10 Cost-Cutting Ways to Healthier Meal Planning and Preparation

You probably think you are doing everything possible to save money, by stretching every food dollar you can, but turn these 10 suggestions into your family's meal planning routine, and you'll realize even more savings. The trick is to shop smart, think maximum nutrition, and make every meal taste delicious.

1. Shop the sales at your local grocery store - because markets rotate their sale items, sticking to their sale rotation will ensure your family is receiving a greater variety of nutrients. Always make sure to use up nutritious leftovers in other dishes.

2. Restrain your spending by making a master list - planning the meals your family enjoys, and creating a weekly meal plan with necessary ingredients before shopping trips (based upon your local grocery store sales for that week). Always use coupons, but only on items you normally buy - no experimenting.

3. Think nutritious produce and start growing your own - for home canning, freezing, and juicing (without toxic pest repellents) the natural way. As inspired by the book "How to Grow an EMERGENCY Garden" .

4. Teach your children to cook by enlisting their help with meal preparations - this will ensure they will know how to plan, and cook nutritious meals; which are more delicious than fast-foods, but with healthy rewards. As guaranteed in the better-health cookbook "ABC's of Nutritious Cooking & Living a Healthier Lifestyle" .

5. Stick with your meal plan as much as possible - your family will be less-likely to deviate from your meal plan if posted on the fridge for everyone to drool over. Who wants drive-through rubbery chicken-pickens, when you've been crock-pot slow-cooking a roast, and potatoes all day?

6. Use your favorite appliances to work for you - such as an inexpensive crock pot, bread maker, quesadilla maker, and food processer; whichever ones you like the best. These can make cooking much more fun, and give you extra time to plan the following weekly meals.

7. Every week try making at least one fast-food favorite at home - such as pizza and quesadillas, which can be fun to make as a family, or barbeque burgers on the grill. Turn leftovers into nacho-chip platters or restaurant quality chef's salads.

8. Don't waste your money or health on soft drinks or artificial sugars - instead buy large juice bottles and mix with purified drinking water to cut sugars in half. Sweeten other beverages with fruit juices or honey.

9. Take your kids shopping and running errands with you - hiring a mother's helper to go with you, and your kids will save 80% over daycare. Your children get to be with you while learning how to read nutritional labels, and living within a budget.

10. Save gas and energy planning shopping routes to and from home - by mapping out errands first, it is possible to get everything accomplished using very little gasoline. You already know how much money that could save you at over-priced gasoline pumps!

Following this 10-step plan will allow you to pocket an extra $10.00 to $100.00 every week, while reinforcing the family-meal-together time. Talk, work on table manners, and discover just how delicious healthy food can be, when enjoyed together as a family.