Stretching Your Family Food Dollar

There are many ways to save money on the foods that you eat. The three main steps are plan before you shop, find the best price, and prepare meals that stretch your food dollars. Here are a few tips to help you save money:

• Plan, plan, plan! Before you leave for the grocery store, plan your meals. Check to see what foods you already have at home and make a list for what you need to buy.
• Compare and contrast: At the grocery store, find the "Unit Price" on the shelf directly below the product. Use it to compare different brands and different sizes of the same brand to determine which is the better buy.
• Love leftovers by using them in new ways. For example, try leftover chicken in a stir-fry or over a garden salad, or to make chicken chili. Remember, throwing away food is throwing away your money! Plan to use leftovers within 3 to 4 days or freeze for longer storage.