‘Biggest Loser’: Eat healthy, save money

So, how to prepare the best food at the best prices? To that end, chef Devin Alexander has come up with more than 125 recipes specifically crafted to keep your wallet — and your family — healthy. These are true crowd-pleasing recipes that will get everyone in the kitchen and satisfy even the pickiest taste buds. Since food prices vary across the country (groceries tend to be cheaper in the Midwest and more expensive in major metropolitan areas and on the East and West coasts), we’ve come up with recipe items that would fit a weekly food budget of $175 to $215 for a family of four. For more information on the cost of groceries around the country, visit one of the Web sites listed in Resources on page 215.

There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to these recipes, and there’s plenty of room to adjust for your family’s budget and tastes. If a recipe calls for fresh vegetables but frozen are on sale at your local grocery store, go for what works best for you. Also, take advantage of your regional specialties. If you’re in central Pennsylvania, for example, an area known for its farms and dairy cattle, milk and produce will be cheaper. On the West Coast, you may find better deals on salmon than the rest of us. And if you live in Florida, you’ll have much cheaper access to citrus fruits than folks elsewhere in the country. It all depends on where the product originates and what your family likes. For more information about what’s in season where you live, check out the Web sites listed in Resources on page 215.

Put yourself in control. The idea here is to have fun, eat well, and enjoy your family — all without going broke!

Video   Eat like ‘The Biggest Loser’ Jan. 13: Chef Devin Alexander shows off some healthy recipes from her new collection, “The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook.” Today show

Watch your wallet
You’ll find budget shopping tips throughout this book, but here are a few hard-core essentials that will get you started on the right foot.

Make a list and don’t leave home without it! Plan your meals in advance, itemize what you need, and stick to it. That way you can avoid the potato chip aisle.

Buy less-expensive store brands or try warehouse or discount stores.

Stock up on sale items that are nonperishable, such as canned goods.

Don’t forget the lowly bean! It offers great nutrition at a bargain price.

Shop the outer aisles of the grocery store. That’s where you’ll find fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and fat-free dairy products. The inner aisles contain most of the processed, less-healthy stuff.

Always check the unit pricing on an item, not just the total price, to make sure you’re getting the best deal. The best savings aren’t always on the largest quantity.

Study the store circulars carefully to make sure you’re getting a real discount. Sometimes manufacturers pay to have an item included in the circular, so compare weekly specials to the non-“special” brands to find the best deal.

Don’t always buy the items on display at eye level. Cheaper items are usually on the bottom shelf, and not at the ends of aisles.

If you enjoy cooking with fresh herbs, investing in a small window box filled with your favorites is a good option. You’ll always have fresh herbs at your fingertips. To keep herbs that grow quickly from going to seed, clip and freeze as needed. Here’s how: Wash and finely chop the herbs, then fill the sections of an ice cube tray about halfway with the herb pieces. Cover the herbs with water, pop the tray in the freezer, and freeze until solid. Once cubes are formed, transfer your “herb ice cubes” to an airtight container and store it in the freezer. Add the cubes while preparing moist recipes such as hot soups, stews, and sauces.

Excerpted from “The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook” by Devin Alexander. Reprinted with permission from Rodale Books.

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