OK, so last time we talked about how to be a smart shopper at the grocery store. It’s vitally important to spend our money wisely, particularly during an economic recession. However, our food consumption habits are equally important in the quest to save money. Here are just a few helpful hints for making the food you buy count – and last.

• Eat less meat - Not only because meat is more expensive than grains, vegetables and fruits, but because eating less meat is a positive move for the environment. The United Nations encourages this because the greenhouse gases emitted by large cattle populations is 23 times more responsible in global warming than carbon dioxide
• Become a vegetarian – Hey, I’m a carnivore like most of you, but even I can see that a vegetarian diet is less expensive than a meat habit. Don’t let $1 double cheeseburgers fool you; on average, the price per pound that you’d pay for vegetarian staples is much less than what you’d pay for ground beef, chicken and more. For instance, a recent MSN Money article shows that ground round averages around $3 per pound and boneless chicken breasts around $3.40 per pound. Dried beans and lentils, on the other hand, go for less than $1 per pound while rice is well below that price point. The prices of fruits and nuts vary widely by season, but so long as you aren’t dependent upon buying organic (which is great if you have the money), you can shop for less
• Eat leftovers – The Department of Agriculture says you should eat refrigerated leftovers within four days, which should give you many opportunities to play the leftovers card. Not only will you save money on food and gas, but you’ll save time. To spice things up, add in a new, complimentary ingredient if possible on leftover nights

CLICK HERE to continue on your path to being a smart food consumer!

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