So we've talked about the greater value gained for your wallet and your health by avoiding most fast foods. Growing your own food is next on the list. I know, you..."don't have time, and you don't have space", but the exercise you get is a wonderful by-product, and vegetables can be grown in planters or container gardens when space is limited or soil conditions are poor.
A diet that revolves around fruits, vegetables and grain is cheaper than a diet that revolves around meat. Wholesale Frozen Chicken Breast Legumes (beans and peas) are very inexpensive and provide the necessary protein. There is something to be said for knowing where your food comes from...before it gets to the produce section!
If you can't grow your own, make an effort to use locally abundant foods. The price usually drops when local produce comes in. Don't be afraid to strike up a conversation with the produce manager at your local grocer - they can be your window into knowing what's freshest on the shelf and what will be coming into season next month. The quality and quantity are at the peak, so stock up!
There are many areas that promote "U Pick", where you can harvest your own. Turn it in to an adventure with family and friends! Preserving, canning, drying, freezing, etc... also stretches your dollars and allows you to enjoy the bounty in the off-season.
This brings us to eating seasonally. It's interesting that in less than one generation, we have to be educated about this. For centuries, there was no other option, but modernization has provided us with strawberries and plums from Chile in December. There is a cost associated with this convenience that we often overlook, both financially and nutritionally.
When you buy locally and seasonally, at a discount, make big batches! A big pot of soup can be divided into several portions and frozen for a mid-winter meal, or blueberries frozen for a fragrant pie on Valentine's Day, or a spaghetti sauce made from tomatoes that seem to come all at once. You can't under-estimate the savings of time and money gained from the "fruits of your labors". Also, when you make larger batches, you get leftovers. They can be eaten at lunch the next day or used to jump start a dinner later in the week.
Another way to buy in bulk, is purchasing from wholesale stores like Costco. For years, I have used the "Food Saver" vacuum packing system to portion large containers of meats, fish and chicken, bread rolls, cheeses, fruits, etc... It's really easy to use and very effective in preventing freezer burn. I owned a butcher shop years ago, and used this machine to portion meats for private yachts visiting Newport, RI, so I recommend it highly.
Yet another idea regarding bulk purchasing involves increasing your buying power through food co-ops (coopdirectory) and buying clubs (unitedbuyingclubs). You can organize many households into a club/group that would qualify for wholesale prices on everything from staples, to produce, and meats. Imagine getting all these families together on Distribution Day and sharing ideas on how to store and cook the food that you've purchased.
Saving money on food has everything to do with the choices you make when you're hungry. Convenience foods may save you time, but don't save you money. Increasing fruits and vegetables and reducing meat intake will have a noticeably positive effect on your budget and your overall health.
The idea of eating locally and seasonally has a great impact on quality of the foods you buy and the quantity of the ingredients at good prices. When you buy food wholesale, either individually or collectively, and preserve it properly, you can save even more.