Hello, here are some of the changes I've made to reduce my food budget:

1. Portion control. Measure or weigh everything, especially meat, cheese, and nuts. I use portion sizes from the USDA pyramid or any other nutrition list such as diabetic diet. I started this to try to lose weight but it has a marked effect on costs too. A portion of meat is 2-3 oz., much less than most of us normally serve. One pound of chicken now stretches to five or six meals instead of three or four.

2. I don't eat processed food. I cook from scratch, simple meals that don't take much time. The processed versions cost a lot more.

3. Using all those coupons I clip from the Sunday paper and watching for specials

4. Shopping for food at non-food stores like Ocean State Job Lot. I've gotten some very good deals (but you have to compare prices as not all their prices are really lower).

5. Composting vegetable scraps, teabags, coffee grounds, eggshells, etc., so next summer I can grow some of my own vegetables.

Betsy Cazden