(ARA) – Worried about your grocery tab? Rising food prices are a significant cause of concern for 73 percent of consumers, according to a recent USA Today/Gallup poll. For almost half of them, those prices have caused a hardship.
Tightening the food budget needn’t mean sacrificing flavor or health, however. In fact, by stocking up on nutritious staples and an array of seasonings, it’s possible to become more frugal while enhancing your family’s meals. Some suggestions:
* Season those staples.
Not only are basic, natural foods — like whole grains and beans — …

Rice Helps the Heart, and the Wallet
(ARA) – With the rising cost of groceries, families are trying to make their hard-earned dollars go farther. Buying staples — as opposed to manufactured mixes — and using them in several different recipes is one way to reduce costs and yet provide a healthy meal for the entire family.
Of all the products on supermarket shelves, one of the most versatile is rice, a complex carbohydrate that is free of sodium, cholesterol and trans fat. It is also gluten-free, non-allergenic and easy to digest. …

Here are 10 tips from Foster Farms, the poultry company, on how to reduce your grocery bill.  Some of the tips are obvious, others require discipline, and all are in line with what outside consumer experts suggest. And no one will force you to purchase chicken with your savings.

Make a list: Making a list and avoiding impulse purchases adds up to hundreds of dollars in savings annually.
Don’t take the kids: Some moms report saving $15 per shopping trip by going solo, Foster Farms says. The chicken purveyor suggests timing shopping …

Gas prices in the Tampa Bay area are down a stunning 60 percent over the past five months.
So where’s the trickle down?
As gas prices peaked in the summer, the nearly $150 tab for a barrel of oil was the prime suspect in everything from spiking airfares and surging food costs to announcements of much higher electric bills in 2009.
As oil prices have receded, however, the impact has been decidedly muted. Airfares have ticked down only slightly, and most local electric bills will still climb steeply in January.
The most glaring disconnect …

If you are a salad person but you want a little more than just lettuce and vegetables, here is a recipe for you. This black bean chicken salad with lime vinaigrette dressing combines healthy black beans, fresh tomatoes, bell peppers, onion, cheese, salad greens, and chicken. This gives you a meal in one dish. You have meat, vegetables, and dairy.
Combine all that with this tasty lime vinaigrette dressing and you add citrus and heart-healthy olive oil. Not only do you have a complete healthy meal, you …