Feeding Your Family Without Starving Your Wallet

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Feeding Your Family Without Starving Your Wallet
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Food Prices are Increasing
Bananas
Potato chips
Chicken
Bologna
Non-diet soda
Dried beans
Whole wheat bread
Ground beef
Eggs
increase since March 2006
Source Consumer Price Index March 2006
February 2008
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Why?
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Why are Food Prices Going Up?

• Rising energy costs
• Costs more to grow and harvest food
• Costs more to process food
• Costs more to transport food across the U.S.
• Higher demand for food around the world
• Increased uses of corn
• Corn is used for fuel, animal feed and human food
• Other reasons?

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Food Prices What does the Future Hold?
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What determines how much money we spend on food?

• Our income
• Expenses (home, car, credit card bills)
• Personal preference (taste, appearance)
• Need for convenience
• Food prices in the community
• Frequency of eating away from home
• Others?

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Determining Your Food Budget

• Determine the food budget based on current income
  and bills
• Set a food budget after examining current food
  expenses
• groceries
• meals and snacks eaten out
• vending machines/convenience store

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Challenge Track your monthly food expenses

• Keep track of all receipts for a whole month
• vending machine purchases
• receipts from eating-out
• foods and drinks bought at convenience stores

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Add up your food expenseshow much comes from

• Eating out?
• Vending machines?
• Junk foods (chips, cookies, soda, sweets)?
• Convenience foods?
• How much are you spending on food each month?
  Per week?

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Goal Stay Within our Food Budget

• Objectives
• Plan your meals and snacks in advance.
• Buy only what you need at the store (list)
• Make as few trips to the store as possible
• Resist the temptations of impulse buys
• Get the most nutrition for your money
• Reduce food waste

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Prepare your grocery list VERY carefully

• Look at the foods you already have at home what
  meals can you prepare?
• Keep a short list
• Look at the weekly store ads to plan meals and
  snacks
• Clip Coupons but pay close attention
  to prices value

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Prepare your grocery list VERY carefully

• 5. Plan your meals and snacks using what you
  already have grocery ads
• 6. Get the whole family involved!
• Prepare your grocery list
• Use a hand basket instead of a shopping cart when
  possible.

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Save on meals

• Try to include foods from at least 3 of the major
  food groups
• Prepare meals with leftovers and lunches in mind
• - Make your own T.V. dinners
• To cut food costs, go meatless at least once a
  week

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Shop Carefully to Save Money

• Produce section
• Choose fresh fruits vegetables in season
• Check the date on bagged produce
• Dont buy damaged produce

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Shop Carefully to Save Money

• Bakery section
• Choose breads with intact packages
• (no tears or holes).
• Check out items reduced for quick sale
• Check for signs of mold

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Shop Carefully to Save Money

• Meat Section
• Make sure packages are
  not damaged
• Check the prices of meat that is nearing the
  sell-by date

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Choose Convenience Foods Wisely
Long Grain White Rice
Instant Rice
1.89 for 7 servings 0.27 per serving
1.19 for 20 servings 0.06 per serving
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Choose Convenience Foods Wisely
1-Minute Oatmeal
Instant Oatmeal
1.29 for 13 servings 0.04 per serving
2.50 for 10 servings 0.25 per serving
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Check out the store brands

• National brands are often placed at eye level
• store brands are often on the lower shelves.

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Check out the store brands

• Shopping List
• 1 gallon 1 milk
• 15-oz box raisin bran
• 1 loaf whole wheat bread
• 1 pound boiled ham
• 1 box macaroni cheese
• 1 jar spaghetti sauce
• 1 pound spaghetti

Name brand foods cost 21.73 Store brand
foods cost 13.89
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Resist impulse buys

• Impulse buy an unplanned purchase
• What are some common impulse buys at the grocery
  store? Why?

Sticking to your list can help reduce the urge of
making an impulse buy!
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Impulse Buy

• Front of the store has flower bouquets,
  magazines, nick-knacks, candy, school supplies,
  baked goods, fried foods,...
• The longer you have to stay in line, the more
  likely you are to purchase something

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Impulse buy

• Seasonal items displayed early.

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Impulse Buy

• Offering free samples of food.

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Impulse Buy

• In-store bakery with fresh-baked bread.

Dont go to the grocery store if you are hungry.
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Impulse Buy

• Endcaps - stacks or displays of items found at
  the ends of the aisles.
• People may think that the item is on sale

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Alternate Food Sources

• Dollar stores
• Thrift stores
• Home Gardening
• Farmers Markets
• Wholesale clubs

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Dollar Stores

• Can be a source of good food buys
• But, remember just because it is 1, doesnt
  make it a good buy
• Check labels for nutrition information
• Fruit canned in juice or vs. heavy syrup
• Check the dates
• Check the sell-by date
• Check the use-by date
• And, Check the packages

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Thrift Stores

• Great source for economical buys on bread, rolls,
  bagels and other items
• Items are often nearing the sell-by date so use
  right away or freeze
• Check packages to make sure they are intact

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Home Gardening

• Can save money
• Increases fruit vegetable intake
• Increases the use of fresh herbs in place of
  salt, sugar, etc.
• Provides physical activity stress release

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Farmers Markets

• Fresh produce of the season
• Nutritional value may be higher
• Support local growers
• Save by buying directly from the producer

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Wholesale Clubs

• Advantage
• you can save money on some items
• Disadvantages
• bulk items may go to waste if not eaten
• Learn to freeze
• not all items are bargain prices
• storage of bulk items may be problem

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Reduce Food Waste

• As much as 25 of our food is wasted.
• Throwing away food is like throwing away money.
• Reducing food waste saving money
• Selecting foods (especially produce) carefully
• Planning meals and snacks
• Learn to freeze

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Keep Food Safe

• Cheap food is no bargain if you get sick
• Doctor visit, loss time from work or school
• Store food safely and properly
• When in doubt, throw it out

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Summary

• Know your food budget and stick to it
• Plan meals and snacks in advance
• Always shop with a list in hand
• Avoid impulse buys
• Use convenience foods wisely
• Consider alternative places to buy food
• Reduce food waste
• Keep your food safe

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Questions
Edited by Vincent Mannino County Extension
Director Fort Bend