The title says it all… Groceries are getting more and more expensive, and it’s a real pain. Even if you can “afford” the bill, it’s frustrating that your buying power has been eaten up (pardon the pun) so much by food. In the past you could have used that money as a down payment on a 1,000 gallon fish tank for exotic crustaceans, but now it’s going toward chicken breast.

With that in mind, it’s never a bad time to look at your food-spending habits and examine how you can be more budget friendly. It’s empowering to feel like you’re taking charge of your finances, and your grocery bill is a wonderful place to start.

Here are some principles to keep in mind that will keep your grocery bills down:

Focus on Whole Foods: This probably doesn’t blow your mind. You’re reading a newsletter about home cooking, and here I am emphasizing foods that require cooking. When you’re at the grocery store, stop and pause the next time you look at some pre-packaged food.

Maybe it’s worth your time to buy whole carrots instead of baby carrots. Maybe it’s worth the effort to make your own tomato sauce instead of buying that over-priced, low-quality stuff that’s full of preservatives. The more whole foods you can get, the better.

Buy in Bulk: If you have a type of rice you really like, consider looking for the jumbo ultra bag that will feed you for generations. The price per ounce will be cheaper overall, and will leave you with significant savings over time.

Here’s an awesome tip you may not know: generally, grocery stores don’t just include the price of the item you’re considering, but they also include the price per ounce written very small right under the price. Sure, the small can of tomatoes costs $3 less, but what about the price per ounce? Woah, that’s a big difference! When I’m shopping, I always look at the unit price, not just the sticker price.

Emphasize Seasonal and Local Produce: This is a great tip for three reasons. First off, it takes less investment to wheel a bunch of peaches down the street to the local farmers market than it does to fly a million under ripe bananas from Ecuador. Overall, your budget gets better bang for its buck when you shop local and in season.

A second reason this is a big deal is because seasonal produce is healthier. Instead of picking it while under ripe, farmers let it develop all the way to maturity before delivering it to you, and this packs quite a different nutritional punch.

Finally, there’s a reason that fancy, bougie restaurants tend to emphasize their ingredients are locally sourced. They’re not just virtue signaling by advertising that they’re environmentally friendly… local and in-season ingredients really are just better! After having a garden-fresh tomato, I’m no longer content buying roma tomatoes from Walmart in the middle of the winter. They’re super expensive, comparatively speaking, and they taste like overly ambitious water.

Incorporate Plant-Based Protein: Meat is delicious and generally healthy, but is also rather expensive. I don’t advocate fully cutting meat from your diet, but it can really help to try eating meat sparingly (modernized countries tend to overconsume meat). It can also help to mix meats with other plant-based proteins. For example, mix some beans in with your ground beef; stir fry some diced tofu together with that chicken; have a little bit less salmon and a little bit more quinoa.

Avoid Food Waste: This used to be a standard practice that we’ve forgotten in our society of excess and convenience. If you have an onion, it’s not just a topping for your burger. The root of that onion will make a delicious and healthy stock, and the little “waste” bits will make a perfect aromatic base for a sauce, salsa or soup. There’s a whole list of foods people tend to throw away that I would rather keep:

• Vegetable scraps


• Bones and silver skin


• Trimmed fat


• Stale bread


• Fruit peels and cores


• Cheese rinds


• Herb stems


• Citrus peels


• Potato skins

Each of these can be eaten in their own right, make an incredible garnish, or are a great addition to a future meal. Don’t just throw it out!

Embrace Simplicity: This won’t blow your mind, but it’s worth the reminder… the most famous dishes that have withstood the test of time have by and large been simple, inexpensive dishes. Many of history’s favorite foods were invented by peasants in times of hardship. Sure, the elite have always bragged about their specialty ingredients, but the backbone of culinary progress is humanity’s ability to work with what we have. Chilean casuela, French goulash, American biscuits and gravy, Italian ravioli… the list goes on. Eating cheap is an investment in creativity. Embrace it!

A Handful of Meal Ideas

In case you wanted a little more inspiration, here’s a short list of recipe ideas for your next shopping trip.

1. Lentil Soup

2. Chickpea and Spinach Curry

3. Vegetable Stir-Fry with Quinoa

4. Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili

5. Split Pea Soup

6. Oatmeal with Peanut Butter and Bananas

7. Pasta e Fagioli

8. Homemade Veggie Burritos

9. Red Beans and Rice

10. Vegetable Fried Rice

11. Minestrone Soup

12. Baked Ziti with Vegetables

13. Three-Bean Salad

14. Cabbage and White Bean Soup

15. Barley and Mushroom Pilaf

16. Stuffed Bell Peppers with Rice and Beans

17. Ratatouille

18. Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos

19. Peanut Stew with Kale

20. Quinoa and Black Bean Salad

Hopefully, these ideas will help you keep your wallet from crying too much while still eating well. Happy cooking!