“The importance of meal planning can’t be overstated,” says Lorencz. “Not only will you waste less food and save more money, but you’ll save yourself from ordering takeout at the last minute because you have nothing to eat. Plan healthful meals that use the same few fresh foods to keep costs down. For example, buy a big head of lettuce to use in a salad one night, on a sandwich or burger the next night, and shredded in a burrito bowl later in the week.”
“When trying to save as much money as possible on groceries being flexible can pay off,” says Maggie Michalczyk, RDN, founder of OnceUponAPumpkinRD.com, and recent author of The Great Big Pumpkin Cookbook. “Rather than planning your meals and then going grocery shopping, you may want to see what’s on sale and plan your meals off of those items. This may require a little more creativity on your end but could be a great way to lower your grocery bill.”