Hello, savvy shoppers! In this issue:

• Grocery smarts

• There’s an app for that

• The facts about expiration dates

• Gift card prize winners!

• Cooking hack: Stretching meals and your dollar

Sharpen Your Grocery Smarts

Recent events are impacting the cost of goods and driving up grocery prices across the country. While it leaves many of us shaking our heads, it’s particularly alarming for anyone living on a fixed or limited income. 

There are practical ways to make your grocery budget work harder for you without sacrificing nutrition, flavor, or your favorites. It just takes a little know-how and planning.

Reduce food waste

Food waste is a real issue in the U.S., which underscores the importance of being a smart shopper. Feeding America, a leading nonprofit, reports that Americans waste roughly 30-40% of their food supply annually, which equates to about 92 billion pounds of food or 145 billion meals. This waste also represents a financial loss of over $473 billion annually. Just imagine how greatly these numbers could be reduced by raising awareness. 

Follow the tips and strategies in this article, including:

• Plan your menus ahead

• Store foods properly to maximize freshness

• Use leftovers creatively in new dishes (we have ideas below!)

• Freeze portions before they spoil

• Keep track of what's in your refrigerator and pantry

Plan ahead

A little prep work goes a long way to save you money at the grocery store. And thanks to technology, there are apps that make it easy. 

We tried out AnyList, a smart way to plan your shopping trip. It’s available online and as a mobile app from the App Store or Google Store.  You’ll find it a snap to use, along with its smart features that let you:

• Plan a weekly menu

• Create a grocery list from that menu

• Manually list items

• Add items using Siri

• Find the best prices and specials for the items on your list

If you prefer to make your own grocery list, experts recommend:

• Create weekly meal plans based on sale items and what you have at home

• Make a detailed shopping list and stick to it

• Check store flyers and circulars for specials before shopping

• Consider using store loyalty programs and digital coupons; these are often easier than clipping paper coupons

Avoid temptation

While it’s a known fact that we tend to buy more groceries when we shop hungry, it can also eat into our budgets. Either shop on a fuller stomach or order your groceries online for pickup. This service tends to be free, so take advantage of it.

Bulk up

Buying in bulk can be a budget-friendly strategy, but only (obviously) if you plan to use everything before it expires. First, understand the labeling:

• Best if used by/Best by: These dates are when a food product is expected to be at its peak quality in terms of taste, texture, and nutritional value

• Use by: This tells you when a food product is expected to be at its peak quality and is safe to eat

• Sell-by: These dates specify when a food product should be removed from store shelves to ensure freshness.

• Get more info on freezing food and food safety.

Some items that are worth buying in larger quantities include:

• Shelf-stable foods (rice, pasta, canned goods, milk, and milk alternatives)

• Family-sized packages of meat, pork, and chicken; this works best for bulk cooking and freezing 

• Frozen vegetables; these are are often less expensive than fresh and last longer

• Household items (paper products, laundry detergent, sponges, etc.)

Choose store brands

Store brands typically cost 20-30% less than name brands but often have similar quality:

• Great for staples like flour, sugar, and canned vegetables

• Many store-brand medications and supplements are identical to name brands but much less expensive

• Be willing to experiment—you may find you prefer some store brands over the big brands 

Shop seasonally and locally

Foods that are in season and grown locally often cost less. We make it a habit to:

• Visit farmers' markets, especially near closing time when vendors may cut prices

• Join a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program for fresh produce

• Freeze extra seasonal produce for use throughout the year

Ask about senior discounts

Many grocery stores offer senior discounts ranging from 5% to 10%. These are usually available on slower shopping days like Tuesday or Wednesday mornings. To qualify, customers need to be at least 60 or 65 years old and may need to sign up for a store loyalty card or show identification. 

Also, check your grocer’s website. Many offer recipes using the products that are on special or being sold at a good value.

Shop wisely for protein

Animal proteins are often the most affected by price increases. Try these strategies to ensure you’re getting enough in your diet:

• Use meat as a flavoring rather than the main component of meals, e.g., meat sauce

• Buy larger cuts and portion them yourself at home and freeze

• Look for "reduced for quick sale" items that can be frozen immediately

• Try adding plant-based proteins like beans, lentils, and tofu to your diet; these cost less than meat

Many vegan and vegetarian sites offer some interesting and delicious options. Take a look

Get the most out of your meals

As a food and health writer, I’m always on the lookout for smarter, more nutritious ways to cook and eat. One of my favorite discoveries to save time and ensure I always have a healthy meal available is to do this: 

First, I roast a large chicken for my dinner and save some slices for sandwiches or salads for the next several days. Confession: I occasionally buy a rotisserie chicken if I’m running low on time, and these do add a lot of flavor to other dishes (especially chicken salad!)

Next, I shred and freeze the chicken for future use or use the leftover meat right away to make other recipes for my freezer. I package individual servings in silicone bags that I freeze flat so they fit easily into larger storage bags to keep things organized. 

I always include a soup when I cook this way, and often use the bones and wings to make the stock. I also freeze leftover veggies that I can add to the pot for a more robust soup. 

I often invent as I go when I cook, so I’ll spare you my recipes. I do recommend:

Easy Chicken Curry, a NYT Cooking gift article from me to you.

Chicken a la King, but I substitute 2% milk for the heavy cream. To make it even healthier, I use two tablespoons each of olive oil and butter instead of the six tablespoons of butter in the recipe.

Easy Chicken Enchiladas are handy, especially for last-minute dinner guests. Regardless, it’s best to freeze several in individual servings.

Plus, 73 easy, budget recipes to help you with meal planning.

The first self-serve grocery store

From Wikipedia:

“The first self-service grocery store, Piggly Wiggly, was opened in 1916 in Memphis, Tennessee, by Clarence Saunders, an inventor and entrepreneur. Prior to this innovation, grocery stores operated "over the counter," with customers asking a grocer to retrieve items from inventory.”

Now don’t you think it’s time to revise your grocery list?