| According to a 2008 survey by the U.S. | | | | 5. Besides watching for sales in the paper, look |
| Department of Labor, the average family of four | | | | for unadvertised mark downs at the store. Many |
| spent $5,478 on groceries, including $1,201 on | | | | meat departments have specials on meat that is |
| meat, poultry, fish and eggs. Reducing costs in this | | | | still perfectly good to eat but may be nearing its |
| area clearly could save hundreds of dollars a year | | | | "sell by date". |
| for many families. Listed below are some tips to | | | | 6. Remember to look through the expiration dates |
| help keep your grocery budget under control. | | | | of the meat at the store and try to buy the |
| 1. Eat vegetarian meals once or twice a week. | | | | freshest meat available. This gives you less of a |
| Some vegetarian meals my family enjoys are | | | | chance of not using the meat up before the |
| vegetarian chili with cheese served over fries, | | | | expiration date passes. |
| baked potatoes with assorted toppings, and | | | | 7. Buying a stand alone freezer can be a good |
| hearty bean soups served with French bread and | | | | investment in order to stock up on meat and |
| salads. | | | | poultry on sale or bought in bulk from warehouse |
| 2. Make sure to use up all of your leftovers. Meat | | | | stores. |
| from Sunday's roast can be used in Monday | | | | 8. Plan your meals in advance and don't buy more |
| night's soup and Tuesday's meat loaf. | | | | meat and other groceries than you need. Recent |
| 3. Buy less tender cuts of meat, which are often | | | | research estimates that the average U.S. family |
| the cheapest, including chuck and round cuts. | | | | throws out almost $600 dollars worth of uneaten |
| They can be tenderized easily by using moist heat | | | | food each year. |
| cooking methods that include braising and crock | | | | 9. Keep some easy freezer or canned meals on |
| pot cooking. Beside slow cooking meats, crock | | | | hand to avoid going out for fast food on nights |
| pots are great for busy days. You can simply | | | | when you are tired or busy. Precooked, frozen |
| start dishes like stews or roasts in the morning, | | | | ground beef can be used in many different dishes. |
| and let them slow cook all day, even if you are at | | | | For example, precooked and frozen ground beef |
| work or school. When you come home, tired and | | | | can be defrosted and heated up easily, mixed |
| hungry, a home cooked dinner will be waiting for | | | | with spaghetti sauce and served over pasta for a |
| you. | | | | quick meal. With a little seasoning, that same meat |
| 4. Meat that has been cut up usually costs more | | | | could be used instead for a simple meal of ground |
| because you are paying for the labor time of | | | | beef tacos. Plan ahead with some simple meals |
| someone else to cut it up. You can often save | | | | for the inevitable nights when you either don't |
| money by buying whole chickens and cutting | | | | have time or simply don't feel like cooking in order |
| them up yourself or buying complete steaks and | | | | to save money on take out food. |
| cutting them up into strips for stir fries or fajitas. | | | | |