Cooking and baking from scratch can offer savings on everything from dessert to salad dressing. Below are some ways to make your money go further in the kitchen:
• Homemade muffins and cakes are healthier, cheaper alternatives. They are usually half to one third the cost of the bought ones. Children usually enjoy cooking so involve them in the preparation and baking.
• Use skim milk powder for cooking.
• Make your own low fat salad dressings. Homemade dressings are cheaper than bought ones. They offer the opportunity to produce a wide variety of flavors with only a few basic ingredients such as olive oil, vinegar, garlic and fresh homegrown herbs.
• Buy bread on special and freeze for later use. If a loaf of bread cannot be used within a day or two, slice and freeze half the loaf for later use.
• Choose a high fiber, low sugar breakfast cereal. Generally, the less refined and cheaper the product – the more nutritious. Some cereals advertised for children can be up to four times the cost of healthy choices. They also contain a lot of sugar and if toasted, a lot of fat.
