"Budget Friendly Grocery Hauls: Money Saving Tips for Busy Families"

Groceries take up a large part of the average household budget. After all, we all gotta eat! But when it comes to planning a shopping list, it's easy to overspend and impulse buy (never shop while hungry, right?). At the same time, no one likes eating leftovers for days.

There's no need to sacrifice quality for savings when it comes to creating delicious meals for your family. Healthy living and frugal families go hand in hand. Take a closer look at these money-saving tips that go beyond coupon clipping.

Plan Ahead

Think about your groceries in terms of your household budget. Financial experts recommend allocating 10-15% of your family budget towards stocking the pantry. While this may not sound like a large figure, a small piece of the financial pie can go a long way when shopping smart. Having a set limit beforehand prevents impulse shopping and accidentally going over budget.

The Frugal Food Pyramid

While it can be tempting to scoop up every tantalizing snack we see, the defeat of having spent a sufficient amount of money and come home with "nothing to eat" is a dilemma many families face. Instead of a conventional grocery list, design a frugal food pyramid by identifying needs and staples as the foundation. These are items that will stretch across multiple meals and can keep your clan fed on a shoestring budget.

When shopping with kids, online pickup or delivery is a great option to prevent a candy aisle battle and avoid picking up unnecessary "extras."

All Others Pay Cash

Many savvy savers find it helpful to take out their monthly or weekly grocery budget in cash. Paying in cash helps shoppers stay on track and know exactly how much they're spending. This makes grocery shopping more focused and less of a foodie free for all. You can even get the whole family involved by giving each child a task and an item on the list to be in charge of locating. Allow every member of the family to select 1-2 favorite snacks in order to avoid random cart items.

Budgeting is a fun way to teach your little ones financial skills that will come in handy throughout their lives!

The Value of Simplicity

The healthiest meals are often the most simple. Many savvy shoppers think of bulk buying as prepackaged junk food. However, families can easily feed a large crew with fresh, wholesome ingredients. Try a large salad that can be easily added to stir fries and pasta dishes throughout the week so that every "leftover" meal is unique. Some of the healthiest "cheap" foods include bagged spinach, sweet potatoes, chicken breast, salmon, bananas, apples, and even nutrient-dense fruits like kiwi. Shopping in season is a great way to save money while also eating organic and minimizing consumption of pesticides and harmful chemicals.

Learn more about which fruits and vegetables freeze well -- grapes, strawberries, broccoli, and carrots are some of the best! Consider becoming an expert on different preservation techniques from freezer storage to canning.

Meatless Mondays

Going vegetarian a few times a week is a great, healthy way to save money. You may be surprised by how much you can save when incorporating a few green and clean dishes throughout the week. Not only is this a sustainable way to practice at-home wellness and healthy eating, but it's a good addition to a totally-not-boring frugal meal plan.

Crafting delicious veggie recipes forces us to get creative! Think outside the macaroni box with colorful zoodles, crispy grilled tofu, seared eggplant parmesan, and more culinary hits that your family -- and wallet -- will love.

Once your budget approved shopping plan is underway, don't hesitate to reach out to our cupboard stocking experts for information on sales, delivery, and everything you need to feed your hungry clan.

Looking for more great healthy living tips worth sinking your teeth into? Check out how to go from Bland to Yummy and Eat Healthy Without Sacrificing the Flavour.