As you trim your waistline you can also trim your food budget...

Freeze:  As you are cooking and chopping over the weeks, start filling up a freezer bag with celery tops, those lone carrots and tomatoes, those pieces of onions that don’t get used, broccoli stalks and pepper scraps, I can go on and on with anything and everything!  When full, simmer the contents with water and peppercorns and some other spices and herbs, strain and use the broth for some tasty soups!

Stretch:  Use the flavor of pricey proteins; meat, poultry, fish and seafood in vegetable-heavy dishes.  A salad with tons of fresh vegetable and a cut up chicken breast, or a beef stew made with lean beef and lot’s of veggies can fill you up and go a long way!