| One way to save yourself some time is to have | | | | Once you have your items in your house, make |
| certain items in your pantry at all times. That way | | | | sure you check them before you head to the |
| if you don't have the time or energy to prepare a | | | | grocery store and add to your list what you are |
| large meal you can put together a quick dinner for | | | | low or out of. |
| your family. We sometimes think that we have to | | | | One of my favorite ways to keep the cost down |
| serve a meat, starch, and a vegetable every | | | | and the kids (and hubby) satisfied with my |
| evening. Not true, a sandwich or quesadilla is a | | | | purchases is to have a note pad and pen in a |
| nice quick fix. | | | | very convenient drawer in the kitchen. I started |
| Make a list of items that you want to have in | | | | this practice many years ago. My family knows |
| your home at all times. This includes canned | | | | that if they use the last of something they are to |
| goods, pasta, and frozen foods. For example, my | | | | put it on the list. If they want something that I |
| family knows that they will always find refried | | | | don't typically buy, they put it on the list. And YES |
| beans, instant white and brown rice, frozen | | | | I do buy it for them. I would go to the grocery |
| vegetables, black beans, flour tortillas, shredded | | | | store and come home to a family who was |
| taco cheese, enchilada sauce, and taco sauce. We | | | | always looking for something that wasn't in the |
| can have bean tacos, leftover chicken or beef | | | | grocery bags. "Why didn't you buy this" "We |
| tacos, quesadillas. Or I can make our favorite | | | | never have anything good" "You should have told |
| Chicken Enchilada Casserole. I could make a | | | | me you were going" etc. You know the drill. |
| different meal each night of the week with just | | | | I decided to turn the tables and make each of |
| my pantry items. | | | | them responsible for why we don't have anything |
| Other items to consider for your self are | | | | good in the house. They were told that if they |
| croutons, pasta, tomato sauce and paste, minced | | | | want something they are to put it on the list. At |
| garlic, rice, pasta sauce, canned tuna, shrimp, and | | | | first I worried that my grocery bill would be a lot |
| salmon, green chilies, mushrooms, canned ham, | | | | higher, but I found that things didn't really change |
| canned chili. | | | | at all. They really didn't go overboard like I |
| Your freezer items could include bags of frozen | | | | expected and I didn't get any hassle when I got |
| vegetables. Unlike a canned vegetable, you can | | | | home. My answer to those questions is "It wasn't |
| portion out what you need and put the rest back | | | | on the list." They learned very quickly. |
| in the freezer. They also taste a lot better than | | | | Now I'm not spending money on things they are |
| canned. Buy frozen boneless skinless chicken | | | | not in the mood for this week, I can focus on |
| breast, fish fillets, meat balls, and shrimp. All take | | | | meals not snacks, and they get an occasional |
| less time to defrost than some other meats, so | | | | item or two that they normally wouldn't find in |
| they are good for last minute meals. | | | | the house. |
| My refrigerator items include milk, cream cheese, | | | | This is what you will find in my kitchen at any |
| low fat sour cream, feta cheese as well as other | | | | given time. |
| favorite cheeses. Things that started in my | | | | Pantry -fat free, less-sodium broths,canned |
| pantry and then go to the refrigerator are sweet | | | | beans,canned tomatoes,jams and |
| pickle relish, several different mustards, hoisin | | | | jellies,olives,capers,hot sauce,soy sauce,olive and |
| sauce, white and red wine, favorite hot sauces | | | | canola oil,balsamic and red wine vinegar,dried |
| and salsas, capers, wasabi, horseradish, barbeque | | | | pasta,wine,quick cooking rice,sauces (barbecue, |
| sauce, lemon and lime juice, and various olives. | | | | soy, hoisin, etc),canned fish (tuna, salmon, etc. |