With rising food prices, there’s no doubt you’ve been trying to think of ways to shop smart when you head to the grocery store. If you’re determined to lower your bottom line, you’ll be glad to know there are plenty of ways to keep your wallet just as full as your cart—from using coupons to downloading grocery savings apps and more. Keep scrolling to find our savvy list of hacks on how to shop smart the next time you’re cruising the aisles.

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Shop online and do drive-thru pick-up. You might balk at the fee some grocery stores charge to bring the groceries to your car but consider the money you'll save by not wandering the aisles with kids who'll no doubt beg for every snack in sight?

Plan your meals.
To avoid over-buying on your next grocery run, plan your meals. Write out the days of the week and under each heading, choose what you’ll be eating and what ingredients you need so you can streamline (and save on!) your trip. Recovering Spender author and financial life coach Lauren Greutman puts things into perspective. "If we spend $25 on pizza every week, we're forking out an extra $1300 a year on takeout!"

Shop in stores where you know the layout. Quick trips to the grocery store can turn into a free-for-all if you don't know where everything is, especially when you are tired or in a hurry.

Stay away from pre-chopped veggies.
You may be tempted to reach for those containers of ready-chopped onions, celery, and carrots, but they also come with a higher price tag. According to consumerreports.org, you'll be paying almost double for that pre-prepped status. Instead, shop smart and opt for buying the entire vegetable and set aside time for chopping.

Start using the Flashfood App.
This app has partnered with grocery stores all over the country in hopes of eliminating food waste, plus, users can save up to $108 a month. How does it work? Download the app, and then search for a grocery location near you. Then you can choose and purchase discounted food items—you know, the items that have "just" reached their best buy date, and pick them up at designated Flashfood Zones in the store.

shop smart and go to the store late
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Shop during the quiet hours.
When the store is crowded with busy, tired folks and crying babies, all you want to do is get your shopping done. There's little chance of you taking the time to price compare or search for bargains. Instead, hit the aisles when fewer customers are around, and you'll feel less stressed to get a move on. Want to know what hours to avoid? The Time Use Institute states that the busiest hours of the day are 4 p.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays, and from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m or so on the weekends.

Go meatless.
If you’re shopping on a budget, consider adding Meatless Monday (or Tuesday or Wednesday) to your weekly meal rotation. You’ll save on one of the most expensive staples on your grocery list and you’re guaranteed to get in all of your greens! A study published in the Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition found that vegetarians save up to $750 a year by going meatless.

Become a coupon clipper.
We’re not saying you need to audition for the next season of Extreme Couponing, but before you head to the store, do a quick online search for any coupons that will apply to the items on your grocery list. You’ll also want to check if your grocery store has its app. Many stores like Target and Kroger have their app with additional digital coupons you can use.

Download cashback apps.
As you’re looking for coupons on the items on your grocery list, take a few minutes to download cashback apps like Ibotta and Checkout 51. These apps allow you to earn a percentage or dollar amount back on certain items after you upload a photo of your receipt. And while they may be small amounts at first (25 cents back on any item, for instance), they add up quickly!

lady buying generic labels to shop smart
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Buy generic.
You probably have a few brands that you’ve used for years, but when it comes to everyday items like salt or flour, you can make your wallet a little happier by buying generic. 

Look up or down.
Did you know that supermarkets often stock the priciest items at eye level? When you’re looking to shop smart and find the best deals, remind yourself to look on those top and bottom shelves.

Buy in bulk.
If cheese is on your list, spring for a block. Grated cheddar is almost always more expensive. And, when a family staple, like chicken noodle soup, goes on sale 10 for $10, go ahead and load up! If you don't have room in the pantry, ask a store associate if you can still get the discounted price.

Don’t shop while hungry.
Heading to the store on an empty stomach? Do your budget a favor and eat first. Grocery shopping while hungry can lead you to buy much more than you need and make impulse purchases. Like Paco Underhill, author of Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping says, "more than 60% of what we buy wasn’t on our list."

shop smart and send the frugal person to the store
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Send the most economic partner to the store. If one partner is more likely to use coupons, look for bargains or attempt to spend the absolute minimum amount possible, consider having that partner tackle the big shopping trips (quick weeknight trips don't count—those are anyone's game!).  

Buy frozen vegetables and fruit.
Depending on what’s in season, you can save a few bucks by buying your vegetables in the freezer section. Certain grocery stores like Trader Joe’s often have frozen veggies and fruit for under $2 so you can stock up!

Find bargains online.
In the days of Amazon Fresh and other online retailers, you can easily find food at bargain prices—you just have to know where to look. consumereports.org suggests buying the following non-perishable items online to save your hard-earned dollars: snack bars, coffee, baby food, pasta and more.

 

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There’s yet another reason for a Target run! Good & Gather, the bullseye retailer’s number one food and beverage-owned brand is getting a major update and it’s all about the plants.

Good & Gather Plant Based is a new line packed with everything from breakfast and snacks to dinner products that are so delicious, you’ll hardly miss the meat. Starting out, there are more than 30 items, with most coming in under $5.

photo: Target

Some of the tasty items you can expect to find include meatless patties, almond milk and Everything Seasoned Cashew Dip & Spread which are already available. Coming this fall, you’ll also be able to get your hands on salad dressings and creamers.

Rick Gomez, executive vice president and chief food and beverage officer, Target, “Good & Gather Plant Based reinforces the brand’s commitment to products that prioritize great taste and quality, with the value only Target can offer. Guest demand for plant-based offerings is incredibly high and continues to grow. By adding Good & Gather Plant Based to our curated assortment of plant-based offerings, we’re giving guests more of what they want and making it easy for them to discover the joy of food every day.”

You can head to your local Target or target.com to start shopping the Good & Gather Plant Based line now.

––Karly Wood

 

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Just in time for Random Act of Kindness Day (tomorrow, Feb. 17), we’ve made a list of our favorite ways for kids to spread joy and kindness to the world around them. From easy ways to volunteer (from home) with your kids to little steps to make the world a better place, we’ve got a ton of ideas for Bay Area kids.

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1. There's lots that kids can learn about empathy from animals. While we can't donate items to our local SPCAs right now, we can spread kindness by offering to walk a neighbor's dog for them. 

2. Incorporate Meatless Mondays into your family’s dinner plans. Here’s our great list of plant-based recipes to get you started.

3. Make sure that local kids are ready for school by hosting a backpack drive. While this has gone virtual for 2021, you can typically collect new backpacks and the supplies to fill them through Operation Backpack

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4. Get the kids painting kindness rocks. It's a fun activity and then you can leave them in neighbor's yards or create a giveaway box for your front yard for people to take one as they walk by. 

5. Practice Kitchen Table Kindness by participating in activities that can keep children meaningfully engaged while spreading kindness to others. 

6. Visit one of our favorite donut shops with the little ones… and buy an extra dozen to give a neighbor.

7. Eat locally-grown foods and order a veggie box from a local CSA to support local growers. 

8. Join forces with Surfrider Foundation to protect the ocean and beaches. See how to volunteer here

9. Teach your kids to be kind to themselves and practice mindfulness and meditation through the practice of yoga. This creates an outward ripple effect for them to create love and joy in the world.

10. Drop off flowers or a lovely plant for a neighbor or family member who is feeling isolated.

Kate Loweth

11. There are loads of awesome fairy gardens in the Bay Area and you can join in this fun kindness-spreading activity in your own yard. 

12. Join your local Buy Nothing group and get your kids to clear out those toys and books they have outgrown. 

13. Share these stories of inspiring Bay Area kids and get your little ones thinking about how they can help out in their community. 

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14. Cover your driveway with inspirational chalk messages or draw some art and hang it on your windows to make passersby smile. 

15. Order up a few of these books with diverse characters from your nearby indie bookstore and add them to nearby Little Free Libraries near you. 

16. Spread kindness every day! Download our kindness calendar so this act can become part of your everyday life, not just once a year! 

—Kate Loweth

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To kick off 2021, Dunkin’ is adding a new on-the-go plant-based option to its menu. The brand is teaming up with America’s #1 veggie brand, MorningStar Farms, to launch the Southwest Veggie Power Breakfast Sandwich, a flavorful, meatless sandwich choice available at participating Dunkin’ restaurants nationwide for a limited time. The new sandwich follows the introduction of the Beyond Sausage Breakfast Sandwich in 2019 and Planet Oat Oatmilk in 2020.

Southwest Veggie Power Breakfast

Dunkin’ continues to give on-the-go consumers more ways to easily make plant-based food and beverages part of their day. Following the success of last year’s Beyond Sausage Breakfast Sandwich launch, the brand is beginning 2021 by adding another plant-based protein patty to its menu, teaming up with America’s #1 veggie brand, MorningStar Farms, to launch the new Southwest Veggie Power Breakfast Sandwich, a flavorful, meatless sandwich that doesn’t sacrifice on taste, now available for a limited time at participating Dunkin’ restaurants nationwide.

The Southwest Veggie Power Breakfast Sandwich features a MorningStar Farms Black Bean Patty packed with southwest flavors, layered with an egg white omelet filled with spinach, bell peppers, and onions, topped with aged white cheddar cheese, served on a multigrain thin. With 410 calories, 26 grams of protein, and 23 grams of whole grains, the new sandwich is the perfect on-the-go option for a new year and a new start.

For Dunkin’s most loyal guests, the brand has made it simple to start 2021 with a plant-based change of pace. Now through Jan. 26, Dunkin’ is giving its DD Perks members 2X points with purchases of the Southwest Veggie Power Breakfast Sandwich, Beyond Sausage Breakfast Sandwich, or a creamy and delicious Oatmilk Latte*.

According to Jill Nelson, Vice President, Marketing & Culinary at Dunkin’, “Dunkin’ is proud to expand our plant-based offerings with the introduction of the new Southwest Veggie Power Breakfast Sandwich to meet the needs of our guests and provide the flexitarian and vegetarian options they crave to keep running any time of day.”

“This sandwich is really exciting for MorningStar Farms because it delivers a veggie-centric option for Dunkin’ guests, giving them a great plant-based protein patty,” said Dara Schuster, Senior Director of Marketing, Plant Based Protein at Kellogg Company. “The sandwich has a kick of heat from the MorningStar Farms Black Bean Patty, offering a flavorful breakfast sandwich that packs 26 grams of protein and celebrates real recognizable ingredients. Flexitarian eating is on the rise and we’re thrilled to deliver new menu items that can satisfy everyone.” 

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Dunkin’

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Are you trying to sneak more veggies into your little one’s diet? Campbell Soup Company just introduced Prego+, a new plant-based pasta sauce. The new platform includes a line of Prego+ Plant Protein and a line of Prego+ Hidden Super Veggies. Both offer the same great taste and texture families know and love from Prego, now with added goodness.

The team was inspired by ongoing consumer demand for more protein and the persistent challenge of getting picky eaters to eat more vegetables. Prego+ Plant Protein offers 4 grams of protein from peas; its Meatless Meat variety includes soy crumbles and is the first vegan meat sauce from the Prego brand. Prego+ Hidden Super Veggies offers a smooth blend of six super veggies, including: sweet potato, carrot, cauliflower, butternut squash, spinach and roasted red pepper. All varieties are designed to look and taste like the Prego families love.

“With the surge in popularity of plant-based diets, we were inspired to create Prego+ to offer more options,” said Diane George, Senior Marketing Manager, Prego, “Now more than ever parents are looking for quick and simple ways to get more nourishment into their families’ diets. Prego+ offers a new way to do that, making life a little easier for families amidst a new normal.”

The new varieties include:

Prego+ Plant Protein Italian Tomato Sauce

– Traditional

– Meatless Meat

– Roasted Garlic & Herb

 

Prego+ Hidden Super Veggies Italian Tomato Sauce

– Traditional

– Flavored with Meat

– Roasted Garlic and Herb

Prego+ has a suggested retail price of $2.99 per 24-ounce jar and is currently rolling out to retailers nationwide. Both new sauce lines provide a good source of fiber, are low in fat and saturated fat and free of artificial colors and MSG. For more information on Prego®and Prego+, please visit prego.com.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy 

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IKEA’s Swedish meatballs are a staple of the retailer’s in-store menu, but if you’re a vegetarian or vegan, forget about indulging in the tasty treat—at least until 2020. The build-it-yourself-with-a-hex-wrench fab furniture store recently announced it’s developing a plant-based protein alternative option.

Even though IKEA already serves up veggie balls as a meat-free option, the in-development version will look and taste like meat. Think Impossible Burger in a Swedish meatball form.

Not only are the new in-the-works meatless meatballs perfect for vegetarians, but the plant-based protein is also a sustainable food choice that’s good for the planet too! Michael La Cour Managing Director at IKEA Food Services AB, said in a press statement, “We see a growing demand from our customers to have access to more sustainable food options and we want to meet that need. Our ambition is to make healthier and more sustainable eating easy, desirable and affordable, without compromising on taste and texture.”

So when will IKEA make the plant-based protein meatballs available to the public? According to the retailer, the company will start testing the product early next year. But if you’re all in for a Swedish meal, and need something to dip into your lingonberry sauce, you can always try the veggie balls and dogs.

—Erica Loop

Photos: Courtesy of IKEA

 

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It may have seemed like an April Fool’s Day prank, but Burger King’s Impossible Whopper is a real thing and the vegetarian burger will soon be rolling out nationwide.

After testing the new Impossible Whopper at locations around the St. Louis, Missouri area Burger King has announced that it plans to expand the testing of the meatless burgers in more markets with the intent of offering the new vegetarian option at locations nationwide by the end of the year.

“The Impossible Whopper test in St. Louis went exceedingly well and as a result, there are plans to extend testing into additional markets in the very near future,” the company said. “Burger King restaurants in St. Louis are showing encouraging results and Impossible Whopper sales are complementing traditional Whopper purchases.”

Like the regular (meat-included) Whopper, the Impossible version will also come with lettuce, mayo, ketchup, pickles, onions and sliced tomatoes. But unlike the burger you’re used to, the new veg pick is made with plant-based patties from Impossible Foods that are created to mimic the look, feel and taste of real meat. Other burger chains, including White Castle and Fatburger, already offer a vegetarian option made with Impossible Meat.

Chris Finazzo, president of Burger King North America, told CNN Business that the Impossible Whopper will, “give somebody who wants to eat a burger every day, but doesn’t necessarily want to eat beef every day, permission to come into the restaurants more frequently.”

The new Burger King menu item means that the Impossible Burger will more than double its current reach. With the ramp-up, Impossible is currently hiring for a third shift and increasing hours at its Oakland, California plant so it can stay on top of the delicious demand.

—Erica Loop & Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Mali Maeder via Pexels

 

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Stumped on what to make for dinner this week? We’ve got some amazing ideas for you—these recipes are quick, healthy and delicious enough to please your whole crew. Read on for recipes for every day this week. 

1. Monday: Slow Cooker Ground Beef Tacos
Skip the prepared taco seasoning packets and try out this easy slow cooker recipe from Wholesomelicious. Just throw ground beef and a few spices and herbs into the crock pot, and you’ll have a delicious meal ready to go when you get home. To get the recipe, click here.

photo: Wholesomelicious

2. Tuesday: Crispy Parmesan Crusted Fish
If your kids are normally a little iffy about seafood, this parmesan-crusted white fish from Hola! Jalapeño might just win them over. Pair it with rice and veggies for a filling meal that you can feel good about serving. Grab the recipe by clicking here.

photo: Amazing Almonds via Flickr

3. Wednesday: Vegetarian Chili
We love going meatless at least one day a week, and this veggie chili from What’s for Dinner? is a great way to dip your toe into vegetarian cooking. It’s got plenty of beans to keep you full, and becomes extra hearty when served on top of a baked potato. Click here to get the recipe.

photo: What’s for Dinner?

4. Thursday: Crock Pot Sweet Pork
This ridiculously simple recipe from Table for 7 is a lifesaver on a busy day. It’s made in the crock pot using just three ingredients, and it’s bound to be an instant kid favorite. Find out how it’s done by clicking here.

photo: Table for 7

5. Friday: Pan-Roasted Chicken and Shallots
You can whip this delish chicken recipe from Food Network up in less than half an hour. The shallots go great with the chicken breast, and everything turns out perfectly crispy and golden. To get the recipe, click here.

photo: Food Network

What are you making for dinner this week? Let us know in the Comments below.

—Susie Foresman

When mealtime becomes a battle, sometimes you have to put down your forks. That’s right — let your kiddos eat with their hands. Home to the largest population of Ethiopians in the nation, D.C. has more than 45 Ethiopian restaurants (where forks are optional) in a five-block radius, and even more outside and around town. Ethiopian food is kid-friendly, mom-approved and full of palate-expanding adventures. Here are three of our favorites.

Etete
Etete might look traditional, but don’t let the ho-hum façade fool you. Inside, culinary wonders await, including marinated short beef ribs and gomen (fresh garlic collard greens). Big kids will stay busy by taking a crack at guessing which D.C. political celebrity (looking at you, President Clinton and Rep. Mike Honda) peeks over their shoulder. 

Insider tip: Utensils are optional at Ethiopian restaurants – in fact, some don’t even offer them – because their main attraction is injera – a gray, spongy, sourdough-like bread that looks like a pancake and is served underneath most dishes, and used to mop it all up.

1942 9th St. NW (U St. Corridor)
202-232-7600
Open daily, 11:00 am-1:00 am
Online: Eteterestaurant.com

Gebeta
Gebeta’s bright green walls and corner piano with Ethiopian pianist Araya Woldemichael tickling the ivories (call for times) sets this place apart from others in the area. Brightly colored African art adorns the walls giving little ones plenty of eye candy. Try a vegetarian sampler which comes with four, six or eight meatless dishes like Misir Wet (lentils with onions) and Fassolia Wet (fresh green beans and carrots) .

Insider tip: If you took the metro or walked to this spot, order a glass of Tej (a traditional honey wine), or a bottle of Tella (a home-brewed beer). Kids can sip Ambo, a carbonated mineral water from the highlands of Ethiopia; tell them it’s soda, and they’ll never know it’s good for them!

8123 Georgia Ave. (Silver Spring, Md)
301-588-0000
Open Tues.-Thurs., 11:30 am-11 pm; Fri., 11:30 am-12:30 am; Sat., 11:00 am-12:00 am; Sun., 11:00 am 11:00 pm
Online: Gebetaethiopianrestaurant.com

Enjera Restaurant
With indoor and outdoor seating, there’s something for every diner at Enjera. It’s slightly more upscale (think: tablecloths and glassware) than your neighborhood pizza place, but still cozy enough to bring the kids along. The waitstaff is super attentive and very helpful. If, for example, you have no idea what Habesha FitFit is but are dying to try it. Hint: It’s marinated beef in a spiced red pepper sauce.

Insiders tip: Desserts aren’t really a part of Ethiopian food, so you may only find American options, or cut fruit. However, much to the benefit of tired moms everywhere, Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee so you can round out the meal with a cup.

549 23rd St. (Arlington, VA)
703-271-6040
Open Mon.-Fri., 11:00 am-2:00 am; Sat.-Sun., 9:00 am-2:00 am
Online: enjerarestaurant.com

Have you ever tried Ethiopian food with your family? Let us know in the Comments section below.

—Hilary Reidemann

Photos courtesy of paul s. via Yelp, Yonas B. via Yelp, Rae Marie Y. via Yelp

We always have Thai sweet chili sauce around the house. It is more sweet and tangy than spicy, but with just enough kick to add some interest. Our kids love it. It can be found at most any grocery, and you can glaze it on tofu, use it as a table condiment, or, like in this recipe, make it into a quick salad dressing. This salad is great when you need something to cut the richness of a coconut-milk curry, or the saltiness of a stir fry. You can change this salad up by adding a bit of soy sauce, sesame oil or grated fresh ginger to the dressing, replacing the mango with papaya or pineapple, or garnishing with thinly sliced shallots or toasted and crushed peanuts.

Ingredients:

6 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
2 ripe mangoes, peeled and cut into 1/2″ cubes
1 big English cucumber, cut into 1/8″ slices
1 handful mint leaves
1 handful cilantro leaves
toasted sesame seeds

Method:

1. Whisk together the sweet chili sauce, rice vinegar and Kosher salt.
2. Toss the dressing with the mango, cucumber, mint, and cilantro.
3. Serve on cold platter, garnished with the sesame seeds.

Michael Natkin is the author of the popular and award-winning vegetarian blog herbivoracious.com. His cookbook, Herbivoracious: A Flavor Revolution with 150 Vibrant and Original Vegetarian Recipes, was named to both Amazon and NPR’s top ten lists. He is known among foodies, vegetarians, and fellow bloggers for a cutting-edge, light and healthy, beautiful-on-the-plate style of meatless cooking. Natkin never preaches; he simply believes that if you are going to eat even one meatless meal a week, it should be delicious and satisfying.