The Main Grocery Items You Should Have On Your List When You're On A Budget - Tasting Table

"“Keep your pantry stocked with pasta and carbs,” Woroch reveals, “which are an inexpensive side dish for any meal.” Particularly if you are stocking up with store brand items, a pantry full of the right dry goods can allow you to feed the family on pennies per serving. “Rice and dry beans are especially beneficial when shopping on a budget,” she adds, “because these are inexpensive ingredients, great fillers and have a long shelf life.”"

"But dry goods alone aren't enough for a proper healthy diet. For that, you need protein, fresh fruit, and vegetables. For produce, Woroch suggests reviewing the “Clean 15” list of the fruits and vegetables with the least pesticides, for which you don't need to feel guilty skipping the 20% to 30% markup that comes with buying organic. As for proteins, she suggests sticking “with less expensive meat options, including chicken thighs, ground turkey, pork chops, and chuck roast.”"

"If you are willing to trim a bit of fat or marinate the meat to tenderize it, you can find huge savings. Meal planning is another important step for saving money at the checkout"

"Another simple technique that Woroch suggests is buying ingredients in bulk. When you do the math on the unit pricing at the grocery store, larger packages of dry ingredients and meats in particul"

Grocery prices have been rising steadily, and the trend is expected to continue as higher fuel costs increase supplier operating expenses that are passed to consumers. Lowering household food costs involves avoiding the most overpriced items and doing more work to shop efficiently. Keeping a pantry stocked with inexpensive dry goods such as pasta, rice, and dry beans helps stretch meals and supports low per-serving costs due to long shelf life. For healthier eating, choosing produce from the “Clean 15” list can reduce pesticide exposure without paying organic markups. Protein can be made more affordable by selecting less expensive cuts and options like chicken thighs, ground turkey, pork chops, and chuck roast, with savings improved by trimming fat or marinating. Meal planning and buying in bulk further reduce checkout costs through better unit pricing.

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