Become a savvy shopper

HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO HELP YOU

■ EAT FIRST Supermarkets know the power of the sweet smell of freshly baked bread. Just one sniff will ignite your appetite and send even the most hardened shopper down the aisle grabbing for anything that looks good. That’s why it’s a good idea to shop on a full stomach.

■ PERUSE THE PERIMETER

Supermarkets are designed with the four basic food groups on and around the perimeter. If you stick to the outside aisles, you’ll find fresh produce, baked goods, dairy and meat. These are the most natural and unprocessed foods and best for your family’s health.

■ BUY FRESH, WHOLE AND ORGANIC IF YOU CAN

If you have a choice, buy fresh vegetables and fruits and whole grain goods. Processing foods (as occurs with snacks and convenience foods) destroys the nutrients and adds calories.

■ SHOP LESS OFTEN

Fewer trips to the shops saves fuel and money. Doing a weekly shop instead of daily trips to the corner café or convenience store means you also have less opportunity to buy things you don’t really need.

■ WATCH THE SCANNER

It takes some doing to unpack your trolley and keep an eye on the till, but watching as your items are scanned, and catching errors, always pays. Most supermarkets will give you the incorrectly priced item free of charge.

GETTING ORGANISED

There are things you can do over weekends, or whenever you have spare time, to get ahead and save some time for later when you’re in a hurry.

■ FREEZE FOR FUTURE USE Make vegetable and fruit purees for your baby on the weekend or when you have extra time, and freeze, ready for use. These can also be used as the veg portion of your family meal or incorporated into your family’s food as a hidden veg to fox picky eaters. If you’re a real domestic goddess, you can make stock (chicken, veg and beef) and freeze it in small containers ready for use in soups and stews.

■ DAILY BREAD Bake your own bread – it’s easier than you think and doesn’t contain any preservatives and trans fats like most store-bought ones do. (Recipe on the right.)

■ SEEING RED You can make your own tomato sauce when tomatoes are in season. Use it as you would any tomato sauce, or as a topping for pizzas or a quick pasta sauce. (Recipe on the right.)

■ LIFESAVER Make big batches of bolognese sauce and freeze it in portions. This way you can have spaghetti bolognese ready in minutes. You can also use it as the meat sauce in lasagne, turn it into instant chilli con carne by adding a tin of red kidney beans and some chilli, or make meaty macaroni by adding it to cooked macaroni, topping it with a white sauce and grated cheese. ●