6 Ways To Manage Grocery Costs

Maximizing your grocery shopping budget can be tough these days. Food costs have been on the upswing due to a variety of reasons, like supply chain issues and production costs. 

Want to learn the best ways to lower your grocery bill without skimping on premium, staple ingredients? Whether you’re shopping for a large family or simply want to better manage your budget, you’ll find helpful solutions here. 

We share top tips on how to help keep your food costs low while still getting the quality products you love.

Simple Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bill

It’s no secret that food prices are rising. In fact, we could see a potential increase of nearly 5 percent by the middle of 2022. Luckily, there are plenty of strategies to assist shoppers with maximizing their grocery dollars.

1. Visit the Freezer Aisle

Frozen foods are fantastic options for any shopper, regardless of their grocery budget. High-quality frozen fruits and vegetables are picked at the pinnacle of freshness and then quickly frozen. This allows the ingredients to retain farm-fresh flavors while keeping nutrients intact. 

Frozen items also tend to be budget-friendly, meaning you’ll save money upfront without sacrificing quality. Plus, because they can be stored in the freezer for extended periods, you can stock up on items to last you weeks, which means fewer trips to the store and reduced food waste. 

Pro tip for parents: Teach your kids about nutrition and how to read food packaging labels. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration offers some great resources for kids, from videos to word searches.

2. Plan Weekly Menus Around Sales

If you haven’t dabbled in meal planning, now is an excellent time to start. Developing menus for the week helps you stick to your grocery budget by encouraging streamlined buying. 

To maximize your savings, check out your restaurant supply store’s upcoming sales and feature those ingredients in your meals. For added inspiration, check out apps to help you organize meal planning. Some of the apps can also suggest fun menus that work with your on-sale ingredients. 

Pro tip for parents: Does your kid love educational games and want to go shopping in the supermarket? There’s an app for that! Check out My Pretend Grocery Store and Little Zebra Shopper.

3. Take Stock Before Stocking Up

We’ve all accidentally purchased an ingredient we already had in our home pantry. To help curb unnecessary spending, look through your pantry, freezer, and fridge before hitting the store. Keep a running inventory of your groceries to help prevent duplicate expenditures. 

Pro tip for parents: Trying to make a list, but bombarded by the little ones? Put them to work! Kids can help you take stock of what’s in the pantry, fridge, and freezer. Check out additional opportunities on how kids can get involved in the grocery planning and shopping process.

4. Switch It Up

One of the ways to avoid higher grocery prices is to rethink your grocery list. Staples like steak, eggs, and cereal are a few of the food items that have had upticks in cost:

• Beef and veal prices are up by 20 percent
• Eggs increased by nearly 12 percent
• Cereal saw a 5 percent spike

To create dynamic meals without the higher price point, look for ingredient substitutions. Instead of making beef burgers, use ground turkey as a cost-effective, healthy alternative. Make your own satisfying cereal with bulk oats, dried fruits, nuts, and spices. Consider innovative breakfast options like tofu in place of scrambled eggs. 

Pro tip for parents: Help teach your kids about the value of a dollar! Set your grocery budget together and empower them to keep track. 

5. Bulk It Up

Purchasing bulk groceries is a savvy way to optimize savings. If you’re reluctant to buy in bulk for fear of food spoilage, there are a variety of great ways to avoid it. From freezing and canning to pickling and plain old smart planning, there are ways to make bulk grocery shopping work for your unique needs. 

Shop at your local restaurant supply store to take advantage of premium products at stellar prices. Their price points are competitive, and the quality of products is professional grade. You can seriously stretch your dollar by menu planning, creating freezer meals, and preserving ingredients!

Pro tip for parents: If you’re feeding lots of little ones, freezer meals are a fantastic go-to for quick dinners. Get tips on making freezer meals kids love - and check out terrific recipes, too.

6. Order Online 

Ordering groceries online is a simple way to mitigate overspending. You’ll be far less likely to impulse buy on a virtual platform because you spend less time browsing aisles. Plus, you can easily find digital coupons for premium products and discounts for third-party delivery.  

Pro tip for parents: When you’re creating your menu plan for the weeks ahead, consider dinner ideas that your kids can help you assemble. When you’re ordering online, they can help you look for the ingredients you need to get started.

Buy Bulk Wholesale Food and More at US Foods CHEF’STORE 

CHEF’STORE stocks budget-friendly, exceptional products to help you manage grocery costs. Visit one of our many nearby locations or schedule a delivery through one of our third-party delivery companies. Want to learn more about CHEF’STORE?  Contact us today!

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