Before you leave the house take a few minutes to look through store flyers. Try and plan a few meals on what is on sale. 2. MAKE A LIST
This sounds like common sense but I know from experience that I have gone into the grocery stores with out one. I bought several items only to have end up home confused as to why I had nothing to prepare for dinner. 3. COMPARE PRICES
Check unit pricing since prepackaged foods might be more costly. Prepacked fruits and vegetables may actually cost you more than buying them individually.
4. EAT SEASONALLY
Try to prepare your meals with what is in season locally. Produce varies in price depending on transportation costs.
5. GO GENERIC
Most major supermarkets have organic house brands. The price difference can prove to be significant especially with dairy products. 6. USE COUPONS
Many organic and natural-food manufactures now offer coupons for their own products. Check at the customer service desk at the market or on the manufactures website for printable coupons. Companies like Mambo Sprouts and Horizon Organic offer coupons online.
These are all real simple basic ideas but if followed can save you considerable amount of money. Body and Soul Magazine also published a few healthy recipes that would cost under $15 to prepare. I know from experience that some of them I would not get my kiddos to consume since they might not be pleasing to a child’s palate. The one recipe I did think looked rather yummy was the whole-wheat penne with sausage, chard, and artichoke hearts. The total cost of ingredients was only $13.47. I have not tried the recipe yet but would like to share it in case someone wanted to try it.
INGREDIENTS
12 ounces whole wheat penne
2 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 pounds chicken sausage removed from casing
1 bunch Swiss chard (about 1 pound) cleaned, stems and leaves separated and chopped
1 (9-ounce) box frozen artichoke hearts, thawed
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, sliced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
3/4 cup grated Parmesan (about 2 ounces), plus more for serving
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
DIRECTIONS:
1. Set a large pot of salted water to boil for pasta. Mean while, in a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium. Add sausage and cook, stirring occasionally and breaking sausage into pieces, until cooked through and lightly browned, 10 to 12 minutes
2. Add remaining oil, chard stems, artichoke hearts, and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook until chard stems soften slightly, 3 to 5 minutes. Add chard leaves and cook, stirring, until wilted, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
3. Add pasta to boiling water; Cook until 2 minutes short of al dente. Add sun-dried tomatoes and cook 2 minutes. Reserve 1 cup pasta water and drain pasta; return to pot.
4. Pour half of reserved pasta water into a small bowl. Add tomato paste and whisk to combine. Add tomato paste mixture, sausage mixture, Parmesan, basil, and red pepper flakes to pasta in pot. Toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water if necessary. Season with salt and pepper.
SERVES 4
PREP TIME: 35 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME: 35 MINUTES
Recipe borrowed from Body and Soul Magazine
About ahappyhippymom
Thanks for sharing the tips and recipe.
really good tips. sometimes it’s the “common sense” things that help the most. but we are always too crazy busy as moms to even think about those things!
uummm… what is chard???
I’m in the same vote and these are great tips. Thanks.
I always do better when I make a list and shop the coupons. Gives me such a feeling of accomplishment. Looks like a great recipe!
Sara
Those are really good tips. Like yourself, I make a list of menus each week so I would know exactly what to buy everytime i got to the grocery store. In that case I save money and time. Thanks for following my blog !!
Thank you very much. Always looking for ways to save money grocery shopping, especially in these times