10 More Money Saving Tips for Your Food Budget

Disciplining yourself to make small changes in your lifestyle can add up to big savings. Over time, these cut backs will add up not only for your pocket book, but also your waist line.

1. Substitute for health and money

   My favorite substitution tip is to add about the same amount of quick oats to the individual packet of “sugar oats,” saving money and creating a healthier breakfast. (I have two kids, so I split one packet of oatmeal and supplement with bulk oatmeal.) Some of my other regular substitutions include using fresh tomatoes to replace pizza sauce in homemade pizzas, using salsa in place of some of the tomato juice in chili, and using sour cream and water in place of milk to make mashed potatoes. Many cookbooks have suggestions at the back.

2. Drink tea or Kool-Aid ® rather than soda pop.

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   When making your own, you can mix it with less sugar. We use 2/3 cup sugar at most per 2 quarts.

3. Make your own cheap snack

   Puffed red wheat rice + Cheddar Jack Cheese Nips ® = Great snack

   Puffed red wheat rice comes in bulk at Wal-Mart® in the cereal section. Mix this with Cheddar Jack Cheese Nips ® for a healthier, economical snack. (It tastes a little bit like Cheddar rice cakes.)

4. Eat more of what’s on sale.

   I saw celery on sale this week for 50¢ per package. Add a little ranch dressing or peanut butter for a nutritious and nice-to-your-wallet snack. My sister frequently buys milk for 25¢ because the grocery chain near her marks them down near the expiration date. Ask your friends which generic brands they favor and which to avoid.

5. Eat seasonal values when they’re available.

   This means checking out the local Farmer’s Markets and fruit stands to see what’s being harvested in bulk locally. Right now in our area (northern Indiana), onions, zucchini, green peppers, and tomatoes are some of the vegetables that can be budget effective.

6. Use less sugar.

   Almost all homemade bakery items can be made with less sugar. If you cut back a little at a time, your family will get used to a low sugar diet. Splenda ® can be used to replace or supplement sugar, but many experts say this is controversial in regard to health. (I prefer to cut back to ½ and then add a small amount of sweetener.) Artificial sweeteners can be very expensive; to cut back here, purchase them from a dollar store or a bulk store and then use them sparingly.

7. Eat less.

   We’ve probably all heard how Americans are crazy about supersizing. Prove the stereotypes and statistics wrong by eating smaller portions. Another advantage to cutting back on portions is that you can eat leftovers the next day and not have to cook or clean as much.

   If you’re wanting to cut back, you can even go as far as fasting. I believe that certain types of fasts are very good for you. For example, the Daniel fast in the Bible resulted in Daniel becoming stronger and healthier than those who had been feasting. Fasting doesn’t always mean that you eat nothing, but that you deny unhealthy foods and distractions and become more mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually whole. As Daniel 10:2-3 explains,“. . . Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.” For more information about the benefits and purpose of fasting.

   This article includes benefits of fasting from an Islamic perspective.

8. Reuse and recycle.

   Be creative in recycling. You can reuse tea bags and frying oil. You can also use tea grounds and coffee grounds on your plants. You can take bland leftovers (like beef and brown rice), add a few new ingredients like cheese and fresh vegetables and have a create a new variety of “burger helper.”

9. Be extra gracious about shared abundance.

   If someone offers you free produce, let them know you appreciate it right away. If you’re unsure whether or not you’ll use it, take a small amount and thank the giver, telling them of your intention to use it. If you’re appreciative, they will remember you the next time around.

   Let’s say someone offers you corn or tomatoes that are in less than perfect condition. Any farmer’s kid can tell you that corn can have worms and tomatoes can have brown spots. These are perfectly safe to cut around and eat. Occasional imperfections in fruits and vegetables do not make them inedible, so be gracious rather than complaining.

10. It never hurts to ask

    If you know of a relative or friend who has fruit trees, raspberry bushes, or anything they don’t pick, ask if they mind if you pick them. I get cherries this way, but I also am quick to say “thank you” and to share our excess with the people who have shared with us. Ask neighbors, relatives, friends, and even business associates you know. And if you are the person who has extras, be sure to offer these to local food banks. Not all food banks receive fresh produce, but some do.

Living a lifestyle of discipline by sticking to a reasonable budget and making healthier choices may be an adjustment. However, many of us-myself at the top of the list-need to rise to the occasion that this economy seems to be forcing upon us. Health and spare change await as our rewards.