With the rise grocery bills coupled with an increase in gas prices, we are all looking for new ways to save money. Economic experts say one of the first industries to feel the pain in an economic downturn is restaurants. Why? Because when we spend more money elsewhere, we can’t go out to eat as much. 

Home Cooked meals do provide two major benefits. One, they cost less. Two, they are healthier for your family. Yes, eating out is a treat and not having to do the dishes is sometimes worth it. But you and your family pay the price in hidden calories and fat from most restaurant fare. 

If you don’t cook much, choose some easy recipes you know will please the younger set, like Spaghetti, BBQ Chicken, or French Dip Sandwiches. When picking out those family friendly recipes, don’t be afraid to get creative. And here are a few suggestions for healthier alternatives to some standard ingredients.

Smaller Amounts: In many recipes you can reduce the suggested amount of oil, butter, sugar, or salt without your family noticing. Try cutting them by one third and see what happens. You can even add some extra spices or extracts to enhance the flavor. 

Slim or Skim: When adding dairy products to a recipe, use the low fat or no fat versions. You can save lots of calories by using skim milk along with low fat cream cheese or yogurt.

Fruits and Veggies: Bulk up on the veggies or fruit in a recipe. Sure, it calls for one cup of green beans, but what is stopping you from adding another half cup. Also think of combining veggies to add some color, like broccoli and cauliflower, or carrots and peas. And even if the recipe doesn’t call for veggies, think of slipping some in. It’s an easy way to get your kids to eat ’em.

Whole Grains: Stay away from white starches and grains. Instead of using white flour noodles or white rice choose wheat pastas, brown rice, wild rice, bulgur, barley, or quinoa. You can also replace half or more of the white flour in a recipe with whole-wheat flour.

Substitute: In baked goods fruit purees like apple sauce are a good substitution for butter or oil. You can also replace a whole egg with just an egg white or egg substitute. And wine, broth, or vinegar can be used instead of cooking oil.