The other day, my husband asked me how I felt about the chopped green peppers I had included in that night’s casserole. I only put them in there because a) they were getting a little wrinkly and b) I’ve recently been trying to be mindful of food waste. With grocery bills climbing each month, walking into a grocery store has become just as scary as walking into a haunted house! Monitoring food waste is one way my husband and I aim to cut costs. Another great method to save money on food costs is to practice seasonal grocery shopping!
I’ll admit that I usually only think of seasonal items in the summer when fresh berries hit the store shelves. I thought summer was the main season for my palate. Oh, how wrong I was! Plenty of yummy, rich-in-nutrient ingredients circulate in season all year long. And the best part? They are typically lower cost! Take your grocery budget to the next level with these quick tips to save with seasonal grocery shopping.
Reasons to Shop Seasonally
Seasonal shopping simply means purchasing fresh produce when it’s in season. For example, peaches are summertime favorites while autumn sweet potatoes are ready just in time for Thanksgiving dinner. With seasonal shopping, you access produce at its peak nutritional value while saving money. In the U.S., we are used to on-demand produce no matter the time of the year, but that off-season berry will cost you. Limited off-peak produce supply combined with the added import costs can really add up.
Typically (at least for me), fresh produce accounts for the most expensive items on the grocery bill. If you eat organic or have dietary limitations, the cost can quickly inflate. This is why seasonal shopping can be budget-friendly. The more you pay attention to peak produce times, the more likely you are to find that item at a reduced cost. A few staples, like bananas and apples, are in season year-round, but otherwise, you’ll need to be mindful of peak seasons to really save on produce.
Logistics aside, seasonal grocery shopping allows you to try new things and develop your flavor palate! Plus, more variety means more ways to flex your menu each week! Your standard spaghetti repeat turns into delicious sausage-stuffed spaghetti squash bowls.
Seasonal Shopping Tips
- Utilize resources. Websites like Seasonal and Simple and Seasonal Food Guide not only tell you what’s in season in your state at any time of the year, but they also provide recipes for that seasonal item too! Plus, Simply Seasonal has a list of local farmers’ markets.
- Shop local. Farmers’ markets are not just for aesthetic Instagram selfies; they are your number one spot for fresh produce. Plus, when you shop at farmers’ markets, you invest in your local community, support small businesses, and can even negotiate prices if needed! Farmers’ markets allow for budget flexibility while still getting top-quality produce.
The best part?! If you use SNAP benefits, your dollars are DOUBLE at certain farmers’ markets with the Double Up Food Bucks program! That means that 20 SNAP dollars actually buys you $40 worth of fresh produce. Check out Double Up Food Bucks to find a participating market near you.
- Try new recipes. If you are not super excited about cooking (or eating your vegetables — speaking to myself here), trying a new recipe can spark kitchen inspiration. Utilize food blogs to find out how to cook your new-to-you vegetable or spice up a classic recipe. My favorite site is Budget Bytes. Get yummy recipes AND a cost estimate all in one.
Avoiding Food Waste
Throwing away food that you let go bad is such a budget buster! It pains me every time I throw away my wilted celery or bagged salad. It’s like I am tossing dollar bills in the trash. Thankfully there are some simple ways to avoid wasting all of your fresh, seasonal produce!
- Meal prep. Planning ahead allows you to use up ingredients with intention. Start your meal planning by reviewing what produce needs to be eaten first, then create subsequent meals from there. For example, I usually have a bag of salad in the fridge. I know that time is limited for those greens so I will serve salad as a side or dress it up for lunch in the beginning of the week to avoid it turning brown by Friday. Apps like Whisk can help you find recipes by entering in your ingredients you have on hand.
- Learn to can. Have you tried using your leftover veggies to make delicious salsa, crunchy pickles, or even your own tomato sauce? What about making apple butter or jam? Canning is not only a fun hobby; it is a great way to avoid food waste — and to make great, thoughtful gifts for a neighbor or family member. My brother cans a lot, and I can speak from experience: the items are always delicious!
- Freeze fruits and veggies before they go bad. You can freeze them for a meal later, or blend them up for a yummy smoothie treat. To avoid freezer burn, try out a vacuum sealer! You can find one on Amazon for a reasonable price and use it for veggies or for meat bought in bulk. My dad likes to slice summer squash and vacuum seal it for a quick fried squash side dish.
Seasonal grocery shopping may feel like a decent amount of work at first — especially if you’ve suffered this long buying out-of-season produce only to discard it days after purchase — but when done with intention, you’ll keep more dollars in your pocket and fresher food in your stomach!
Do you go to farmers’ markets or shop seasonally? Comment your favorite grocery budget tips and seasonal recipes below.
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