from tvnooz.com
Shopping at the Honest Weight Food Co-op can be a great way to not only purchase healthy and local foods, but also use your grocery dollars most efficiently! Here are some tips for how to do it…
1) If you want to stick to a budget, you need to make one! Look over your grocery spending for the last 4-6 weeks and average it out. In general, how much do you spend?
2) Buying staples such as flour, spices, sugar, etc. can be daunting on a weekly basis. Take stock of what’s already in your cupboard. Do you have any products that are nearing expiration? Make sure to move those items to the front of the pantry so that they don’t go to waste. Depending on your food preferences, allergies, and other restrictions, your supply of staples may vary. However, most sources recommend a good supply of the following:
• olive oil
• vegetable oil
• balsamic vinegar
• red wine vinegar
• salt and pepper
• spices
• canned or dried beans
• vegetable stock, broth, or natural boullion cubes
• tomato paste
• jarred marinara sauce
• red and white wine
• rice
• pasta
• flour
• sugar
• potatoes
• garlic
• onions
• butter
• milk
• eggs
• parmesan cheese
• mustard
• mayonnaise
• carrots
• celery
• lemons
• frozen vegetables such as peas, broccoli, and/or spinach
• bread
Keep track of which staples you use more than others. If you use a lot of dried cranberries and chocolate chips, make those staples. Be sure to buy only the staples you actually use, not those you wish you used. If you keep buying lemons and then throwing them out, don’t buy them unless they have a specific intended use.
3) One of the best ways to save money is to plan meals for the week. If you have a particular craving, go for it! Otherwise, before selecting specific meals, start by reading the sales flyers and coupon booklet. Honest Weight Food Co-op has monthly store sales flyers and Co-op Deals flyers available in the store every day. Try to build a meal around those sale items. Additionally, use the sale flyers and coupon booklets to stock up on staples!
4) Once you have an idea of what’s on sale, start to plan your menu. There are plenty of resources for planning a weekly menu, but the bottom line is that you need to figure out what works for you and your family. You might want to create a framework that you can reuse every week, such as a “meatless Monday” or “Tuesday pasta night.” This type of system can help to take some of the guesswork out of your weekly meal planning. Additionally, be practical about your time limitations. If you know that Wednesdays are busy for you, consider purchasing an on-sale prepared food item, or making a good soup the day before than you can reheat and serve with crusty bread.
5) Get ready to shop! Before you head to the Co-op, carefully organize your weekly shopping list by category, such as “produce,” “bulk,” and “grocery.” This will help save time, and reduce the risk of forgetting an item. Bring a clean copy of the list with you. If you want, you can even bring a small clipboard and pen to check off items as you put them in your cart.
6) Go shopping! As much as possible, try to stick to your list. If you purchase too many products outside your meal plan, invariably some products won’t get used, leading to waste. Use these money-saving tips when shopping at the Co-op:
• Buy local! Throughout the store you’ll notice products tagged with our “Local” symbol. These products are often less expensive. Additionally, purchasing these products helps support local farmers and vendors, keeping more of your money in our local economy, and helping small producers stay in business which creates more jobs.
• Think seasonally. Seasonal products tend to be less expensive, and may have a local option.
• The organic challenge: Keep in mind that you don’t have to buy all organic, all the time. Many of our local farmers practice sustainable or organic growing practices even if they haven’t been certified. If you have a question about a particular product, don’t hesitate to ask someone working that department!
• Check out our Bulk Department! We have hundreds of Bulk items in stock every day, from beans, nuts and seeds to grains, snacks, oils and more. In general, bulk products are significantly less than expensive than pre-packaged varieties. Although this department might seem intimidating, it’s actually very easy to start shopping there and saving money. If you want to bring your own container, no problem! Just stop by the Service Desk on y our way in to have them tared. If not, you’re welcome to use containers and bags available in the Co-op. Know that you’ll incur a small charge for these new containers, but you can always bring them back to reuse next time!
7) Unpack and enjoy! A plan is only good if it’s implemented. When you get home from the Co-op make sure to carefully label and put away all purchases. Rotate old products to the front of your pantry to avoid waste. Storing dry goods in air-tight containers and properly refrigerating produce can also cut down on food waste and spoilage. As much as possible, try to stick to the meal plan you created. If you only end up using some of your planned meals, carry the extra meals over into the beginning of the following week.
Remember that Co-op employees and volunteers are always happy to help! Never hesitate to ask for assistance locating sale or local items. Plan in advance, shop smart, and you’re well on your way to creating healthy, money-saving meals.
– Joy Getnick
