Pasta is one of the most economical food choices on the market. With its versatility and nutritional benefits, it’s no wonder many of us have a constant supply of pasta around the house. Barilla® has spruced up its pasta line with PLUS® Pasta, which includes penne, Angel Hair and spaghetti. Imagine the possibilities! PLUS® pasta contains 40% more protein than regular pasta, heart-healthy omega-3 fats and 4 grams of fiber in each two ounce serving. For less than 30¢ per serving, go ahead - change the shape of your next meal!

Cooking at home is a huge money-saver and also a great way to spend quality time with your family. Next time your recipe calls for oil, try using canola oil. For a fraction of the price of olive oil, you can still enjoy the same heart healthy Omega-3 fatty acids and endless cooking versatility. Crisco® Pure Canola oil provides 80 percent of your recommended daily value of ALA-Omega-3 in just one tablespoon!

No time to cook from scratch tonight? What if you could enjoy five cheese layered lasagna in less than ten minutes? It sounds too good to be true, but Michelina’s® Lean Gourmet® frozen entrees are just that – easy, economical and enjoyable. Add a fresh side salad and Cole’s® garlic breadsticks and you’ve got a great well-rounded meal that is low in fat, saturated fat and cholesterol, and a good source of calcium and iron. Michelina’s® Lean Gourmet® five cheese lasagna is also an excellent source of fiber and contains less than 700 mg of sodium.

Make sure you save money after you eat too. Storing leftovers and re-heating them for lunch the next day is a great way to cut back on expenses and ensure healthful meals for you and your family. Ziploc’s® line of freezer bags, storage bags, storage containers and sandwich bags are an easy solution to your leftover dilemma. They offer a wide assortment of sizes to safely store all of your leftovers, over and over again.

We are all trying to pinch pennies where ever we can, but that doesn’t mean missing out on eating a variety of healthful foods. By taking the time to compare prices, watch your portion sizes and utilize leftovers, and you can save a nice chunk of change while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.