Issue 4

Stretching Your Food Dollars

If you're raising school-age grandkids, your grocery bills have probably gotten higher. Growing kids usually have larger appetites. Here are some tips for getting the most from your food dollars.

Go shopping as few times as possible. Frequent trips add to family food costs because we tend to buy extras each time.
Shop alone if possible. It's hard to say no to the children's favorite foods when they are with you.
Take advantage of free or reduced-priced school lunch programs.
Use low-cost protein foods like dry beans, eggs, peanut butter, turkey, chicken, and hamburger.
Stretch meats by using them in sauces or casseroles. Use slow cooking and marinating to tenderize less expensive cuts.
Turn leftovers into planned overs. You can sometimes get two meals for the price of one. Store cooked foods properly to make them last longer.
Use nonfat dry milk for cooking instead of whole milk. Dry milk is equally nutritious, and can be less expensive.
Shop from a list based on planned menus. Check the food advertisements for good buys. Sometimes, coupons can help you save money.