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Toddler-friendly on a Budget
16 Ways to Save Money on the Care and Feeding of Your Toddler
By Amy Henry
You can't control spiraling food and gas prices, but there are plenty of budget-friendly ways to feed and care for your toddler. Here are 16 tips from the experts!
1. In a word, freeze. "An extra meal in the freezer is like money in the bank," says Catherine Fliegel, registered nurse, from the book she co-authored, The One-Armed Cook (Meredith Books, 2004). Freezing food in toddler-sized servings prevents waste and cuts down on time in the kitchen. The trick is to store frozen portions in containers compatible with the size of the contents, Fliegel says. Ice-cube trays make portion size a snap. Puree fruits and veggies in the blender and freeze them in the trays. Then transfer cubes to a Zip-loc freezer bag for storage. Defrost portions overnight in the fridge, and reheat to serve. (See sidebar for freezer safety tips.)
2. Buy fresh and in season. Farmers' markets are a great source for locally grown produce. "There's more prep, but it's more economical," Fliegel says. And healthier. Pre-packaged foods are expensive and often contain salt, sugars and preservatives.
3. For snacks: healthy + simple = low cost. Pass up those cute little snack-size raisin boxes, juice cartons and cracker packs. They're pricey. Instead, dole out or bag up toddler snacks from full-size packs of raisins or crackers, bars of cheese and jars of peanut butter, applesauce and yogurt. Grapes, bananas and apple slices are nutritious and relatively cheap. Buy frozen juice and dilute it by doubling the amount of water. (See sidebar for snack ideas.)
4. A budget-conscious parent's best friend is a children's recycled clothing store. Liz Samuel, a Montclair, N.J., mom of two, favors her local shop, Milk Money. "Parents can bring in toddler and baby clothing, and they get paid cash per item or they can use the money toward purchases in the store," Samuel says. Jen Hughes, a mom from Jersey City, N.J., says she regularly shops the Salvation Army for her daughter. If secondhand stores are new to you, you may be surprised at the quality. Children tend to outgrow clothing long before it shows signs of wear, and most recycled clothing stores won't take stained or torn garments. Where else can you pick up a crisp Laura Ashley dress for $4 that your daughter can wear while making mud pies?