Recession proof your diet

Times are no doubt getting tougher and we are all looking at ways to cut back. You can make sure to turn off lights and shave a little from your ESB bill. But what can you do to recession proof your diet and cut a little off your shopping bill?Well actually there are lots of things you can do. 1.: It"s all about planning. Try to get into the habit of doing a large weekly shop. Plan what you need for the week and buy it all in one go and make a list. Chances are you"ll need to get extra milk or bread at some stage later in the week, but you"ll still be saving. The fewer times you shop the fewer times you"re likely to "impulse" buy things you don"t really need. It might seem hard to plan ahead for the week, but it won"t just help your pocket, it will also help your health. 2.: Buy things in season or better still grow your own. If a food is in season, there should be lots of it available and it should be cheaper. It will also be more nutritious. Some foods that are in season right now are broccoli, carrots, brussel sprouts, leeks and turnips. Buying in bulk and trips to the greengrocers, butchers & bakery are all ways of buying fresh value for money produce as well as supporting your local community. 3: Don"t buy too many convenience foods. Grated packets of cheese and pre-washed vegetables and salad are far more expensive than the regular types. Also don"t be tempted by the buy one get one free offer as most of these are on either junk foods or foods that will end up being thrown out anyway. 4: Cook more often. Don"t be tempted by the special offers of two for one ready meals. It might seem like a bargain, but you can cook your own meal for a fraction of the price and it"s bound to have less salt and fat and lots more fibre. 5: Instead of throwing out leftovers get into the habit of freezing. Investing in a few tupperware containers is a great way of freezing leftover dinners and you will also save time on cooking the next day. If you would like to learn more about cooking on a budget and learn to make your own nutritious meals why not sign up for a Food and Health course in your area. Contact ­­­­­­­­­­­­Barbara at 0578644989 for more information. For more information on healthy eating please contact Community Nutrition & Dietetic at 044 9353220 or email community.dietitians@hse.ie. by Elmary Purtill, Senior Community Dietitian, Laois/Offaly