Healthy Diet for October 16 – $$ Smart

In the United States, about $36 per week per person is spent on groceries. Get the most nutrition for your dollars with nutrient-dense foods. Consider: two melons cost about the same as two 64-ounce bottles of soda; a large bag of chips, about the same as a bag of apples. Exercise supermarket savvy.

• Buy it your way. If you don’t need a whole package of meat, seafood, or produce, ask the butcher or clerk to repackage just the amount you need.
• Clip coupons. And check the Internet for money-saving promos. Buy only if you need the item, and if it’s really a better price.
• Pay attention to the unit price displayed on the shelf. Buy a bigger size if it keeps well.
• Buy the quality you need. You don’t need gourmet olive oil for everyday food prep.
• Consider the cost of convenience. Lettuce may cost three times more if it’s cut up and prewashed. Worth it? That’s your call.