Eat Green and Save Some Green

Even though it's so soon in the New Year there is still time for that New Year resolution you made to lose weight. For some of us consuming green products but not break the Bank was part of our plan, so pick which of the suggestions below will be a fit for your household.

Plan ahead: At least, plan your weekly menu or list a few main dishes that you would like to eat all through the week. This will definitely save you cash on your food bill by keeping you from buying groceries you don't want.

Buy generic: Often store-brand items are just fine, but less costly. Store-brand products are offered for just about every item you can think of, so be on the lookout for them.

Make substitutions: Think about what you eat, and then determine what is a less expensive and just as healthy alternative. Like breakfast cereal? Oatmeal is usually more affordable.

Try Whole Foods: Examine the unprocessed whole food that a product is made from and focus on if you can consume that whole food as is or utilize it to produce your own sauce, cereal or juice.

Consider non-meat sources of protein: Try swapping one meat meal occasionally with a vegetarian meal to conserve cash and benefit your well being. Beans, eggs and tofu all provide high-quality protein for a fraction of the cost of meat.

DIY: Inform those pastries in the bakery case that are screaming your name to clam-up. Then rustle up a batch with whole grains, blueberries and honey at home that would outshine the store bought ones.

Buy seasonally: You might wonder about not having tomatoes in the middle of winter, but the fresh, perfect tomatoes of summer taste better, cost less and are more nutritious anyway.

When considering saving dough on groceries, you often have to sacrifice more of your own time—preparing, cooking, growing and cutting coupons—but a lot of people agree that it's worth the time spent. All of these tasks will become less stressful and more efficient with time. You may find that shopping, preparing and consuming will become that much more rewarding, and not just for your wallet!