• carrots — cut off the green tops before placing them in a paper bag in the veggie drawer of your fridge.
• potatoes — take out of the bag and store in a wire basket in a cold, dark place.
• onions — same as potatoes, but in a separate basket. Storing onions with potatoes could make them spoil quickly.
• apples 
• oranges 
• lemons
• limes
• grapefruits

• iceburg lettuce — keep in a plastic bag in the fridge and spray with water every few days. Lettuce likes to be kept cold and wet.
• cucumbers
• celery — keep in the plastic bag in the fridge. One trick is to place in a shallow dish with water in the fridge.
• green beans 
• tomatoes — keep on the counter, stem side down, away from sunlight.
• melons

Meal Planner

1. Leave the Kids at Home — Do not attempt to schlep the kids to the grocery store for a once a month trip.  Ask a trusted neighbor, or hire a babysitter for a few hours, if needed. You will save enough money to make it worthwhile to hire a babysitter.
2. Plan Your Menu — Match sale ads and coupons to plan your monthly menu around those items.  See my related post Frugal Meal Planning 101 for more information.
3. Go Shopping with a List — Only buy items on your list. If you pick up any items that are not on the list, place them in the front basket of your cart. Before you check out, review the items in the basket, choose one, and put the other items back on the shelf.
4. Buy Meat in Bulk — Many grocery stores feature “loss leaders” and you may be able to purchase meat in bulk at deeply discounted prices.  Set aside 1 week’s worth and freeze the rest in family-meal-sized portions.
5. Stock the Pantry — Keep a well-stocked pantry with budget-friendly foods purchased at the lowest possible price. Some examples are rice, potatoes, beans, and canned tuna. 
6. Stock the Freezer — You may find it cheaper to purchase fresh produce (in season) and freeze it yourself.  Keeping meat in the freezer will ensure it will stay good for the entire month.
7. Use Fresh Produce in the Order it Will Perish First — Some fruits and vegetables stay fresher longer than others.  Try to use up bananas, grapes, cucumbers, and strawberries during the first week or two.  Apples, oranges, carrots, potatoes, onions, and even eggs can generally last one month if stored properly.
8. What About Milk? — Milk is the only exception where I ask my husband to pick some up at the store about half way through the month. However, it may be worth purchasing a few gallons of organic ultra-pasteurized milk since this will last a full month.

1. Do not keep junk food in the house. Avoid overly salty or sugary processed snacks. If there is no junk food available, the kids cannot eat it.
2. Keep snack-sized portions of fruits and vegetables on hand. Kids have small stomachs and need to snack frequently to accommodate growing bodies. Keep a snack tray in your refrigerator filled with pre-washed and pre-cut fruits and veggies. Store in snack-sized zip lock bags for quick snacks on the go.
3. Try not to cater to your kids during mealtime. No child ever starved while being offered food. If the adults are eating it, the kids can too. Under very few circumstances are exceptions allowed: food allergies, spicy foods, dietary restrictions, etc.
4. Introduce new foods several times. I have found that kids need to try the same food several times before deciding if it is good. This could be due to any number of factors, but do not give up on a healthy food the first time.
5. Presentation is everything. For meals you can serve the same food, but make it look a little cuter. Use straws to make fruit kabobs, or cookie cutters for sandwiches. Get creative!
6. Get the kids involved. Kids love helping out in the kitchen, and if they help prepare the meal they are much more likely to eat it!

Our pre-washed, pre-cut, self-serve snack tray filled with carrot and green pepper sticks, orange segments, apples, cheese slices, and low-fat ranch dressing.