Tips on How to Reduce Your Monthly Food Bill

In recent years the cost of food has sky rocketed. The prices have particularly increased on essential staples such as meat, bread, cereal, rice, dairy products, eggs and produce, which are all essential to a healthy, balance diet. As the cost of food, as well as the cost of everything else, keeps going up and up our incomes however are heading south. As a result many people, such as my family and I, are forced to spend less on food. Eating less food can cause a national health crisis because a well balanced diet is needed to insure good health. However, there are practical ways people can save on their grocery bill and still maintain a healthy diet.

The Kitchen Garden
Vegetables are an important part of our diet. They provide the essential vitamins and minerals to maintain good health and properly develop our bodies. Nutritional studies have reported that vegetables should be eaten daily to reap their benefits, however nutritional research has also shown that Americans do not get enough vegetables in their diet, especially since the prices of vegetables have increased. For people who live in houses and have reasonable size yards, planting a vegetable garden can be very practical.

One should plant continuously growing leafy green vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, greens, and kale, which are quite pricy at the grocery stores. These leafy green vegetables are rich vitamins and minerals. Because they grow continuously in mild and warm climate the leaves from their plants can be eaten for a long time. Instead of picking the entire plant when it grows up, simple cut the fully grown outer leaves. New leaves will grow up from the inner part of the plant.
Other vegetables to grow are cucumbers, carrots, zucchini squash, red, yellow and green peppers, tomatoes, greens, peas, green beans, and corn.
For people who like to season their food with herbs, which is another very expensive grocery item, growing your own herbs would be an excellent option. Herbs can be grown in the ground or indoors as potted plants.

For people who live in apartments growing leafy green vegetables and herbs as potted plants is an excellent idea. The indoor climate allows the plants to grow and produce year round.

Gardening, however, is not for everyone. For such people it would be good to buy produce from local farmers markets. These markets sell locally grown produce at a low cost.

Preserving Food
Preserving what you have grown in your garden during the summer allows you to have vegetables during the winter months when produce is most expensive. The best way to preserve vegetables so that they will yield their nutritionally benefits is to freeze them. Herbs, peas, and beans can be dried in food drier. Winter squash if stored in a dry cool place, can last throughout the winter. For people who are peanut butter lovers, simply purchase a sack of unshelled peanuts, shell them, run the nuts through a food processor, and store the homemade peanut butter in the freezer. When preserving tomatoes, the easiest way would be to oven dry them with salt and olive oil. Then store them in jars of olive oil. When preserving fruits such as peaches and pears freeze them or can them in their own juice. Freeze berries. Make apple sauces from apples.

Fruits
Fruits are an important source of vitamin C. They are also a good substitute for sugar sweets. The most inexpensive fruits to buy are oranges, apples, bananas, and canned pineapple. They are available year round and are rich in vitamin C and other minerals.

Seeds
Instead of purchasing seeds for planting, one can save money simply buy saving and drying the seeds from vegetables grown in one's garden. If you have grown corn allow several ears to dry so the kernels can be used for planting the next year. If you are a popcorn lover and would like to start growing your own popcorn, simply purchase a bag of popcorn and plant the kernels from it. Save the seeds from your winter squashes, your grapes, and even your pits from summer fruit in case you would like to start growing fruit trees and selling them as seedlings. Store bought dried beans are also a good source of inexpensive seeds for planting.

When planting your kitchen garden, do not get excited and try to plant and grow every fruit and vegetable. Be sure to go do research on what would grow best in your climate and make sure your soil is healthy enough to grow healthy food.

Dairy Products
Dairy products are America's main source of protein and calcium. Although the prices on dairy products have increased, they should not be cut from one's diet. It is recommended that a person should have at least three servings of dairy products daily for good health benefits. So to meet this recommendation and save money a person should purchase a combination of dairy products of milk, cheese, and yogurt. Instead of eating cheese three times a day, eating yogurt three times a day, and drinking milk three times a day, drink milk once a day, eat cheese once a day, and eat yogurt once a day. This will allow you to reap the health benefits of dairy products and allow them to last longer.

Cereal And Bread
Cereal and bread are other essential food stables. They are our source of grains. To save money on them purchase the generic brands. The generic brands are cheaper than the name brands and taste just as good. Also be sure to purchase the brands that are fortified with vitamins and minerals, which is a valued added health benefit. Buy oatmeal, which is nutritious and can be bought in large quantities for a cheap amount.

Another way to save on your grocery bill is to avoid purchasing foods such as candy, snack foods, frozen meals, alcohol, and fast food. These items are expensive and have no nutritional value.

Food is so important to our daily life. If we do not eat well, how can we live. The high cost of food has hindered people in getting the proper nutrition they need. However, with some lifestyle changes and extra effort, people can get the food they need for lower cost.