Food Prices, Pinching Pennies

[Cindi Hammons]

Pinching Food Pennies (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26349819/)

This link goes to a very good article on MSNBC about rising food prices and pinching pennies. The article talks about food purchasing trends and eating out trends, as well as talks about some web sites that give assistance with meal ideas. I grew up in a home that was very frugal with groceries and food prep, so much of this sounded familiar, but it is well worth the read.

[Alisa Stoll]

I was listening to ABC this morning and they were showing how to make flavorfull meals more cheaply. I found it interesting because they were showing how to make a meal with chicken legs/thighs instead of chicken breast as well as a substitute for pork loin (I stopped listening at that point so can't tell you what they substituted). Thing is I only buy the boneless/skinless chicken breast when it is on-sale for $1.99 and the pork loin for $1.69 so I'm not saving that much by going with the substitutes!

I have a freezer and stock up on things when they are on sale. So my grocery expenses haven't gone up all that much - if the price isn't right I probably am not buying it - eggs, bread, milk. etc. those I have to buy regardless of price because of difficulty in storage. Anything else - what's the price? Preferably on-sale and with a coupon.

Alisa

[Cindi Hammons]

ABC didn't tell you much because you are already doing the things that they suggest! :) I agree with you about purchasing things on sale. I LOVE my chest freezer!! We could eat out of our freezer and pantry for at least a couple of weeks....even longer if we went meatless. I think Americans have been wasteful and spoiled for so long, that many of these suggestions are absolutely foreign to them. I admit, it IS easier to buy the prepackaged stuff! Guilty! It IS much easier to stop by Little Ceasar's and purchase a Hot and Ready Pizza for dinner! Guilty! But, I also know how to make dinner for 4 with a few chicken thighs, and a bag of noodles (or homemade for much less, if I have the time). It's easy to get lazy and stop cooking from "scratch". People often think scratch cooking is too hard....what? It is just the habits that we fall into. I know I can save lots of money on my grocery bills when I purchase less prepackaged items and more basics for the kitchen. This generation (20-40's+) are just going to have to learn a new way of cooking. :)