Check the first box if you "currently use." Check the second box if you "plan to use." Check the third box if it is "not applicable" to you.
❏ ❏ ❏ Spend about 30 minutes planning your weekly menus. Use the sale ads and write a shopping list. Keep the list in a handy spot.
❏ ❏ ❏ Avoid shopping when you’re hungry or tired. Almost everything looks tasty when you’re hungry. If you’re tired, you may be likely to grab convenience foods, which cost more and often are less nutritious.
❏ ❏ ❏ Avoid using a credit card for food purchases unless you intend to pay off the balance each month. You may end up adding credit card interest rates onto the food cost.
❏ ❏ ❏ Shop in one or two stores. Consider your gas, too. If you drive to several stores for special deals, it may not be a “deal.”
❏ ❏ ❏ Be familiar with the store layout. Only go down the aisles that include items on your list.
❏ ❏ ❏ For quick shopping trips, shop the perimeter of the store. Most staples, such as milk, fresh produce and bread, are around the perimeter.
❏ ❏ ❏ Compare store brands with national brands and choose the one with the lower price. Most store brands are similar in quality to name brands, but lower in price.
❏ ❏ ❏ Clip coupons, but only for the things you need. Some stores double the value of coupons to a certain point.
❏ ❏ ❏ Compare price using “unit prices.” The unit pricing on the front edge of shelving helps you know quickly whether the regular-priced super-sized package is a better deal than the sale-priced regular-sized package.
❏ ❏ ❏ Check your receipt and change. Although mistakes are not intentional, they can happen. Look carefully at your receipt to be sure you received the sale price.
Eat Smart. Play Hard. Together
- For more information about food safety and nutrition, contact your county office of NDSU Extension.
- Visit the NDSU Extension website at www.ag.ndsu.edu/food.
- Visit www.ChooseMyPlate.gov for more information about healthful eating for the entire family.
This material was funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Food Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP provides nutrition assistance to people with a low income. It can help you buy nutritious foods for a better diet. To find out more, contact your county social services office.
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