Fun Ways to Trim the Monthly Food Budget

Most of us are still on the never ending quest to cut costs and trim the fat off of our monthly budgets. Drastic changes that leave us feeling deprived are very difficult to maintain. On the other hand, fun and creative ways to save a few dollars make us feel empowered and encouraged to continue. Clipping coupons, shopping sales and stretching staples are tried and true methods of trimming the food budget, but they are not the only ones. Here are some unique and fun ways to make that grocery money go further.

Fire Pit Dinner. Skip the buns and roast hot dogs over the fire. A bag of potatoes and a few condiments can create a delicious homemade potato salad to enjoy as a side. Marshmallows roasted on the same sticks as the hot dogs can serve as dessert. Not only is this a very inexpensive meal, it makes for great family time as well. Indulge in this once a week during the warm months and you can easily shave twenty or thirty dollars off your monthly food bill.

Appetizer Lunch or Dinner. When dining out with the family, designate one outing for appetizers only. Timing your meal to coincide with the restaurant's half price appetizer time slot will save even more money. Put this practice into place at home as well. Instead of a pricey cut of meat and two side dishes and a starch, serve one meal a week that consists of only appetizers. Raw vegetables, cheese chunks. stuffed olives, baked mushrooms, toast points with cheese and mini pizzas can provide a very filling mid day or evening meal. When offered as an entire meal, these miniature food portions can be very nutritional and very festive.

Wrap Breakfast. Skip the weekly breakfast at the diner or the four bowls of sugary cereal and indulge your family in a breakfast of tasty wraps made from leftovers. The sliced steak or chicken from last night's dinner goes wonderfully with a bit of shredded cheese and the leftover veggies. Add a dollop of low fat sour cream and wrap it up tightly in a wheat tortilla. Heat it for several seconds in the microwave and enjoy a warm and tasty breakfast for only pennies a serving. Plan one weekday dinner with this special breakfast in mind and you will easily get two meals for the price of one.

Breakfast Dinner. Kids love the gaiety of a dinner consisting of traditional breakfast foods. Eggs are very inexpensive and can be easily stretched with the addition of cheese and vegetables.Make up a batch of omelets with a side of toast and enjoy the kids' delight at this nutritious and unconventional dinner.

Extreme Leftover Dinner. Most of us plan and prepare our weekly meals with leftovers in mind. Lasagna, Baked Ziti, Chicken Parmesan and other dishes readily lend itself to leftovers the next day. Designate one night a week to take this theory to the maximum. Allow the family to create an evening meal with any and every bit of leftovers they find in the fridge and freezer. A bit of this and a bit of that on everyone's plate can fill empty stomachs and ensure that no food goes to waste. Insist on fruit for dessert and limit unhealthy snacking for the rest of the evening to keep the family's sugar, fat and sodium intake from going completely out of control.