Do you get sticker shock when you check out at the grocery store? Even with the cost of groceries, it is still usually cheaper to prepare meals at home rather than eating out. Once you know how to shop and cook smarter, you can stretch your food budget.

The most important step to saving money at the grocery store takes place before you even head to the store. It is planning your meals for the week. By planning you can see what you already have on hand as well as what your schedule looks like for the week. Make a menu plan based on foods you need to use before they go bad and any leftovers you might be able to repurpose into a new dish. Planning for a week at a time prevents unnecessary trips to the store but isn’t so far out that perishable foods spoil before you can typically use them. Once you make your meal plan and check to see what ingredients you already have, create a grocery list. You may want to check sales ads and any coupons you may have as you make your list.

Once at the store, take time to compare the cost of different brands and forms of food. For example, a store brand may be a better buy if you like the quality of it. If you plan to serve green beans, check to see if the best buy is fresh, frozen, or canned. All forms of fruits and vegetables can be part of a healthy meal. Just watch out for sodium in canned vegetables and added sugars in canned fruits. You can drain and rinse canned vegetables to help remove some of the sodium. For fruits, look for those canned in 100% fruit juice, water, or light syrup. For fresh produce, choose those that are in season for the best price. Frozen fruits and vegetables have the added benefit of not going bad quickly if they are kept frozen.

Learn to use the unit pricing label on the grocery store shelf to help you compare the cost of different brands or sizes of packages. The unit price sticker shows the total price of an item as well as the cost per ounce or another unit. You may be able to save money by buying in bulk but make sure you can use the item before it spoils.

You also want to ensure you aren’t tossing cash in the trash by throwing food away. Remember, you can help reduce food waste by building meals around what you have in your pantry, refrigerator, or freezer and by repurposing leftovers. Leftover chicken can become part of a tasty soup or gumbo. Store food properly so it will keep longer. Check out the “Cold Food Storage Chart” at www.foodsafety.gov for a handy guide to help you keep foods from spoiling.

The next time you head to the grocery store, go with a plan and a list and see if you can save some money! If you are struggling to make a meal plan, the LSU AgCenter has lots of recipes on our website. You can find it at www.lsuagcenter.com. Search for Build a Healthy Meal to find recipes including videos of how to prepare them.