. I’ve had to rely on pantry staples and use as few ingredients as possible. It’s brought me back to my days in graduate school, when I had a very tight grocery budget and I had to weigh whether or not each item was really worth it.
So, how do you save money on food while still making nutritious and tasty meals? Here are a few ideas:
· Inventory What You Have: First things first, make a comprehensive list of what’s in your pantry. Build your grocery list around the things you already have, replenishing as needed.
Tip: Knowing what you have can also allow you to make creative substitutions when an item you were banking on is out of stock.
· Whip Up a Fruit Smoothie: One of the biggest struggles of the pandemic for us so far is getting the fresh fruit and vegetables that are normally a central part of our meals. While we’ve slowly been able to get access to more, as we’re ordering groceries in two-week chunks, we’ve noticed a lot of fresh produce doesn’t last the full two weeks. We’ve started adding back in one of our favorite treats (that also happens to be pretty frugal): the frozen fruit smoothie. Generally, we aren’t too fancy: a few cups of berries, pineapple, cherries, mangoes, or whatever is in the freezer, along with some oat milk and a little whey protein powder. It’s easy to make and packs a lot of vitamins.
Tip: We used to avoid smoothies because cleaning our blender was such an arduous task. We bought a Ninja personal blender (like this one … not an affiliate link; I just really like the product) a few years ago and we use it all the time. It’s easy to clean, easy to use, and has paid for itself multiple times over.
· Befriend Your Freezer: I am ashamed at how much I used to throw away before the pandemic. I’d toss out a few extra hamburger buns left over from burger night. I’d let soup leftovers rot in the fridge. I can’t believe how wasteful I was! I’ve realized now that most of these things are freezer-friendly. Plus, they can really come in handy … that one extra serving of soup is great for lunch when you grab takeout one night and have no leftovers.
Tip: Curious how to best preserve your leftovers? Take a look at how to freeze and reheat these 10 most popular ones for the best results.
· Diversify Your Buying: Especially right now, it can be much more convenient to buy everything from one place. But shopping at a few different stores can offer you a wider variety of items and help you save money. We’ve had pretty good luck buying from our regular grocery store (Whole Foods) on a bi-weekly basis and then supplementing with a monthly order for pantry staples from online retailers like Thrive Market or Patagonia Provisions.
Tip: Looking to save money and time? Buddy up with a few friends who go to different stores (like Costco or Trader Joe’s) and send each other your grocery lists. Then, you each only have to go to (or order from) one store and you can still diversify your buying. Plus, you might just get to see a friend through the window when you deliver their order.
· Brush Up on Your Baking: Not gonna lie, this may be my favorite part of quarantine: an excuse to take on ALL the baking projects. Even if baking isn’t normally your thing, this is a great way to enjoy freshly baked goods and save a little money, especially if you’re trying to go to the grocery store as little as possible.
Tip: Daunted by the idea of making your own bread? Try this miracle no-knead bread. It’s ridiculously easy and very delicious.
· Build Meals Around Staple Proteins: While many grocery stores are finally getting stock back on their shelves, staple proteins like boneless chicken breasts are still selling out quickly. I’ve been trying to key in on less-popular proteins that have been mostly in stock like chicken thighs, salmon, or chickpeas. When I do find chicken breasts in stock, I try to buy one extra (not the entire store’s worth) to stick in the freezer.
Tip: One often overlooked protein is the humble egg. We’ve found it fairly easy to get eggs. They keep in the fridge for a long time and are incredibly versatile. Check out these recipes from Bon Appetit to up your egg game.
· Buy Veggies and Fruits That Last: Some fruits and veggies just aren’t as good after a week or two of waiting. These veggies and fruits can stay fresh for a month or longer. Check out these tips for where and how to store produce for maximum freshness.
Tip: Did you know frozen fruits and veggies are often just as nutritious (if not more nutritious) than fresh because they are frozen at the height of freshness? Frozen produce can be a great solution when you no longer have fresh left. Here are some great recipes featuring frozen fruits and veggies.
How are you saving money on food? Let me know in the comments below.