The Science of Grocery Shopping

The last time I went grocery shopping, I was shocked at how expensive some items were. I mean, $7.99 for a small package of pine nuts?

Eager to figure out how to cut down on my grocery bills -- aside from avoiding the nut aisle -- I turned to Janelle Nokes, a Kansas City, Mo., mother of three who has written extensively about this topic on her two blogs, the Monkey Room and Not Just Leftovers.

Here are some of her tips:

Shop in the morning. You are likely to find significant markdowns on items that are still perfectly fine.

Clip coupons. Review the sale ads each week and match your coupons with the sales for the best deals. But don't buy something just because you have a coupon.

Look outside the grocery store. Your local farmer's market or a bakery thrift store might have cheaper goods.

Buy in bulk when it makes sense. For example, yeast and flour are very cheap in bulk and can be stored for a long time in the freezer.

Check your grocer's bulk bins. Products such as oats, nuts and grains are considerably cheaper when you bag them yourself.

Shop with cash only. That will cut down on impulse buys.

Plan your menus a week at a time. Look in your pantry and freezer to assess your needs. Then check the grocery store ads to see what is on sale. Buy mostly sale items, and only buy what you need.

Substitute ingredients. Don't have cream? Use milk. Use those leftovers. If you don't want to eat the same meal, turn it into something else. A chicken breast can be shredded or cubed and used in another recipe. Pasta sauce can become pizza sauce. Bread can become breadcrumbs or croutons.

Give gardening a try. A few pots on your back patio with tomatoes, peppers or whatever else you like will do. It's cheaper and fresher.

-- Nancy Trejos

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