member blog: A Dietitian
A Dietitian
From
Australia
Member since
15th May 2008
About
I'm Melanie Thomassian a professional dietitian, who loves cooking, talking about food, and most of all eating it!
I'm also the author of the award winning Dietriffic.com, where I discuss how to achieve a healthier lifestyle.
Currently living in Australia with my lovely husband, but originally I'm a Northern Irish girl!
A Dietitian's blog posts
10 Tips for Shopping on a Budget
Thu 15 May 2008GENERAL BLOG
In response to one of Jamie's questions on the forum, here are my top 10 tips:
#1 Research local shops and markets close to your work and home, to find where you can buy the cheapest foods, or which shops regularly have offers.
#2 Look out for special offers in the local newspaper, flyer’s, or supermarket websites for items such as fresh meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables etc, and plan your menu according to what's on offer that week.
#3 Try not to go shopping on an empty stomach - you’ll be tempted to buy more than you need.
#4 Check out shops that sell ethnic foods - they often have a good selection of foods which they sell cheaply.
#5 If your local health food store has a bin section, you’ll save money by not paying for expensive packaging, and you can buy as little, or as much as you need.
#6 Don’t buy bagged, or washed salad mixes - they cost a lot more, won’t go as far, and go off quicker.
#7 Add extra bulk to your meals up by including inexpensive beans, peas, or lentils to stews, soups, and curries. If you have the time, dried beans and peas are even cheaper.
#8 Cooking in bulk is much more time efficient and cheaper. Try using leftovers for lunch the following day, and storing meals in the freezer for another time.
#9 If you have left over vegetables add them to stews or soups, and then pop in the freezer for a later date, this will avoid waste, and save money.
#10 Grow your own fruits and veggies, if you don’t have a garden remember they can be grown in pots.
What are your tips for saving money and food wastage?