3 Tips for Battling Food Price Increases.

If you are trying to figure out how to keep your grocery bill in line without sacrificing your ability to provide a healthy and balanced meal plan for your family then join the crowd. As food prices raise, we are all tightening the budget, but you don’t have to set aside a healthy and favorable menu to meet the challenge.





Here are a few ideas that can help:





1. Stock up on the staples. As Father’s Day approaches I am forever grateful for the food storage/ saver system my boys gave me a few years ago. It has paid for itself a few times over these last couple of years. We buy whole gains and beans in bulk and seal them in the air tight bags in quantities that fit with our family menu planning. Take rice, as an example: Flavor it with organic basil, garlic and ginger and serve as a bed for the in-season vegetables that are now available at your local farmers market. It makes for a wonderful, low cost side dish that is packed with flavor.





2. Look for seasonal deals and buy in bulk. The same food saver sealing system is a real asset for taking advantage of sale prices on your main course meats, fish and poultry items. Buying in quantity often allows you to buy at the very best price points. When ever you can add low cost items to future needs it’s a winner on the budget scale. Try this idea with an in-season favorite; sweet corn. The market will soon have an abundance of local sweet corn so buy a few extra dozen and plan for the future. Strip the corn and blanch in boiling water for one – two minutes. Transfer to a cold water bath to stop the cooking process. Seal the ears in a food saver bag and freeze. Next fall and winter, when corn prices are sky high, simply take out the corn bag and add to boiling water (still in the bag) for a few minutes. We package four ears at a time and they stack real well in the freezer. Fresh tasting corn in December is a real treat.





3. Add organic seasoning mixes to your menu. Long before great ready to serve products were created, people like my Mother had figured out how to dress up hamburger or prepare a low cost cut of beef that was "in your mouth" tender and delicious. Today, there are many products that can help you cut the food budget short a day or two and still delight your family with a wonderful meal. Here is one of our favorites: Sloppy Joes. Try using a Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix, which is an organic product, and a wonderful dressing for hamburger or tofu. A pound of ground round, a can of tomato sauce is about all you need to serve this family favorite.