Eat richly for less

You already know that food prices have been going up. But did you know that Americans still spend nearly half of their food budget eating out?1 And restaurant food, on average, costs 75% more than what you make at home.2


If you feel like you're spending more and more on food these days, you may want to take a look at where—and what—you're eating. It's still possible to eat well without breaking the bank.

Naturally, we've got a few ideas on how to make that happen.

Stay in the kitchen. Why does every party wind up in the kitchen? It's warm, friendly and, if there's no television, distraction free. Preparing meals alone or with the whole family can be creative and relaxing. Plus, the more you do it, the better you get. That leads us to our real cost cutters.

Convenience costs extra. If your food bill is high, look at ways to remove prepared foods from your grocery list. A do-it-yourself approach to shredding cheeses, repacking single servings, making your own snacks and whipping up pasta salads from scratch can save a lot of cash. Take a look in your cabinets, and see what you could be doing yourself.

Cook in bulk (as in, make extra). If you work outside the home, eating lunch out every day can cost a fortune ($5 a day = $25 a week = $1,200 a year). Make a big pan of lasagna and freeze the leftovers in individual servings. Better yet, make a second pan. It doesn't take much longer than making the first one.

Buy stocks. Set aside some space in the house for stocking up on nonperishable items when they're on sale. If you know you'll use them, they won't lose their value.

Buy large quantities of meat, but eat vegetables. We aren't sure whose family those "family packs" of 20 chicken breasts are designed for, but there's no reason you can't divide them up and freeze them in smaller packs sized for your own household. Don't let the large quantities tempt you to overeat, though. You should aim for about 4 to 6 ounces of meat (or meat substitutes) each day.3

Notice what we did not mention. Coupons and specials can work for you or against you, so be careful. Don't buy something you wouldn't normally buy just because you have a coupon. That's spending, not saving. Finally, don't shrug off the store brands. Many consumers find that the quality and nutrition of these items are as good as the national brands, for significantly less money.

When you're planning meals, remember health first, budget second. There's no reason you can't eat a well-balanced meal on a tight budget if you make smart choices