| No doubt about it, convenience foods save you time. | | | | bargains.15. Learn how to cut up a whole chicken.16. |
| But - and it's a big but - convenience foods don't save | | | | Eat seasonal fruits and vegetables.17. Buy staples in |
| you money. If you rely on frozen dinners, helper foods, | | | | bulk.18. Make your own pudding. You will get twice as |
| kits and take-out you are spending too much money | | | | much for your money.19. Buy a refrigerated or |
| on food. These tips will help you lower your bills and | | | | prepared crust and make your favorite pizza.20. Use |
| eat healthy, flavorful meals.1. Plan meals by the week.2. | | | | meat for flavor, as in stir-fry, instead of making it the |
| Make a grocery list, grouping foods by category. | | | | feature of the meal.21. Maximize leftovers. Make |
| (Meat, dairy, produce, etc.)3. Only buy what is on your | | | | cream sauce for a little left over spinach. Use leftover |
| list. Don't succumb to impulse buying or kids' demands | | | | vegetables in soup.22. Put leftovers in sturdy plastic |
| for products hyped on TV.4. Shop at stores that have | | | | zipper bags to prevent freezer burn and waste. Label |
| the most specials.5. Use coupons for healthy foods | | | | and date the bags.23. Turn old bread into new, |
| only. Don't buy a product just because you have a | | | | delicious croutons. Cut the bread into cubes, drizzle it |
| coupon.6. Roll your cart past "helper," "partner," "bakes" | | | | with olive oil, sprinkle with garlic powder, oregano and |
| and "kits." These products are over-priced, over-salted, | | | | basil. Bake in a 350 degree oven until crispy.24. Make |
| and you can't even pronounce some of the | | | | your own baking mix and store in a tightly covered jar. |
| ingredients.7. Mix up your own rubs. They take only | | | | (Recipes are posted on the Internet.)25. Involve kids |
| minutes to make and you can customize them to your | | | | and grandkids. The involved kids of today will turn into |
| tastes.8. Buy store and less-known brands, often | | | | smart shoppers tomorrow.Copyright 2006 by Harriet |
| made by top manufacturers.9. Buy lean hamburger. It is | | | | Hodgson |
| better for you and there is less waste.9. Drink water | | | | Hodgson has been a nonfiction writer for 27 years |
| instead of pricey soda pop, which is often loaded with | | | | and is a member of the Association of Health Care |
| sugar and erodes your teeth.10. Make your own salad | | | | Journalists and the Assocition for Death Education and |
| dressing. You'll save a bundle!11. Make your own | | | | Counseling. Before she became a health writer she |
| granola. Lots of recipes are posted on the Internet and | | | | was a food writer for the former "Rochester |
| kids will enjoy helping you.12. Eat boxed hot cereal, not | | | | Magazine" in her hometown of Rochester, MN. |
| the kind in packets.13. Buy day-old bread and coffee | | | | Her 24th book, "Smiling Through Your Tears: |
| cake. The bread is perfect for French toast and grilled | | | | Anticipating Grief," written with Lois Krahn, MD, is |
| sandwiches. Stale coffee cake makes some of the | | | | available from A five-star review of the book is |
| best bread pudding you will ever taste.14. Stores put | | | | posted on Amazon. You will find another review on |
| pricey foods - the foods they want to push - at eye | | | | the American Hospice Foundation website under the |
| level. Bend down and look on the bottom shelves for | | | | "School Corner' heading. |