Using Common Ingredients to Lower Your Grocery Bill

There are two main ways to help reduce grocery costs:

1. Build a meal plan or menu around ingredients that you already have

Do a quick inventory of your freezer and pantry and see what you have. Then search for Season recipes using these ingredients to find meals that you’ll only need a few more ingredients to make. Here’s an example of how to use the search bar for this purpose:

2. Choose multiple recipes that have several overlapping ingredients

Items that are more perishable or tend to leave leftovers are the best options to choose from. Pick different recipes that use ingredients like fresh herbs, salad greens, fresh fruit, and berries to minimize cost and waste.

Here are some examples of recipes with overlapping common ingredients. 

Roasted Salmon with Orange-Ginger Bulgur and Herby Yogurt

Shrimp Salad-Stuffed Avocado

Chopped Green Goddess Salad

Yogurt, cilantro, and scallions are used across all three recipes, while olive oil, salt, ginger, cumin, spinach, and avocado are used in more than one of the recipes.

You could also try this recipe set for breakfast or lunch:

French Scrambled Eggs with Garlic Toast

Roasted Asparagus Frittata with Peas and Herbs

Roasted Pepper “Sabich” Pita

Parsley, eggs, olive oil, and salt are used across all three recipes, while shallot, garlic, lemon, tomatoes, and whole wheat bread are used in more than one of the recipes. 

Try one of these tips next time you choose recipes for the week. What are some common ingredients you use in a lot of recipes, or would like to use more of? We’d love to hear from you! Tell us at culinary@seasonhealth.com. Happy cooking!