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These days waistlines aren’t the only things getting tight in America. Current economic times have people pinching pennies and trying to stretch their dollars further. But what you may not realize is that healthy eating CAN save you money! In fact, if you follow a few simple strategies, you’ll find your dollars going further and your waistline getting smaller.

• You can save a lot of money simply by limiting the number of times you eat out. Packing a lunch as well as planning ahead so you have dinner figured out rather than stopping for take-out on the way home will save you big bucks.
• Make a grocery list and stick to it. Impulse purchases at the grocery store can run your food bill up. Additionally, those impulse purchases are often foods that are high in calories and fat.
• Take time to plan meals for the week. Make a dish that will provide a few extra servings so you can wrap them up for brown-bag lunches later in the week to save you time and money by not eating out. And by planning ahead, you’ll make fewer trips to the grocery store, which can ultimately save you more money.
• Stock your pantry and your fridge/freezer so that the ingredients to make healthy and fast meal options are available to you at home when you need them. If you have the ingredients on hand, it is often faster to make a simple meal at home than it is to go out for fast food.
• Stock up on staples when they are on sale (soups, grains, pasta, rice, etc). Most are shelf stable and will last a long time.
• Pay attention to product placement on the shelf in the store. Look high and low on the shelves. Eye-level products pay a premium for their prime placement—and you’ll pay for it in the cost. So look for store brands and lesser known names on the shelf. And pay attention to unit pricing—bigger containers may not always be cheapest. Look at how much you are paying per ounce/pound/etc. The price tag on the shelf usually provides this information.
• Plan meals around healthy and inexpensive ingredients like beans, whole wheat pasta, whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, and bulgur. These staples can provide bulk to your meal at little cost. Dry beans/legumes are dynamite sources for protein and fiber at pennies per serving. Chili made with beans, lentil soup, black beans and rice, or lowfat refried beans in a whole grain tortilla are powerpacked meals for a small price.
• Buy produce in season and utilize canned and frozen fruits and vegetables to add more variety. Look for low-sodium canned veggies and fruits canned in lite syrup or their own juice to improve the nutritional breakdown of your canned goods.

Have other ideas to stretch your food dollar while eating a healthy diet? We’d love to hear them!