Life can be busy, but taking a little time to plan ahead makes mealtime easier and faster. Plus, planning to eat most meals at home saves money. When you plan ahead, you’re more likely to stick to your grocery list and buy only what you need. You don’t even have to think about “What’s for dinner?” because your meals are already planned out for the week. Making a weekly meal plan is easier than you might think. It just takes a few easy steps:  

There are lots of things to love about spring. Warmer weather, sunnier days, blooming flowers. And one of our favorite things – it means farmers markets will soon be in full swing! Shopping at farmers markets allows you to meet the people who grow your food, buy produce when it’s in-season, and maybe find a new favorite fruit or vegetable. Here are some helpful tips for shopping at farmers markets:

If you haven’t heard, egg prices are egg-stremely high right now! Let’s talk about some ways you might be able to save money on eggs by replacing them with something else in the kitchen. 

You might not like that it’s freezing outside, but one good thing about freezing, at least when it comes to food, is that it can help you save time and money. Did you know fresh foods like bread, milk, nuts, meat, seafood, vegetables, and fruit can all be frozen? Maybe you’re not able to eat everything you bought before it goes bad. Or perhaps you cooked some extra soup or casserole over the weekend. You can freeze it and eat it later!

It has happened to all of us. We had to throw away leftovers, a food item spoiled in the fridge, or a pantry item went stale. When food is thrown away, your money is being thrown away, too. How can you keep this from happening? Here are some tips to help save money and make sure all the food you buy is eaten. 

Eat.Move.Save. is like a toolbox that can help you make healthier choices on any budget. In this blog series, we will highlight many of the tools that you can use to build your plan to Eat, Move, and Save in a way that works for you and your family. The first tool we’ll pull from the box is Find Food IL!

Packing a lunch is a great way to save money and eat nutritiously during the work or school day. With a little planning, you can make it a part of your daily routine. Start by asking yourself a few questions.

Do you need extra wiggle in your budget? Creating and using a grocery list can help! The less time you spend in a store, the less you’re likely to spend. A grocery list can help you get in and out of the store with the food items you need. First, what do you want to cook this week? Plan out a few meals around your weekly schedule. Next, what is in your cupboards, refrigerator, or freezer? Add to or change your meal plan with these food items. Using what you already have on hand will decrease food waste and save you money too.

Another holiday has come and gone, and once again, you’re left with a mountain of leftovers. But this year, you’re going to do something different. Rather than eat the same leftovers for the next couple days, you’re going to transform them into quick, delicious meals that won’t bust your budget! In this three-part series, we’ll talk about how to safely store your leftovers and help you use every part of your holiday meal.

When it's cold outside, nothing is better for dinner than a hearty, delicious casserole! Make your own at home by using our simple six category DIY (do it yourself) casserole recipe with what's already in your kitchen.