Creative Cooking Tips - Shopping Tips, Rating as Shopper

Cooking Tips

[ How Do You Rate as a Food Shopper? ]
[ Ways to Stretch Your Food Dollars ]

How Do You Rate as a Food Shopper?

Reviewing the checklist of shopping tips below will help you decide how good a shopper you really are.

You're a good shopper if . . .

You keep a pad handy in the kitchen for listing items that are running low.
You plan tentative menus ahead and use them as a guide when making a shopping list.
You divide your list according to food types (canned, frozen, fresh, staples, baked goods) to save you steps when shopping.
You list quantities, sizes and brands you prefer.
You keep up to date on foods in season when they are usually less expensive and hence good buys.
You watch newspaper ads and store window displays for food specials and seasonal sales.
You encourage other members of the family to help with the shopping.
You give yourself more time to shop, thereby reducing hasty and unwise buying decisions.
You try to shop when the stores are least crowded.
You buy according to your family's needs and preferences, considering how much money you have to spend and how much storage space you have.
You buy for longer periods; additional trips to the store increases the chances of impulse buying of items not necessary.
You compare prices of the same food in various forms - fresh, frozen, canned, and dried; and then buy accordingly.
You note the weight on packages because the size may not be a true guide to amount of contents.
You know that nutritive value does not depend on price. For example, beef liver, while high in nutritive value, is low in price and a good meat buy.
You consider the amount of edible meat per pound rather than price alone; some cuts have more waster than others.
You recognize the signs of quality in foods. For example, you avoid wilted, bruised or over-ripe fruits and vegetables.
You buy economical large-size containers when you can use the quantity conveniently. For example purchasing "family packs" you can divide the package into family size meals and freeze for future meals.
You know that ready-to-bake goods are usually more expensive than homemade products, but their convenience may make them well worth the extra cost.
You keep your eyes open for new foods and your mind open for trying them.
You know the store personnel and are courteous to them :)

[ Cooking Tips | Back to Top | Creative Cooking ]

Ways to Stretch Your Food Dollars

If it is necessary to cut your grocery bill, there are ways you can do that and still give your family a healthy diet:

Buy fruits and vegetables when they are most plentiful and therefore less expensive.
Use all the edible portions of the food you buy, such as the leafy tops of vegetables.
Compare prices of fresh, frozen and canned foods and buy whichever gives you the most for your money.
Use more evaporated milk and nonfat dry milk in place of fluid milk for cooking, on cereals and in milk drinks.
Buy less expensive cuts and grades of meat. They are as nutritious as the more expensive cuts. Use variety meats such as liver.
Use protein foods other than meat and fish such as: cheese, eggs, dry beans and peas; when they cost less per pound.
Limit the purchase of more expensive ready-baked items. If time permits, do more home baking.
Watch the markets for reductions on foods which the grocer doesn't want to hold over a weekend, and buy whatever food you can use (or freeze) before it spoils.

[ Cooking Tips | Back to Top | Creative Cooking ]