What the label tells you
Ingredients lists
Did you know that by law nearly every manufactured or processed food must carry a list of ingredients? The main exceptions are dairy products, drinks with over 1.2 per cent alcohol, and chocolate and cocoa products. Ingredients have to be listed in descending order of weight, so if you check the first few items you'll have Read more [...] 
TEN TIPS TO CUT COSTS
Try supermarket brands: they may be just as good and much cheaper.
Buy fruit and vegetables that are in season, and keep an eye on how the prices fluctuate through the year.
Experiment with cheaper cuts of meat and poultry, particularly in casseroles and for use in slow cookers or pressure cookers.
Use chicken thighs or drumsticks instead of Read more [...] 
BUYING WITH SAFETY IN MIND
You can't protect your family from every passing germ, but if you follow these tips you'll certainly cut down on any risks they're taking:
Shop at clean, tidy shops with good standards of hygiene. Dirt and disorder could spell danger.
Don't take food from any freezer filled above its load line.
Never buy or eat food that's past Read more [...] 
To buy or not to buy in bulk
Whether it's stocking up on 24-tin packs of baked beans at a cash-and-carry, or simply choosing the biggest bottle of oil at your local supermarket, buying in large quantities has disadvantages as well as benefits to consider:
Staleness
Even dry goods such as flour and breakfast cereals can go stale, so buy large quantities only if you're Read more [...] 
OUT AT THE SHOPS
Try to do as much shopping as you can on a single weekly expedition and make a comprehensive shopping list. Keep a basic list of items you need regularly every week and add to it as you notice stocks getting low. Also add any ingredients called for in your weekly meal
Don't shop when you're hungry
You'll buy too much and go for things you feel like Read more [...] 
PLANNING MEALS
What is a balanced meal?
Any meal that gives you carbohydrate, protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals in the right amounts without too much salt, fat or sugar will be well-balanced. Here's how to plan such a meal quickly:
Choose a high-fibre carbohydrate food such as potatoes or bread.
Select a variety of vegetables or salads that will go well Read more [...]