Ask the RD

by Diane Lofshult

Food for Thought:

You can pose your own question to our contributing editor Jennie McCary, MS, RD, LD, a registered dietitian and the wellness coordinator for the Albuquerque Public School District. She chairs Action for Healthy Kids in New Mexico and teaches nutrition at the University of New Mexico. Please send your questions, along with your name and city/state/country, to editor Sandy Webster at swebster@ideafit.com.

Question:With the rise in food costs and other expenses, I’m finding it necessary to reduce our family food budget. Where should I start?

Answer: You are not alone in feeling the squeeze these days. Many people are opting to eat more meals at home to save money, and some are forgoing pricey restaurant meals entirely. If you and your family still frequent restaurants and buy coffee shop lattes, this is the first place to start, as just these simple steps can significantly slash your family’s food costs (not to mention your daily calorie totals!).

On the home front, planning is paramount to saving money and reducing food waste. Before you hit the grocery store, take a few moments to create a weekly meal plan, taking an inventory of items you have on hand and listing those you need to buy. Make this a priority each week, and I promise you’ll save big in the long run.

Other ways to make your food dollars stretch include eating produce that is in season; using frozen vegetables when fresh produce prices are too high; comparing the unit price of like products; and planning your menus around sale items advertised in weekly ads.