Coupon Queen: Five grocery staples to save money

Feeding a family on a budget doesn't mean you have to sacrifice quality or flavor. It just helps to have a little strategy. With my boys home from school for summer break and the kitchen in constant use, I stick to five grocery staples that stretch our meals, satisfy hungry kids and keep our grocery bills low. Boneless chicken breasts I never leave Aldi without grabbing at least one family pack of boneless chicken breasts. At just $2.49 per pound, they're one of the best deals for lean protein and can be used in a large variety of meals. I'll cook a big batch at the beginning of the week and use it in grilled chicken wraps and salads. I will even whip up a chicken salad to keep in the fridge for a quick lunch idea. Chicken breasts make for a quick stir-fry, or I'll add it to the slow cooker for barbecue chicken sandwiches, which makes an easy, no-fuss dinner. If I have any extra that I don't get to use in time, I package it for the freezer. This is great to have on hand in case I don't have time to head to the store. Fresh produce Eating healthy on a budget is 100 percent doable, especially if you stick to what's in season. Summer produce is abundant, flavorful and cheap. I always keep an eye out for strawberries under $1.75 a pound, seedless grapes for $1.50 a pound, and cantaloupe for under $2 each. When I can find zucchini, squash, and bell peppers for under $1 per pound, I'll scoop them up too. Fresh produce fills out our meals, works great in pasta dishes or stir-fries, and keeps snack time a little less sugary. Boxed pasta You can find pasta for $1 at many stores, and because it is so versatile, it is always on my list. At just $1 a box, it makes it a frugal choice. It can be served as lunch, dinner, or a side dish, and best of all, it stretches meat and veggies to make filling meals. A few of our favorite meals are buffalo macaroni and cheese with leftover chicken, pasta salad loaded with summer veggies, and spaghetti and meatballs. It cooks quickly, keeps in the refrigerator for days, and is endlessly adaptable. Lunch meat Discount Drug Mart often has great deli prices, and I stock up whenever I see a sale. Recently, I purchased hard salami at $5.49 per pound, which is a great deal. This week, from Wednesday through Tuesday, July 1, American and hot pepper cheese is only $4.49 per pound. This combo makes lunchtime easy and affordable. My boys build their sandwiches with whatever bread we have, toss in a piece of fruit or a side of pretzels, and they're good to go. It's much cheaper than pre-made lunch kits and gives them choices, which they love. Snacks Pre-packaged snacks might be convenient, but the price per serving is sky-high. Instead, I head to Sam's Club or other warehouse stores and grab oversized bags of chips, pretzels and popcorn. One giant bag of pretzels can last all week and costs less than a handful of individually packaged snack packs. Large tubs of cheese balls, trail mix, or tortilla chips cover everything from late-night snacks to last-minute barbecues. Buying snacks in bulk helps me stretch our food budget and keeps hungry kids from raiding the pantry all day. With a few summer staples, you don't have to choose between saving money and feeding your family well. These five products are affordable, versatile and kid-approved. They keep our pantry stocked and our bellies full all summer long. This week's deal Here's a deal to grab this week at Discount Drug MartJune 25-July 1Fresh strawberries — 2/$3 Rachel Krych is passionate about helping others spend less and save more. In addition to her weekly column, she has a blog, Couponing With Rachel, which earns her compensation from Google for ads it places there, and from entertainment marketers whose promotional codes she touts. She doesn't write about entertainment in her column. Email her at couponingwithrachel@hotmail.com.