Buy the sales (and get the extras). When it comes to prepared food, make it yourself when you can. Shop at stores when it makes sense. Don't just waste the food you know you'll eat.
But as with spices, we would never say to omit them, since they are the key to making food taste good. Look for combination packs of fresh herbs; they may be labeled as a poultry mix and usually contain a couple of different herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, and marjoram. That way, you'll get a little bit of different herbs and you're likely to generate less waste. Growing your own fresh herbs is another great option and easy to do even if you live in a smaller space.
Many herbs just need a small pot and a bright window sill to grow. And, while the flavors will be slightly different, you can replace the fresh herbs in a recipe with dried ones. The general rule to follow is a three-to-one ratio between fresh and dry. So, if a recipe requires 1 tablespoon (i.e.
rosemary, oregano, sage, and thyme) they are good choices when going from fresh to dry. Avoid making changes with cilantro, parsley, or chives, as those dried herbs don't have much flavor. Everyone starts with ground beef, which is good, since ground beef is as economical as it is versatile: tacos, stuffed peppers, and spaghetti sauce are just a few more places to put ground beef to work. To keep it healthy, opt for 90% lean or leaner.
You can buy ground beef by the pound or prepackaged. Sometimes ground beef is cheaper by the pound the more you buy. Compare prices between prepackaged ground beef in the 1 to 2 pound range with family packages that come in the 3 pound range. You may be able to save 10 to 20 cents per pound if you buy more.
You can freeze the rest and save yourself money and a trip to the store the next time you need it. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are practical and popular, but they're often the most expensive way to buy chicken. To save money, buy a whole chicken and roast it or grill it (or cook it in your fryer if you have one). Use leftovers in soups, salads, or sandwiches.
Whole legs, drumsticks, and thighs are also good options if you don't have time to cut a chicken and are generally less expensive than chicken breasts. While white meat has fewer calories (140 calories per 3-ounce serving versus 152 calories), dark meat also has its benefits: it is richer in iron, zinc and B vitamins. Research published in the British Food Journal revealed that shoppers are almost six times more likely to waste fresh food than frozen food. The study found that fruit is more likely to be wasted.
In addition to buying frozen foods, you can save money by moving certain contents from the refrigerator and pantry to the freezer if you're not going to eat them right away. Compare the prices per 100 g to make sure you're really getting an offer. Use the price tabs on supermarket shelves to get this information so you can compare packages of different sizes. Larger packages tend to be better value for money, but only if you're going to use them all.
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