Watch for sales on foods in peak season. For example, winter squash, sweet potatoes and turkey will be of high quality and at low prices this time of the year. Don't buy something just because you have a coupon for it. Use coupons only if you would have bought the food anyway-and only if no better deal is available. Consider cutting back on nutrient-poor foods.
Examples are chips, cookies, candy, and soft drinks.
Many lower-priced generic or store brands are similar in quality to name brands. If the shelf tag doesn't have it, divide the total price by the number of units in the package and compare with other sizes. Larger sizes are not always cheaper per unit. Larger sizes or bulk purchases only save you money if you don't buy more than you can use of something before it expires or spoils. Store bulk foods safely and put the food purchased most recently to the back of the shelf so you can use up all purchases before expiration.