Real Life Solutions

A lot of people feel that the summertime is all about going on vacations, tanning and spending lazy days swimming. While these things are great summer activities, there is much more that can be done during the months of summer. This is especially true for those of us with children. Below is a list of small summer activities that you can do with your children. Often times people feel that summer activities have to take up a large portion of the day, but this isn’t true. You can have a lot of fun and make great memories doing the little things below.

Plant Flowers: It’s true that planting flowers may get done quicker if you just do it yourself, but if you have young children it’s much more rewarding to take the time and let them help. Even if you dig the hole and place the flower in it and just let them pack in the dirt around it – they’ll love it. When you’re all done, the satisfaction you’ll see on their faces will make the extra time letting them help worth it. Additionally, because they helped plant the flowers, they’ll more than likely want to help water them throughout the summer, as well.

Make Homemade Ice Cream: One of the best treats enjoyed by all children during the summer is ice cream. So, why not make it a fun family tradition to make your own ice cream? Your children will enjoy and learn a lot as they help with the ice cream making process.

Plant a Garden: It’s important that children learn where their foods come from. So, one of the best ways to help them learn this is to show them. Take them to the store in late winter/early spring and pick out some packets of vegetable/fruit seeds. Then, when the weather is right, have them help you plant the seeds. They will enjoy watching the “fruits of their labor” begin to grow…and eventually get to eat them!

Take a Walk: Summer evenings are too good to let pass by while being indoors. So, take advantage of the great weather and take the entire family on a walk around the neighborhood. If your children don’t want to walk, let them ride their bikes or pull them in a wagon. The activity is very simple, but a lot of fun for everyone!

Above are just a few of the many simple summer activities you can do with your children that are not only fun, but create great memories. Just remember that children are much easier to please than adults. Things like homemade ice cream, going to the park and water gun fights are just as much fun for them as big family vacations. Therefore, look for little things you can do together this summer and have fun!

When you hear the words “super foods,” many people assume that kids won’t like whatever the super food is.   There are many super foods for kids that they will love.  We tend to think of super foods as unpleasant tasting, or the sort of thing you have to eat to be healthy. But really, almost any healthy food can be a super food, and they can be made appealing to children. However, there are some super foods that may really help children’s health.

Here are some of these super foods for kids with a tip on how to serve them:

1. Berries

With their high antioxidant and vitamin content, berries are considered super foods. Blueberries in particular are touted as healthy for kids – they’re said to improve immunity and brain function, and to promote eye health. If your kids are not fond of blueberries out of hand, try freezing them. Here are some other ideas:

* Blend blueberries with a little water or natural apple juice and freeze them into popsicles or in ice cube trays. You can use the cubes in smoothies.

* Blend them with yogurt.

* Make a mixed-berry smoothie that includes blueberries. Frozen berries do well in smoothies. Add yogurt, milk, or whatever else you’d like to the smoothie (you can freeze smoothies into popsicles, too).

2. Turkey

Turkey is another Super food for kids. With its lean protein, B vitamins, zinc, and potassium, turkey is considered a healthy food for kids. Whole, cooked turkey is best; turkey that’s been processed into lunchmeat or other items contains a lot of things besides turkey – and some of them may not be so healthy. Serve turkey to kids:

* As meatloaf or meatballs (ground turkey is available in grocery stores)
* In a turkey salad
* Sliced as a sandwich
* Rolled in breadcrumbs and baked into turkey nuggets

3. Leafy Greens

Broccoli, spinach, kale, and so forth are not foods associated with children! If your kids turn up their noses at these vegetables cooked, try broccoli raw with dip. For spinach, kale, and other greens, here are some things to try.

* Mince greens and use as a pizza topping, or add them to meatloaf or meatballs.

* Make a green smoothie with leafy greens, chunked apple, and natural apple juice. You can make green popsicles with this mixture too.

* Use a blender to puree raw greens into spaghetti, pasta, or pizza sauces.

4. Chia

Chia seeds are not only nutritious, but are reputed to help stabilize blood sugar, which can be very helpful for growing little ones. Chia seeds are a a great super food for kids and they have almost no taste and are very tiny and tender, so they can be sneaked into lots of foods. Here are some ideas.

* Stir chia seeds into applesauce.
* Add a tablespoon of chia seeds to a smoothie before blending.
* Add chia to pancake mixes or bread dough.

5. Cocoa

This is one super food for kids that they may easily get on board with eating.  When cocoa is not mixed with lots of fat and sugar, cocoa is considered a healthy food known for its antioxidant properties. To get it into your kids’ diets without a lot of “bad stuff,” try some of these ideas.

* Make a cocoa smoothie by adding a tablespoon or two of unsweetened cocoa powder to a smoothie made from sweet fruits, such as bananas and/or strawberries.

* Mix cocoa into chili or Mexican sauces.

* Stir a teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder into a bowl of oatmeal and top with raw honey and milk.

As you can see by the list above, there are many super foods for kids that are both delicious and good for you.  Try serving up some of these super foods today.

“Preventing or reducing allergy symptoms is entirely possible if you avoid your allergy triggers and work with your doctor to treat the symptoms,” says Dr. Tanya Remer Altmann, mother, pediatrician and author.

“No parent wants to keep an active child indoors when the sun is shining and everyone is outside,” Altmann says. “And, no parent wants to see her child feeling miserable. There are plenty of ways to help your children enjoy the summer months and still reduce allergy symptoms like sneezing and itchy, runny noses.”

“Dr. Tanya,” as she is known on the “Today” show and through her blog, provides the following tips to help your children keep allergy symptoms at bay so they’ll be outside in no time.

* During the peak allergy season, enjoy indoor activities, such as museums, libraries or indoor play areas.

* Runny noses can become sore very quickly, so use a lotioned tissue like Puffs Plus with Lotion to help prevent and reduce tenderness. In addition to soothing your children’s noses, teach them to blow their noses correctly. Ask your child to blow as if they were blowing out a candle through their nose with their mouth closed. This visual will help your child to remember to blow gently, which is key.

* Keep your car and home windows closed to help keep airborne pollens away.

* Minimize playtime outside early in the day when pollen counts are highest. Have your children plan indoor activities during the earlier hours, and schedule any outdoor sporting activities later in the day.

* Teach your children to wash their hands and faces after playing outside. Many experts advise teaching children to sing the ABC song, or “Row Your Boat” to help them understand how long they need to keep the soap and water on their hands to get them thoroughly cleaned. You can also have them take a shower – washing their hair – and put on clean clothes after coming in from the outdoors. This is especially important to do before bedtime.

* If your child has been diagnosed with specific allergies, consider placing a High Efficiency Particulate Arrestor (HEPA) air filter in their bedroom to help them sleep more comfortably at night.

With your children’s allergy symptoms prevented or reduced, you and your children can get outside and enjoy the warm temperatures in the great outdoors. For additional helpful advice on allergies and prevention tips, visit www.puffs.com.

Easter time is coming soon and here are a few easy easter craft idea for you and the entire family.

Egg-coloring is one easy Easter craft idea that many kids also look forward to. Mom or Dad can boil the eggs and then the attention turns to what food coloring to mix. Once the eggs are cooled, you can take crayons and print each child’s name on the eggs then place the eggs in a small bowl of your favorite color.

Once the eggs are dyed you can then decorate the eggs with stickers or little Easter cut-outs and then display them.

Creating an Easter basket from scratch is not only fun, but the entire family can participate. All you need is a basket, which you can purchase in any dollar store; some color straw; and some plastic eggs. You can decorate the basket in any way you wish. Fill each plastic egg with pennies, place them on the straw in the basket; add homemade cookies or other treats, and top it off with a little tiny stuffed bunny.

Here are more Easy Easter Craft Ideas:

You’ll need:

• Empty egg cartons (cut in half, you only need the egg holder portion – not the lid)
• Artificial grass
• Colorful construction paper
• Pipe cleaner
• Pom poms (available at craft supply stores)

Cut out a bunny face including ears out of pink or brightly colored construction paper. Decorate the face using the pom poms for the bunny nose and draw in the eyes and mouth. If you don’t have pom poms available you can simply draw a face in. Stick the bunny face to the front end of the egg carton and then fill the egg carton with artificial grass and place your dyed Easter eggs on top. Use a pipe cleaner for the handle.

Poke two small holes on each side of the egg carton and thread the pipe cleaner through it and tie.

Easy Easter Craft Idea – Easter Puppets

• Clean and dry popsicle sticks
• Construction paper
• Glue

Cut out a number of Easter shapes such as bunny rabbits, Easter eggs and even flowers. Decorate your cut outs and stick to the ends of a popsicle stick. This is a super easy craft activity which is suitable for younger kids.

Handprint Flowers

This is a really cute and easy Easter craft idea that the kids will enjoy.

You’ll need:

• Yellow or pink construction paper for the flowers
• Green construction paper for the leaves
• Straws
• Scotch tape

Trace each child’s hand onto a piece of construction paper and cut out the hand shape; Round the bottom of the hand off. Once cut, shape the bottom of the hand into a cone shape leaving a small gap for the straw to go through. Tape together. Using a pencil curl down the “flower fingers” so they don’t stick straight up. Insert the straw through the flower and using a little bit of tape, stick it to the base of the flower. Cut out a few green petals and tape to straw as well. You can place your hand-print flowers in a home-made vase too.

Paint or wrap an empty toilet paper roll and decorate to your liking. Using a piece of construction paper cut a circle to fit around the bottom of the toilet paper roll (stick it to the roll using a little bit of tape). When finished place your flowers in your vase and display!

You can use one or more of these easy Easter craft ideas to spread joy and fun during the Easter season

(ARA) – Cyberbullying, the bullying of a person through the use of an electronic device such as a computer or cell phone, is becoming a growing national problem. Anyone can be a victim of cyberbullying, but students are frequent targets. From fake Facebook pages, to the posting of embarrassing videos and photos, to Kick a Ginger Day (harassing red-headed people based on a 2005 episode of South Park), more than 20 percent of today’s U.S. students, ages 10 to 18, report being a victim of cyberbullying (26 percent for girls versus 16 percent for boys).

Because of a number of highly publicized cases of cyberbullying – including most recently, the suicide of a Rutgers University freshman whose roommate posted a video of the student having sex in his dorm room – colleges, school districts, law enforcement and state legislatures are taking action to address cyberbullying.

More than two dozen states have specifically enacted legislation or updated statutes to address the growing problem of cyberbullying, according to FindLaw.com, the leading online resource for legal information. Most new laws mandate that school districts enact policies involving cyberbullying, and take steps to suspend or expel students who engage in it.

Here are some tips from FindLaw.com on what parents can do now to prevent cyberbullying, and what to do if you suspect that your child is being singled out by cyberbullies:

* Ask about friends or other kids. Your child may be reluctant to open up about being the victim of cyberbullying. Start the conversation by asking your child if he has heard about other kids at school who have been victimized. Because girls are more likely to be targets of cyberbullying, ask your student about groups of girls being mean to other groups or a specific girl, or if they’ve heard about boys texting inappropriate photos of girls.

* Watch for signs. Does your child seem withdrawn? Reluctant to use some forms of technology? Maybe depressed? These are generalizations, but if you’ve noticed any changes in your child’s behavior, he or she may be the victim of technology torment. Have you noticed your child exiting out of a computer screen or smart phone quickly when you walk into a room? Is he or she spending an increasing amount of time on the Internet each day (specifically at night) or using multiple online accounts? Your child could be a cyberbully.

* Set boundaries. It’s critical to talk to your child about cyberbullying – what it is and what to do if your child feels threatened. In addition, parents should set clear boundaries about your young person’s use of technology. Clearly communicate your expectations for responsible use of technology and that, while you respect your child’s privacy, you intend to monitor it. Explain the consequences if you believe your child is abusing or misusing technology such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, an e-mail account or mobile device, or if it is interfering with their school work.

* “It’s just a joke.” Many kids may not perceive that they are involved in cyberbullying. Creating a fake Facebook page, sending embarrassing photos of another student to each other with a cell phone or other actions involving the Internet or mobile communications may be perceived by kids as “normal,” what other kids at their school do, or as “a joke” or “prank.” In fact, based on school policies or local or state laws, those “jokes” could get your child in a lot of trouble.

* It’s illegal. Cyberbullying is serious and, in a handful of states, illegal. If your child is involved in cyberbullying another child, he or she could face legal consequences, and you, as a parent, could become embroiled in a lawsuit if the parents of a student victimized by your child sue your child for emotional damages. In a growing number of cases across the country, students are being held responsible for cyberbullying, facing consequences that range from expulsion from school to prosecution.

* Passwords are private. Tell your kids not to share their online passwords with friends. A common way that kids bully each other online (posting hurtful comments or sending fake messages) is to do so from another kid’s account.

* Friends don’t send embarrassing photos. Make it clear to your child and his or her friends – it is not cool to send embarrassing photos taken at school events, parties, dances and other events to other students, who may ridicule or taunt the student in the embarrassing photo.

* It can haunt you. What many kids and adults don’t realize is that what you post on Facebook and other social media can remain accessible on the Internet for years and years. Those hurtful comments, snide remarks and embarrassing photos (including inappropriate photos of their bodies or body parts) can be searched by college admissions offices and future employers.

* Others are watching. Parents should strongly recommend to their kids that they never, ever post or send to anyone photos of themselves in sexually suggestive poses. There have been numerous legal cases of boyfriends forwarding photos of their girlfriends (or ex-girlfriends) to other students. Such photos can make their way to the Internet and into the watchful eyes of child porn addicts.

* Monitor e-mails with teachers. It’s sad, but true: Students can be intimidated and bullied by their teachers and school coaches, too. Insist that your young person always copies you, the parent, on any and all messages with their teachers and coaches.

* School policy. Find out if your school has a policy about cyberbullying. Many schools are just starting to develop these policies (in some states, schools are mandated to do so under state law). Unlike physical or verbal bullying that takes place on school grounds, most cyberbullying takes place outside of normal school hours. Going through your Parent Teacher Organization (PTO or PTA), advocate that your school set a policy for cyberbullying outside of school hours.

* Safe place. Cyberbullying is very real and it is possible that your student could at some point be one of its victims. Ask your school to create a safe place or resource for kids to report cyberbullying – such as a voicemail tip line – and ask your school to invite speakers to address the issue.

For further information and how you can protect your child while on the internet and from cyberbullying, click here!

It’s often been said that children learn what they live.  So if you’re looking for a place to start helping your child build positive self esteem and self value, then you should show them your positive sense of self and strong self esteem.  Be positive when you speak about yourself and highlight your strengths. This will teach your child that it’s okay to be proud of their talents, skills and abilities. 

Your child also benefits greatly from honest and positive praise.  Find something about them to praise each day.  You could even give your child a task you know they can complete and then praise them for a job well done after they’re finished. Show your child that positive acts merit positive praise. 

When your child’s feeling sad, angry or depressed, communicate openly, honestly and patiently with them. Listen to them without judging or criticizing.  They may not fully understand why they feel the way they do, so the opportunity to communicate with you about it may be what’s needed to help them sort through a difficult situation.  Suggest positive behaviors and options as solutions, and make sure to leave that door of communication open so they know the next time they feel badly, they can come to you for help and know that you won’t judge or punish them for how they’re feeling.

Teach your child the importance of setting goals and developing a plan to meet that goal and complete that task.  Small projects are the best to start off with in the beginning.  Ensure that it’s an appropriate task for your child, and not too complex.  Don’t only give praise at the end of the project, but praise their accomplishments during the project as well.

Most importantly, tell your child “I love you” each and every day – many times throughout the day, in fact.  When they’ve behaved badly, remind yourself that it’s not them you don’t like, only their behavior.  Tuck short, sweet notes in their lunchboxes or coat pockets, or even send them a card in the mail.  Soon, they’ll learn to say “I love you” just as easily and honestly in return.

Are you a busy stay at home mom who feels like she’s working a full time job? Between children, activities and a spouse, being a stay at home mom can be really exhausting, but quite rewarding. If you’re a stay at home mom, or thinking about becoming one, the best thing to remember is to have a routine. Here are some tips for stay at home moms who are looking to save money and increase family time, all while living on one income.

Dress for Less – If you’re not going into an office every day, then it isn’t likely that you will need to spend hundreds of dollars each season on new work clothes. While you shouldn’t look like a mess, you can save quite a bit of cash by shopping at consignment stores or discount retailers. Keep your closet simple and organized and you’ll always find something to wear. As for your kids, they are constantly growing out of their clothes, so ditch the designer labels and focus on affordability.

Make use of shopping in bulk – If you have a large family, you may really benefit from shopping in bulk. Being a stay at home mom means thinking creatively. Buy out of season for certain items, and buy them in bulk if possible. Summer items like air conditioners, fans and sunscreen are often discounted in the winter and fall. Buy items like toilet paper and paper towels in bulk and store them neatly in a closet until use. Keep an eye on store sales to take advantage of the best prices or join a local warehouse club, like Costco or Sam’s Club.

Limit how much you dine out – Find weekly specials in your area when there are family deals or child discounts. If you’re not big on cooking, pick one day a week when you will cook for the whole week. Make dinners ahead of time and store them in the freezer. When it’s time to eat, pop them in the oven and you’re done!

Get organized one step at a time – If your home is messy or filled with clutter, set a goal to get organized. By learning how to have a more organized home, you will spend less time looking for things and cleaning around the house. Having an organized home will make you feel more relaxed, and you will feel more energized to get more accomplished. When you’re more organized, you’ll spend less time cleaning and decluttering and have more time to spend with your family.

About the author: Jacquie Ross is a professional organizer and award winning owner of CastAway the Clutter! Jacquie is a busy mom expert and works with moms, families and busy professionals to clear their clutter, manage their time and run their households more efficiently. She is active in her community and regularly speaks to social and professional groups and organizations on time management and organization.

Jacquie has written three e-books especially for busy moms and her twice monthly Timely Tips newsletter is chock full of organizing tips and techniques for busy people. Register today and receive a free copy of her special report, 21 Organizing Solutions to Cast Away the Clutter. Get your free copy now by clicking here.

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Many parents often wonder how to get kids to clean up after themselves.  It is a common struggle in many homes.  There are ways to turn toy clean-up time into a manageable affair. 

Usually after playing, children are easily overwhelmed when it’s time to clean up their toys.   You can take the struggle out of cleaning up with a few simple changes. Start early to teach good cleaning habits. Keep the amount of toys available for play to a minimum. Develop cleaning routines and engage dad to help put toys away at the end of the day.

1. Beat The Clock

You would not even believe how well this works in my house. If your kid gets very excited about challenges, this is definitely for your family. First, I come up with what I want my child to organize, whether it’s to clean up her toys in the living room, or to organize a drawer in her room. Then, I say, ‘I wonder if you can do ______ (fill in the blank with whatever you want done) before the timer sounds. Set small goals that your child can realistically complete within 3 minutes or 5 minutes. Promise your child a reward of YOUR time when you’re done. Perhaps you can go outside together and blow bubbles or maybe you can go for a bike ride–something that will truly entice your child to want to get the job done as quickly as possible. Once you start the timer, cheer your child on. Show your excitement, and be as silly as possible.

2. Turn up the tunes.

Cleaning and organizing doesn’t have to be a boring, monotonous task. Turn up the music–your child’s favorite– nice and loud. Then encourage your child to dance and dust (or whatever needs to be done) at the same time. Join your child and get some stuff done yourself while you’re at it. It’s energizing and makes it more like a party.

3. Think up little rewards your child would love.

My daughter loves it when my husband chases her around the sofa, while she giggles endlessly. A friend’s child loves it when her mom plays silly face games with her. Promise your child that when he or she does whatever it is you want them to do for 3 minutes, you’ll do the fun thing you come up with for 3 minutes. Then, keep repeating organizing, fun, organizing, fun, etc. about 4 to 5 times. Your child will get lots accomplished and have a great time while doing so.

4. Play ‘Basketball.’

For clothes, stuffed animals and other fairly soft items that won’t break, set up a clothes hamper in the middle of the room. Have your child toss the items that are strewn about into the hamper. He or she earns a point for each item that goes in–and gets second, third, etc. chances for those items that do not. Pre-designate some fun time together or fun rewards for so many points. For instance, 10 points gives your child the opportunity to have his favorite book read to him, 15 points gives your child her choice of the board game to play after dinner.

5. Role play.

Tell your child to choose an animal and then pretend they’re that animal while they’re cleaning and organizing, such as a frog or a bunny. A bunny might grab their stuff and hop somewhere to put it away. A kangaroo might hold some stuff in their shirt and bounce to the storage area. But, they can’t tell you what animal they are. You have to guess before the one minute timer runs out. Take turns with your younger children doing this. They’ll get a kick out of it, and the job will be done at the same time.

Get Organized Now – An amazing collection of 2,175 ideas, tips and techniques for organizing your home, getting rid of clutter, organizing your time, your schedule, your money, your paper, your family and much more!

When you think about Valentine’s Day you probably think about spending a romantic evening with your partner. Unfortunately this can leave your children feeling left out in the cold. They love Valentine’s Day as much as you do, so why not think of some family fun Valentines Day activities for the whole family to enjoy together?

You can plan a family fun Valentines Day Plan together for the entire family and then leave some time for your partner. Make heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast. For a different twist, add red hot candies to the batter. Allowing your children to eat candy for breakfast isn’t something you’ll do every day, but Valentine’s Day does come but once a year.

When you’re preparing their lunch or making sure everything is in their school bag, slip in a special Valentine for each one. Perhaps you can include a coupon for a ‘date’ with either parent to be used at a later date. Of course, if your children are older, you’ll want to be sure not to include anything that would be embarrassing to them if their friends saw it.

Another family fun Valentines Day idea is to take a little time to create a family photo collage or scrapbook from pictures taken during the previous year. You don’t have to make something elaborate, rather something your family can enjoy looking at as the years pass. Depending upon the ages of your children, you may want to allow each child to create one page to be included in the scrapbook.

Design a scavenger hunt for Valentine’s Day. Write up clues (or draw pictures for younger children) to lead them through the house. Have a wonderful sweet treat or movie the entire family can enjoy together as the final prize.

You may want to eat dinner with the children and get them to bed early. That will leave you at least some time to spend with your sweetie.

Rather than going out for Valentine’s Day, enlist the help of the children to prepare a family Fun Valentines Day dinner. Pizza is a great meal for Valentine’s Day. There is red sauce and white cheese on each one. Your children can also place some pepperoni on the pizza in a heart shape if that’s what they want to do.

Be prepared for there to be a mess in the kitchen, but try not to stress over it too much. Having toppings already prepared will make clean-up a little easier and you won’t have to worry about a little one cutting themselves slicing onions or another topping.

After dinner you could snuggle together on the couch and watch a movie together. If you think your family watches too much television you could also play a board game. When bed time comes, kiss the children goodnight and tell them you’re glad they are your Valentine.

When the children are finally down for the night you can concentrate on your main Valentine sweetie. Create a spa-like atmosphere in your bathroom. Draw a bubble bath you can share with your partner if your tub is large enough for both of you. Be sure to lock both the bedroom and bathroom doors to avoid any interruptions.

Use one of more of the above family fun Valentines Day ideas to ensure that the entire family enjoys this special day.

Valentine’s Day is a day for lovers but that doesn’t mean your children don’t need to feel special, too. Take time to do something special with your children to make them feel important. However, you’ll also want to get them into bed early enough to spend quality one-on-one time with your partner as well.

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In these tough economic times, many people are lookign to save money on meals. Here is a great article all about how to save money on family meals.

(ARA) – Ah, family dinner time. A meal lovingly prepared and family members gathered around the dining table sharing stories from their day. While a special meal is a time-honored tradition, the planning, time and the cost involved may leave some without an appetite.

Many shoppers are on the hunt for affordable and simpler shopping routines and they are looking to save money on meals. Regardless of whether you’re planning a holiday feast, a birthday celebration, or just day-to-day meals throughout the year, it’s easier and more cost effective if you go into grocery shopping prepared.

Consider these tips from national grocery retailer Save-A-Lot before your next shopping trip and save money on meals:

Plan for several meals rather than just one -Many grocery shoppers make the mistake of only planning for a big special meal when they can cut time and cost by planning for several. Decide ahead of time how your family might want to use leftover meat or veggies from the meal, and buy extra ingredients to extend your meal into the following week. For example, if during the holidays your family craves the leftover turkey sandwiches as much as they love the big roasted bird, be sure to stock up on bread, mayonnaise, mustard and lettuce in advance.

Create a weekly meal planner -This is a good idea year round, but it’s especially helpful to do so during holidays when your schedule gets more hectic. Think about what you and your family members typically consume each day. If there is a particular food item or meal idea that your whole family enjoys, make sure to stock up when it is on sale. Ask each family member to pick a meal for dinner. Make contingencies such as quick and easy lunch items for kids who may be home during a school break, or snacks for visiting family members.

Visit grocery store websites for tools and deals -Grocery retailers frequently offer tips and tools for meal planning, as well as exclusive online bargains. This is your chance to really save money on meals. Check to see if your store is offering discounts in exchange for signing up for their shopping clubs year round. For example, Save-A-Lot offers a $5 coupon for signing up for its Smart Shopper Club.

Take advantage of store brands -Many grocery stores offer their own private brands of foods and everyday items, and frequently these items are of equivalent quality as more expensive national brand names. By using store brands, you can save a little money on your grocery bill and splurge on something special, such as a celebratory dessert. Store brands are great for helping to keep your weekly grocery costs down.

Keep track of ingredients to replenish - You’ve got everything laid out to make chocolate chip cookies, but you forgot to buy the baking soda – nothing is more frustrating than having to make a return trip to a store. Keep track of ingredients you frequently use in your cooking. Then, as soon as you use up an item, immediately add it to your ongoing grocery list. By the end of the week, not only will your shopping list be complete, but you won’t be stuck in the store trying to remember what is or is not in your cupboard. You also won’t be tempted to buy something you don’t need. What’s more, be sure to use measuring utensils so you don’t use more ingredients than necessary – which can be costly to your family’s waistline and budget.

Eliminate shopping hassles - Grocery shopping can be a time-consuming hassle, especially for busy, on-the-go families. Some retailers offer discounted, everyday prices that can help eliminate the need to map out complicated store-to-store routes, or navigate through a maze of aisles to find the best deals. Save-A-Lot’s stores not only deliver savings of up to 40 percent, compared with conventional grocery stores, but also feature, small, efficient formats designed for a quick and convenient shopping experience.

With these few simple tips, you’ll not only save money on meals by saving at the grocery store, but you’ll have more time to enjoy cooking and celebrating with those you love.

For more tips, visit Menu Planning Central – and learn the quick and easy way to get dinner on the table and enjoy more quality tim with your family.