If you are trying to save money on groceries or want to be more mindful of how you spend your money, we wanted to share some items we no longer or rarely buy at the store. Some of the items we consider a waste of money, and others are because we want to make healthier choices.
We are also big believers in knowing what you are eating and cooking at home as much as possible. It is one of the best ways we know to save money on groceries and feed you and your family healthy food.
10 Items To Skip at the Store For Health and To Save Money on Groceries:
1. Marinades and Sauces
I cannot remember the last time I bought a store-bought marinade or sauce. They might seem convenient, but they often sneak in lots of extra sugars (look on the label for “Added Sugars” to check this), unhealthy oils, msg, sodium, and other mystery ingredients our bodies don’t need. They also can be really overpriced when you consider you can make it at home, most likely with the items you already have in your fridge or pantry. Also, when you consider you often don’t use the whole bottle, and it becomes one of the items that gets pushed to the back of your fridge, the cost is even higher.
Instead, making your own is surprisingly simple, with endless varieties. For instance, we have created many easy homemade sauces and marinades for our Dinner Daily recipes, such as our homemade teriyaki sauce.
Then there is my go-to when I need a quick marinade for seafood or poultry—about 1/4 cup olive oil, the juice of half a lemon, a tsp of Dijon, one or two cloves of chopped fresh garlic, and some basic spices such as oregano, basil, and onion powder. It takes about 5 minutes to pull it together, and it is delicious! I also use this combo for easy salad dressings. With this, you have full control over what goes into your food, ensuring you’re eating only the best ingredients.
Making your own is an easy way to save some money on groceries, and it is almost always healthier. And since you only make what you need, you will waste (and spend) less.
2. Salad Dressings
Although it might be easy to grab a bottle of salad dressing from the store, like the marinades, many are packed with hidden sugars, lots of sodium, and unhealthy fats. Making your own dressing is not only healthier but also super simple. Use my basic recipe above, or create your own simple vinaigrette with olive oil and your favorite vinegar (red wine, apple cider, or rice vinegar are my favorites), and then add some spices from what you have on hand. By making your own, you’re taking a step towards a healthier lifestyle.
Another favorite dressing in our house is two tablespoons of olive oil, two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, sea salt, and black pepper to taste. It’s so simple and makes your greens come alive every time!
3. Bottled Water
We have made a conscious effort in recent years to reduce our use of plastic, not only for environmental reasons but also for health. If you have caught the recent headlines about how we are unknowingly consuming plastic, pulling away from buying bottled water was an easy place to start. At home, we fill glass jugs with filtered water (we use a simple filtering device on our faucet), and when going to the gym and traveling around, we use glass bottles we got from Amazon or our stainless steel water bottles.
In addition to environmental and health reasons, it is also another way to save money on groceries. When you consider how much you are spending each week for water, over the course of the year, that adds up. Instead of reaching for those plastic bottles, invest in a reusable water bottle and a home water filter. It’s a win-win—you’ll save money and cut down on plastic waste while having clean, refreshing water at your fingertips.
4. Spice Mixes
Those fancy spice blends can seem tempting, but they often come with a hefty price tag and can include unnecessary ingredients. They also can contain more salt than you would ever use. Instead, why not make your own spice blends? It’s a lot easier than it sounds.
For instance, need an Italian spice mix? Mix together a teaspoon of oregano, basil, sage, rosemary, garlic powder, and salt and pepper. You’ll save money and have more control over the flavors in your dishes.
5. Deli Meat
Deli meats might seem like a quick option, but the reality is they are a processed food, often packed with way too much sodium and preservatives. In fact, a 1 ounce serving of deli turkey can contain up to 500 mg of sodium. Given the American Heart Association recommends no more than 2400 mg a day from all sources (less if you are following a heart healthy diet), that is over the top for a 1 ounce serving.
A better alternative is to roast your meats at home. This does take an extra step, but it really is quite easy once it becomes part of our routine. It’s surprisingly easy and can be a lot more flavorful. We often cook a batch of chicken tenders or breasts, slice it, and store it in the fridge for quick sandwiches or top salads. Another alternative is to use other sources of protein for your sandwiches, such as canned salmon, or make up hearty veggie wraps with hummus, avocado, sliced cukes, and greens.
6. Prepared Meals
While prepared meals may save you time, next time you are tempted to grab one of these items from your store, check out the ingredients and nutritional values. You might be shocked to see the sodium and fat content even if the meal appears healthy.
If you have been following us for some time, you probably know we are big proponents of cooking most of your meals at home. The health benefits are huge, and the money you save is significant. If you find yourself reaching for prepared meals too often (whether in your store or a third-party service), it might just be that spending a bit of time on planning before the week starts is all you need.
Whether that is meal prepping on the weekend or using a planning service like The Dinner Daily, once you get into the habit of cooking at home, you will find that those store-prepared meals (with a huge markup) are not that tempting after all.
7. Plastic Storage Bags
Like the plastic water bottles, this is an easy place to cut back on spending and your exposure to plastic.
Many of us (myself included) always just reached for the plastic storage bags as part of our regular grocery runs. Plastic bags were a staple in our kitchen for school lunches or storing leftovers. However, as we looked for ways to lower grocery bills, cutting out plastic bags was one of the first things we cut. Not only do they add to our plastic exposure, but they are also a waste of money.
We now store leftovers in glass containers only, and for on-the-go sandwiches or snacks, we either use paper unbleached sandwich bags or glass. These options are durable, eco-friendly, and will save you money in the long run. Plus, they’re great for keeping your food fresh and make it easier for you to see your leftovers in the fridge (so you are more inclined to use them up).
8. Frozen Smoothie Packs
With the popularity of smoothies and juice bars, these pre-made packs have been cropping up in stores. Again, they are marketed as being easier, but they often come with a huge markup and, for many brands, unnecessary added sugars and unwanted extras. I have a friend who has buying these at the grocery for an easy breakfast, not really ever considering how much markup she was paying, or how much added sugar was inside.
Instead, you can come up with a few go-to recipes for your own smoothies. If you are short on time, assemble the ingredients in your blender or smoothie container the night before. Then, blend it when you are ready. Your ingredients will be fresher, and you won’t waste money on an overpriced frozen mix. You could also make your own smoothie packs at home by portioning fresh or frozen fruits and veggies and freezing them in freezer-safe containers.
9. Flavored Yogurts
Flavored yogurts, whether they have the fruit on the bottom or mixed in, are a huge source of added sugar. It is a bit confusing since yogurt offers many health benefits and is an excellent protein and calcium-rich snack for kids. Yogurt is healthy for most people, however the way is commonly sold at the store is not. Here’s why: the average 6 oz yogurt container often has between 13 to 18 grams of added sugar, and some of the premium brands even use 28 grams!! That is a whopping amount of sugar and takes this healthy food into the unhealthy realm.
To put this in perspective, women are recommended to have no more than 25 grams of added sugar a day, men 26 grams, and children 24 grams. So that tiny yogurt will put you at about 50% or more of your daily recommended amounts. Not to mention, no one needs to have that much sugar in a little tub of yogurt. It is essentially a dessert, disguised as a health food.
Instead, buy the plain variety with no added sugars and flavor it yourself with fresh fruit, a sprinkle of nuts, and even a drizzle of honey if you must. It might be a taste adjustment at first, but the natural sweetness of the fruit and the crunch of the nuts is so satisfying you won’t miss all that sugar. To make it more economical, buy it in the large tub vs. the individual containers. This is great for breakfasts or snacks at home when you don’t need it to be transportable.
10. Microwave Popcorn
Who doesn’t love some popcorn for a family movie night? Although microwave popcorn can be a convenient way to get a big bowl of popcorn ready for the show, it is often full of artificial flavors and unhealthy fats. There is also controversy about what is in the lining of the bags. Instead, buy a bag of kernels from the store for pennies per serving and pop them on the stove or use an air popper. It’s a healthier and far cheaper option, and you can control how you season it (I love it with a sprinkle of garlic and onion powder) and how much butter and salt you use, if at all.
A Few Final Points:
This list is not intended to be exhaustive—we plan to expand on it and add it to our Resources pages for our members—but these are some of the items we thought could give you quick wins when it comes to saving money.
- If this feels a bit overwhelming, start by picking one or two items from the list to stop placing in your cart. Once you no longer give those items a second thought, add a few more. Over time, you won’t think twice about not buying them.
- One of the best ways to make a real dent in your grocery bills is to get organized before you hit the store.
- If you need help with this, or with putting a money-saving meal plan in place, check out our Free Trial offer for our award-winning meal planning service.
