Did You Know?

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Sweet on Sweet Potatoes 

The versatile sweet potato makes a great complement to your favorite meal and it’s good for you! They can be boiled, baked, or fried and made tastier with any of your favorite toppings: cinnamon, honey, lime, ginger, or coconut. The starchy tuberous roots are rich in complex carbohydrates, dietary fiber, beta carotene, vitamin C and vitamin B6.

Picking the perfect sweet potato is simple. Just make sure it is firm without cracks and bruises. When storing, remember the flavor of raw sweet potatoes could be altered if refrigerated. For the best storage, keep them in a cool, dark and well-ventilated place. If the temperature is too warm, they may sprout sooner or become woody. Once cooked, sweet potatoes can be stored one week in the refrigerator.

Tips Courtesy of Fran Boardman, Madison Health Dept.

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Easier Handicapped Parking...

   The NJ Motor Vehicle Commission has streamlined the process for obtaining handicapped plates and placards. Customers may visit any of the agencies across the state to process an initial handicap plate or placard application with the proper medical documentation. Customers may also download the application from their web site at www.njmvc.gov or call 1-888-486-3339. This allows residents to bring the form to their physician to complete the certification portion, follow the steps outlined in the instructions, and ensure quick processing. 

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Practical Ways to Trim High Grocery Prices

During these times of high food and fuel prices, you might be asking yourself “What can I do to save money?” A smart spending plan at the grocery store is one way to make ends meet.  It just takes a little time and know-how to put into practice.  Below are some specific money-saving ideas to consider:

Know How Much You’re Spending- When you spend $60 at the supermarket one week and $100 the next, you may not realize that your monthly grocery bill is one of your biggest expenses. Save your receipts and analyze them – you will be amazed at how much you spend on groceries and how much you can save by shopping more carefully.  Take the time to create a food budget and follow it.

Plan for More Family Meals- Plan ahead instead of stopping at fast food restaurants on the way home from work. Make meal planning a family affair. Write up a menu of the meals and snacks you plan to prepare for the week, while making sure they are affordable and fit your food budget.

Plan Every Shopping Outing- Experts say that planning meals in advance and making detailed shopping lists can cut your grocery spending by 20 percent or more. Check your pantry before you go shopping to be sure of what you need. Review store flyers and build your list around what’s on sale and the best coupon deals. Buying in bulk, when possible, can often help save money in the long run.

Stick to Your List- Grocery stores are designed to entice you to buy more with irresistible marketing. By sticking to a list, you will only purchase what you need and “get in and get out” of the store quickly.

Do Not Shop on an Empty Stomach- If you go to a supermarket hungry, you will most likely purchase more food than you need, including expensive items.  As your mother said years ago and food shopping experts all agree, “Never go food shopping when you’re hungry.”

Avoid Buying Impulse Items Because They’re on Sale- If you don’t really need something, or only need one item instead of three, or you are concerned about food waste, it’s not a bargain.

Leave Young kids at Home, if Possible- Young children want all of the products that are marketed to them and conveniently placed at their “eye” level.  Avoid potential in-store battles and try to shop alone.

Break Yourself of “Brand Habits”- Generic or store brands are generally better buys. Basic commodities such as sugar, flour, tomato sauce, and paper towels are often indistinguishable when the label is removed. Some store brands are different from their national-brand equivalents, however, so buy small amounts first to test quality and flavor.

Go Easy on Highly Processed Foods in Expensive Packaging- Buy the basics and add your own sugar, spices, condiments, and sauces. You’ll save 50 percent or more, and feel much more creative. The closer a food is to its natural state, the less it tends to cost.   

Don’t be Deceived by Packaging- Check the per-unit cost of food products; sometimes small sizes are more economical than jumbo packs.

Beware of End Caps- Food items on aisle “end caps” are often attractively displayed to entice shoppers to make additional purchases; these displays are not always a shopper’s bargain.

Look Up, Look Down- Items on the upper and lower shelves are often cheaper. Big brands often pay big bucks for eye-level shelf space.

Shop “Off-Hours”- Whizzing through supermarket checkouts in the early mornings or late evenings may give you time to “shop the specials” at more than one store per week.

Don’t Do All Your Shopping at the Supermarket- Toiletries, for instance, are usually cheaper at discount stores. A little comparison shopping could save you a lot of money.

Cook Once, Eat Twice- Plan meals with recipes that can be doubled easily. Serve one and label and freeze the other for a later date. Often it doesn’t cost much more to make a double recipe.

Buy Fruits and Vegetables in Season- Stock up when items are cheap. Check out local farmer's markets.

Bring Lunches and Snacks to Work- Compared to eating out, brown-bagging can save food dollars.

Consider Eating Less Meat- Make at least one or two meatless meals each week.

Cruise Through Your Fridge Daily- Check foods on hand to plan to use them before they go bad.

Invest in a Good Inexpensive Cookbook- With some new recipes, you can be more creative with the groceries you bring home.  Look for healthy recipes that you can prepare in a short amount of time.

Save and Make Use of Leftovers- Serve for breakfast the next day or use for kids’ lunches or your own.

Consider Gas Costs- Don’t drive many miles out of the way to a store to save a few more pennies.

Watch “Open or Use By” Dates- Look for dates marked on perishable foods to avoid buying outdated products. Also be sure to use these products at home in time to avoid waste.

Purchase Only What You Will Use- Eat everything that you buy to avoid food waste.

Watch the Cash Register- Checkout errors can be costly. Use supermarket discount cards to save.

Stock Up on “Real” Bargains and Non-Perishable Foods- For example, buy canned goods on sale.

Avoid Non-Nutritious Foods- This includes “junk” food snacks, sugary foods, soft drinks, etc.

Find Your Green Thumb- Consider growing some of your own vegetables, fruits, and herbs.

Avoid Food Shopping at Convenience Stores- They are generally more expensive than supermarkets.

Don’t Pay Interest on Food Bought on Credit Cards- This only increases the cost of food even more. 

*Compliments of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Department of Family and Community Health Sciences

  

 

 

 

 

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