| Prepare Your Food ListsDo you have any ingredients | | | | it is, the better the flavor and nutrition, so, even |
| in supply? Do you have enough for your recipe? Are | | | | though you can keep a lot of stuff in the freezer for |
| the ingredients still fresh or have they spoiled? List | | | | long periods, it's better not to keep it for more than |
| what you're missing and how much you need. If | | | | a few weeks. (Keep track of what's in the |
| you're just cooking for one or two, don't get the | | | | freezer--date everything as it goes in--so that |
| family packages of perishables unless you can freeze | | | | nothing gets buried in the back or bottom for years |
| the extra and use it up before it gets freezer burn. | | | | at a time.)It's real easy to overbuy when things are |
| Most dry spices keep quite a while, but can lose | | | | on sale. Then you risk either having to eat so much |
| potency if stored in warm, damp areas.Check the | | | | of it that you can't stand the thought of it for a long |
| grocery adsSee what's on sale. There is no sense in | | | | time afterward, or being forced to throw out some |
| paying more than you have to. Consider how many | | | | of it when it spoils.Are national brands worth the |
| people you're cooking for and how much refrigerator | | | | price? Are house or generic brands just as good as |
| and freezer space you have. Nothing is a bargain if | | | | the national brands?All of the major chain |
| you can't store it long enough to cook and eat it. A | | | | supermarkets have house brands or plainly packaged |
| large roast, for example, can be chopped into | | | | generic products. Some chains have both. Check out |
| meal-sized pieces and frozen, or you can cook the | | | | your local chains, try the house products, and decide |
| whole thing, eat what you want, and save the rest | | | | for yourself when (or if) you want to spend a little |
| for sandwiches, stews, casseroles, and snacks--if you | | | | more for the national brand. If you really prefer a |
| have the refrigerator or freezer space to store | | | | national brand, especially in non-perishables, watch the |
| it.Using coupons: Coupons can save you money or | | | | ads, and when it goes on sale, stock up. Many of the |
| cost you. | | | | house brands are made by the same companies that |
| If the coupon is for something you would have | | | | make the national brands. The only difference is that |
| bought anyway, it's worth using. If it's just a | | | | the supermarket chain buys in quantity, and the |
| different brand, the coupon makes it cheaper than | | | | manufacturer has no advertising expense.Staple |
| your regular brand, and you can't taste the | | | | supplies that every kitchen needs. |
| distinction, use it. If the only reason you're buying the | | | | All-purpose flour, cornstarch (for thickening gravy), |
| product is to use the coupon, forget it! If it's | | | | assorted noodles and pasta, rice, oils (vegetable, |
| something new that you would like to try, and you | | | | olive, peanut), vinegar (white wine, red wine, apple |
| don't have to buy a large quantity, look at the price | | | | cider, plain distilled), canned soups (beef broth, |
| and decide if it's worth the money to you. Go ahead | | | | chicken broth, tomato, cream of mushroom), |
| and treat yourself occasionally. Little treats make it | | | | assorted spices and flavorings (dried minced onion, |
| easier to stick to a healthy routine the rest of the | | | | oregano for Italian dishes, salt, pepper, any others |
| time.How much should you buy?Most supermarkets | | | | you like.)Buy small quantities on new items and taste |
| have the prices marked on the shelves, and show a | | | | test before stocking up.Other good things to keep |
| unit price on the ticket. Sometimes the larger | | | | on hand. |
| package costs less per pound, or ounce, or whatever | | | | Canned meats and vegetables, mayonnaise, |
| unit is used. Sometimes the smaller package is in fact | | | | mustard, ketchup, favorite salad dressings, |
| the better buy. Small calculators are so inexpensive | | | | horseradish sauce, ready-to-eat cereal, quick cooking |
| nowadays that getting one to take shopping with | | | | oatmeal, Cream of Wheat, Cream of Rice, grits, |
| you can save you money, especially when one brand, | | | | gravy mixes, drink mixes, any other favorite |
| for example, lists the price per pound and another | | | | foods.With these basic pointers you should be well on |
| shows the per ounce price.With foods that have to | | | | your way to having a well stocked kitchen and great |
| be frozen or chilled, or fresh fruits and vegetables | | | | cooking experience.Shawn is a author of Culinary |
| that spoil quickly (known as "perishables") only buy as | | | | Cops a distinct website that helps future culinary |
| much as you can use before they perish. The fresher | | | | artist make their way. |