Food prices going up can take a toll on your wallet if you don't shop wisely. Items on sale, should be the first on your radar.
"Whether it's in the grocery store or anything else, those items are advertised for a reason," Eddie Owens with United Supermarkets said.
That means make a beeline for the about-to-expire rack, holding things like baked goods. And when possible, buy in bulk.
"Something overlooked a lot is the cost of packaging. So anytime you combine larger quantity where there's not quite as much packaging involved, you're likely to save money," Owens said.
Loading up on items like beef and chicken, a practical place to start. "Meat is inherently expensive, generally one of the most expensive products in the store, so if you can buy meat in bulk that's great," Owens said.
But buying in bulk comes with its downfalls, such as not knowing what to do with the food when you can't eat it all. Food containers can help you preserve.
"Buy something in quantity all at one time and put a bunch of it away in the freezer for use at a later time, obviously that's the smart thing to do," Owens said.
Experts say for the most bang for your buck, check out the unit cost for a product. The cheapest cereal may also be the smallest, so you'll soon be back in the checkout line.
And at home, knowing how to cook is a bonus that can help you save. "If you can buy a whole chicken and you can cut it up, it's only going to cost you maybe five dollars versus going out to eat to feed a family of four, is going to cost about 27 dollars," Janet Little, a nutritionist with Sprouts Farmer's Market said.
She also stresses healthy eating doesn't have to be high-dollar, if you choose the right produce. "If you buy in season, that's where you're going to get big savings," Little said.
One example is beans and legumes, which are high in protein, low in fat, and less expensive than what you would order at a fast food restaurant.
