Eating out may be the most convenient choice but you’d be amazed at how much money you’d be saving for your next holiday or shopping spree if you opt for preparing some good ol’ homecooked food. Now that you’ve got a ton of recipes downloaded on your desktop and a platoon of pots and pans that will put Jamie Oliver to shame, it’s time to make a trip down to your local grocery store. If you’ve never followed mum out for grocery shopping, your first time might be a tad bit tricky. What items would you consider reasonable or cheap?
Among the mistakes most people make will be to compare the price of said ingredient, say chicken wings for example to the portion and price they get when eating out. Just because you pay RM15 for a set of 6 chicken wings at Chilli’s it doesn’t mean RM10 for the same think (uncooked at that!) is cheap. Be aware of consumer prices and look out for good bargains in the local dailies so that you can plan your shopping in advance. Also note that prices are generally lower at wet markets and they get higher according to how premium the store.
There are certain foods which you can buy in bulk and get a quantity discount whereby the more you buy, the cheaper it gets per gram. Most hypermarkets these days display the unit price on the shelf tag which is the cost divided by quantity and this applies to anything from oats, rice, A4 paper and even washing detergent. Here are some basic foods which are value for money and have long shelf life:
Rice
Rice is a staple for most Asians and some agriculture departments say that rice can last up to 30 years which makes it one of the top foods for hoarders in case of a natural disaster. If you can afford it, opt for brown rice as a healthier option.
Fresh Produce
Vegetables and fruits only seem to last a few days or a week after purchase considering it has been sitting at the store for at least a day or two already but did you know that you can freeze some veggies and fruits like peas, brocolli, sweet corn, peaches, strawberries, raspberries and cauliflower for later consumption? That way you can buy more at your local pasar malam and store them as you slowly consume them!
Pasta
Dried food like noodles and pasta can last up to two or three years if you store the balance in airtight containers in a cool and dark places. Unfortunately, whole wheat pasta has to be consumed within 6 months after opening.
Nuts
If you’re an avid nut eater who uses nuts in baking or cooking, keeping your excess shelled nuts in the freezer will keep them fresh for a whopping two years, preserving their flavor and oils in the process. If you leave them open at room temperature, they’ll only last three months. What a huge difference!
Grains
Soft grains like oats and barley can last between 8 to 30 years if stored in airtight containers making it an excellent choice for families who consumer oats on an everyday basis.
The ingredients mentioned above are staples or basic ingredients in most cooking recipes and not to mention healthy so its a good idea to stock up on them the next time you’re out grocery shopping. Always plan your meals and buy what you need so that your purchases don’t go to waste. Happy and healthy eating!
