11 Ways To Save Money This Summer!

Having the kids at home from school during the summer (or just extra family and friends to stay) tends to mean one more meal a day and some special treats and snacks too. As a result, food expenses can skyrocket during the summer months. Here are 11 innovative ways to save on food costs, but not budget on taste. Since we’re reaching the end of the month and purse-strings are tight there’s something for everyone here:

1. Do An Inventory

Before you go shopping, see what already exists in the fridge so you never overbuy, particularly on perishable goods like fruit, vegetables and dairy products.

2. Buy in Season

In season fruit and vegetables are priced to sell, so it’s a good time to buy. Blueberries, cherries, courgettes and fresh peas are in season during the summer and wonderful to add to any of your warm weather dishes.

3. Switch Your Morning Routine

Replace your morning Java with a cup of tea instead. Tea bags are generally cheaper than coffee beans and with a comparable amount of that much-needed caffeine too. Why not try a green or herbal tea instead?

4. Repackage

Empty family-size containers of dairy products like yogurt into smaller plastic containers, and place crackers and cookies in glass containers for a longer shelf life.

5. Go Veggie

Replace meat protein with less expensive vegetable proteins like beans or legumes where possible. Beans and extra vegetables are lighter on the tummy and bariatric pouch and are perfect for summer casseroles or home-made chilli. See the recipe for our Vegetarian Chilli here.

6. Freeze It

To reduce waste, always remember to freeze it – leftovers, meat, and even some vegetables – to reuse at a later date. Always cook a little extra too – last night’s roast chicken will make great sandwiches or stir-fries for the days that follow.

7. Bulk Buy

Buy larger quantities of staple products like grains, pasta and even olive oil. Pasta and rice are great to add to any vegetable leftovers and always good to have on hand – to make a hearty soup or even a light pasta dish or stir-fry.

8. Make Your Own

Try making your own salad dressing, or even your own breakfast granola. Olive oil and oats can be bought cheaply in large quantities and can both be made and stored in large batches too.

9. Frozen Or Canned

Don’t feel the pressure to follow recipes to the letter. Replace fresh vegetables for frozen or the canned variety. It’s a cheaper alternative and will most likely go unnoticed as far as your little ones are concerned. Softer, often more tender, canned vegetables and fruit, whilst still nutritious, can also be kinder to the bariatric’s sensitive pouch.

10. Grow Your Own

Get green fingered this summer and try growing your own vegetables or herbs. White ends of spring onion and celery can also be replanted easily to be grown again.

11. Repetition Is Key

Along with using up leftovers, repeat some recipes frequently. You’ll most likely have the ingredients on hand and won’t continually need to buy specific or costly ingredients each time you go to cook. Our bariatric-friendly Turkey Bolognese is one such recipe. Recipe here.