SmartShop Tips

Bread—Back from the Dead
Wrap day-old bread in foil and put it in a warm oven for 10 minutes. The crust will crisp and the insides will return to being light and fluffy. Use right away or it will revert back to its old, stale self.
Use Overripe Bananas
Freeze overripe bananas for recipes such as banana bread later. Even better, peel and cut bananas and freeze them in bags. Now you�ve got banana cubes for smoothies.
Go for the canned or frozen veggies to save money. They pack as much, if not more, nutritional value than fresh and can be stored for anytime use!
Substitute a meatless dish for your usual meat entrée. Build a lower-cost meal around grains and beans for complete protein. Add variety with vegetables, rich in vitamins and minerals.
Shop with a list. Know what's in your pantry and check food advertisements to learn what's on sale. Then purchase only what's on the list.
Use nonstick cooking sprays, such as PAM®, to replace cooking oils to save calories and fat. Plus, at only $.02 per use, you'll be saving money, too.
Break out your slow cooker. Slow cooking allows you to use less expensive cuts of meat while retaining great flavor and texture. Adding inexpensive vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and onions will also help round out the meal. Try the Slow-Cooked Pot Roast.
Choose recipes that use entire packages to avoid wasting leftover ingredients. Use extras as a take-with lunch or freeze for later.
Snack wisely. Snacks can quickly add up on the shopping bill and your scale. Try nutritious, whole-grain, lower-calorie snacks like Orville Redenbacher's® SmartPop!® 94% Fat Free Butter Microwave Popcorn.
Save money, calories, and sodium by making your own tortilla chips. Cut whole-grain tortillas into triangles, sprinkle with your favorite dried spice, such as chili and garlic powder, and bake until crisp.
Save 25% on your grocery bill by simply creating a list of what you need before you leave the house. It'll help keep impulse buying at bay.
It might sound expensive, but if you buy a gold filter ($10) for your coffee maker, you'll eliminate your need for paper filters. Plus, you can save a tree without camping out in one.
Buy freezer fish. It's cheaper and flash frozen at the height of freshness; so it tastes just as good, if not better, than fish you get behind the counter.

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Use nonstick cooking sprays, such as PAM®, to replace cooking oils to save calories and fat. Plus, at only $.02 per use, you'll be saving money, too.