Pinching Pennies While Dieting

Pinching Pennies While Dieting!

In these economically challenged times, a host of advertising campaigns have been launched in hopes of securing the money from our food budgets. The competition is so fierce, that is rivals the Beijing Olympics!

Menu boards at most popular fast food restaurants now contain permanent $1.00 menus to show us the best bang for our buck and entice us to eat at their establishment. Full-service restaurants have developed all-inclusive-meals at special pricing encouraging us to come dine with them. Local grocers and national supermarkets now flood our Wednesday and Sunday newspapers with advertisements and many major chains now market on television; all in an effort to secure our hard-earned money. Our goals are vastly different from those of these solicitors!READ MORE...

Our needs are to eat healthy while on a budget, not eat cheaply while consuming enough fat to clog our arteries and enough calories for an entire day!

Here’s some suggestions on how to pinch your pennies while dieting! This will allow you to eat healthy, reach your goals and save a few coins to buy a new exercise video, go to the movie or simply provide some financial relief for another obligation.

Visit your farmer’s market or street side stand to purchase the freshest fruits and vegetables of the season. The further you get into the growing season, the more plentiful the produce and the greater value you can find. Here in Iowa, we love home-grown tomatoes. At the beginning of the season they are a little pricey and people tend to purchase a few sparingly, paying the additional cost since they’ve been anxiously awaiting the vine-ripened taste throughout winter and spring. A little later in the season, you can buy all you want very inexpensively.

Check out the frozen fruits and vegetables; sometimes they are less expensive than their fresh counterparts. The varieties have expanded greatly; just read the calories and nutritional information.

Watch the weekly ads at your local supermarket. If you don’t get the paper showing you the advertisements, you can usually obtain a copy at the courtesy counter.

Managers also have many in-store specials. Here are a few to watch for!

- Take a stroll to the meat department and watch for items priced to sell quickly. In many instances, this is done because the item is nearing its expiration date and the store has too much inventory remaining. This is an excellent time to realize some savings! If you have freezer space, buy a few extra packages; just pop them in the freezer to stop the aging process and they’ll be ready to use when you are!

- Scope out the produce department as markdowns are made when items reach the ready-to-eat stage. Some healthy savings can be realized by taking bananas, melons, or lettuce home for consumption in the next day or two.

- Stores having their own bakery typically have an area designated to sell day-old items. This is an super time to buy some whole wheat, 7-grain or rye breads. Don’t forget that you can store them in the refrigerator, which makes them last longer or pop them in the freezer until you’re ready to use. Most cities also have a day old bakery/outlet store.

- Quite a few deli departments roast chickens and have them ready to eat. Near the end of the day, you can find them marked down for quick sale as they will not hold them over for tomorrow. You can take it home, put it in the refrigerator and use for sandwiches, a meal, or in recipes instead of canned or other types of cooked chicken.

Drink water and plenty of it. Not only is it very good for you, but it save lots of money! Here’s a thought - each time you want to purchase a drink (pop, soda, sports drink or high energy drink), take the money and place it in a jar and drink water. At the end of the month, count the money and see how much you have truly saved! Then you can decide if you would like to use the money for other necessary expenses, a night out or a new outfit!

Periodically, chicken is priced quite reasonably. I’ve purchased chicken for $1.99 lb and recently they had a special for $.99 lb. I bought 10 pounds, picked up some freezer bags, packaged it in portions and froze it. You can realize some hefty saving this way!

Turkey is not just for Thanksgiving. It is a low-fat option that allows you a main dish, turkey for pita or open-faced sandwiches or the left-overs can be frozen for future meals.

Tilapia is another item that goes on sale frequently and is wonderful when grilled or baked with salt, pepper, a little dill seasoning or Beaumonte and a lemon slice. Top it off with some spray butter and a lemon wedge and it is yummy!

Plan your meals, make a grocery list and stick to it! (Except for those in-store specials; just adjust your list accordingly.) This allows the most proficient use of food and leaves little waste from buying more than you will consume. It also keeps you from purchasing items you don’t need.

Shop at discount grocery stores, like Aldi’s; a lot of savings can be realized there. Great buys have been found in produce and in using generic brands, but read those labels. Many generic items are as good as the brand names. For those that are not, make a note and don’t purchase them again.

Do you have some penny pinching ideas to share? Shout them out!!!

In being a frugal shopper and a discerning diner, you can eat healthy on a budget. The old saying, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way!” has never been truer than now. Show your determination and live your dream!