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