5 simple steps to stretch your family's food budget

Feed your family with less without sacrificing taste, freshness, quality, or nutrition using Cooking Light's 5 money-saving tips.

#1 Do It Yourself
For maximum savings, skip convenience products like packaged pizza crusts and rotisserie chicken as you’re paying a premium for work that’s done for you. On the weekends, or after your kids are asleep, do a little extra work to prep ingredients.

#2 Eat More Meatless Meals
Make one or two vegetarian dinners during the week to cut costs. Dishes based on pantry staples like rice, whole grains, and beans are protein-rich, filling, and inexpensive.

#3 Stretch Meat, Poultry, and Fish
Instead of making protein the center of the plate, use it sparingly for flavor and texture – almost as if it’s a condiment.

#4 Make a Meal Plan
Train yourself to sit down once a week and plan your meals. Figure in leftovers and how many nights you will need to eat out or be too busy to cook and make a plan for those nights too.

#5 Eat in Season
Cook with only fruits and veggies that are in season as you can easily find a bargain.

For more on these tips and recipes visit Cooking Light's website.