How To Spend Less Money on Groceries

As gas prices -- and everything else -- have jumped, people are looking for ways to spend less money. Unfortunately one of the things that people frequently do is to skimp on the foods they NEED to ensure optimal health, and instead opt for less expensive foods with little to no nutritional value.

I heard an ad today on the radio and almost crashed my car, it made me so upset: "I can't control the rising prices, especially gas... but I am in charge of my family's food budget and I make sure we don't skimp on getting a filling dinner they need. That's why I buy Hamburger Helper." Families do not NEED Hamburger Helper; they NEED whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and water.

Hamburger Helper is cheap, but not healthy. Here's an inexpensive plan to help families have both cost-effective and healthy nutrition:

1. Drink water, free out of the tap, water cooler and fountain drinking water instead of high-fructose or sweetner-filled expensive beverages. Soft drinks are the #1 selling product in grocery stores. The use of high-fructose corn syrup has gone up 1000% over the past 20 years. Obesity has gone up 100% in the same time. Enough said.
2. Eat more fruits and vegetables--they are what your body needs most of for optimal health. Sadly, 95% of Americans do not enough fruits and vegetables and are therefore lacking in the nutrients from these essential whole foods. I don't care what Centrum says -- you can't create the 100's of nutrients in apples, oranges, cherries, cabbage, beets, papaya, spinach, etc. in a synthetically manufactured lab-created "vitamin." Nor is your body deficient of something not found in nature! Eat more fruit and vegetables in your day -- buy them at a farmer's market or co-op and if you can't won't or don't eat 9-13 of servings a day (1/2 cup), take Juice Plus+ ! It's only $45 a month to ensure you get nutrients from 17 different whole food fruits and vegetables every day!
3. Stop eating fast food! There is nothing faster or less expensive than the healthy food you can prepare at home, keep in a cooler and eat while at your desk, in your car or on the run. Cutting out fast food is one sure way to save money and calories!
4. Consider a plant-based diet, or at least cut down on your red meat consumption. I am not a vegetarian, but with the prices for beef today, it's looking more and more like a better option. I have discovered some amazing ways to make alternative protein sources, such as tofu, and also have found the highest protein shakes available at the best cost! One Medifast shake is only $2.21 -- show me an option higher in protein, lower in fat, lower cost and healthier at McDonalds ,and I will eat the tray it was served to you on!
5. Clip coupons and shop once a week! I have always been notorious for shopping every day or two because produce didn't last long or went bad before we ate it. I have two words for you -- "Green bags"! I can't believe that, for $10, I am keeping produce fresh for over one week! I was skeptical but I am hooked. Clip coupons for the trip and you are saving time, gas money and stretching your food budget.

Happy Shopping, and cheaper too!