Preparing to send your children back to school takes planning and preparation to ensure your family starts the school year on the right foot. With rising food costs, many families face back-to-school season with tighter budgets. Yet, many practical budget tips go hand-in-hand with expert nutrition advice for healthy eating at back-to-school time—and throughout the year.

Planning meals saves you money in a number of ways by allowing you to stretch your dollar and shop smart. Meal planning has additional benefits for your health because it keeps you in control of what you eat by helping you plan healthy portion sizes and balanced meals throughout the week.

Get your family off to a healthy start for the school year with money saving back-to-school tips from Meals Matter!

1. Make fewer trips to the grocery store—or fast food restaurants—and cut your fuel costs. Frequent trips to the grocery store waste time, gas and money. So, create your meal plans for the week and make all of your purchases in one trip to the store.
2. Eliminate wasted food that goes uneaten in your refrigerator. When you plan your meals you make better use of the food you purchase and reduce spoilage. For example, soups and stews are a great way to make use of extra vegetables, milk or cheese.
3. Buy fresh produce in season—when it’s cheaper. You’ll pay more for food purchased off-season so choose recipes that use seasonal ingredients.
4. Build meals around sale items featured at your grocery store. Take advantage of what’s on sale by searching our recipe database by ingredient.
5. Clip coupons and check store promotions for foods you buy on a regular basis. This is a money saving habit that can really add up over the long term.
6. Stock your pantry when items you can store in the cupboard or freezer are on sale. In addition to saving money up front, buying more of your kitchen staples when they go on sale will also ensure that you always have healthy food on hand for those nights when you don’t know what to cook.
7. Eat a healthy breakfast from home—decrease spending on expensive convenience foods eaten on the go or purchased from vending machines. Breakfasts do not need to be complicated. Having simple foods on hand, such as yogurt, whole-wheat bread, fruit and cereal, provide important nutrients often lacking in convenience foods.
8. Pack your lunch. Lunch and snacks prepared at home save money. Packing your lunch will keep you from feeling pressured to purchase expensive and often less nutritious meals or snacks from convenience stores, vending machines and restaurants. If you’re already making a lunch for your children, it only takes a few more minutes to make an extra sandwich or snack for yourself.
9. Buy in bulk. Purchase and prepare your favorite and frequently eaten foods in bulk—such as, purchasing two for one gallons of milk. Preparing dinner "in bulk" by doubling a recipe or adding another serving or two will cost very little extra and leave you with leftovers for lunches or another dinner later in the week.
10. Eat at home. Make time for family meals at home. Meals prepared at home are often more nutritious and less expensive than restaurant meals. In addition to providing your family with nutritious meals and cutting food costs, eating at home gives you the invaluable opportunity to talk to and connect with your family.

Green Tips for Planning Back-to-School Meals:

• Save Paper. Laminate your shopping list or put it in a plastic sleeve. If you frequently purchase the same foods at the grocery store, you can mark your foods off with a dry-erase pen then clean it off before your next trip. Leave room on the list to add special foods for the week.
• Eliminate Waste. Purchase re-usable containers and lunch bags to store and transport food. Packing your lunch in a reusable bag makes it easier to bring home portable containers to be washed and re-used. Anything from sandwiches to crackers to soups can be safely transported in portable containers.

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