Jenny Vergara
Local Food Writer and Proud Chopper Shopper
I’m thrilled to be writing my first blog post for Price Chopper. As a loyal Chopper Shopper for more than 25 years, my home store has always been the one in Roeland Park. I started shopping there in my early twenties when I lived in my first apartment in Midtown. Back then, my cart was mostly filled with cereal, milk, yogurt, and fresh salad ingredients, but now, as a proud mom and food lover living in Kansas City’s Westside neighborhood, I still shop at this same store. It feels like home and has everything I need to be both creative and cost-conscious in my own cooking.
With the cost of living higher than ever, many of us are paying closer attention to what we spend at the grocery store. I know I am. These days, I’m more intentional about stretching my ingredients, reimagining leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch or saving vegetable and meat scraps in the freezer to make my own broth at home.
For me, grocery shopping has always been an adventure, even when my budget is small. The good news is that eating well doesn’t have to mean spending more. There’s absolutely no shame in saving money, in fact, it’s a skill worth practicing. Some of the most delicious meals come from less expensive cuts of meat and vegetables on their last leg cooked low and slow in an oven. Most of the city’s best chefs use these same techniques in their own restaurant kitchens, so why not use them at home?
By taking advantage of weekly specials, buying store-brand products, and finding clever ways to repurpose ingredients, you can enjoy satisfying meals that feel both affordable and abundant. Whether it’s turning last night’s rotisserie chicken carcass into comforting chicken noodle soup or stocking up on pantry staples when they’re on sale, these small, mindful choices add up, helping all of us feed our families well while feeling good about every dollar spent.
Here are a few of my favorite tips to help you get the most out of every meal, deliciously.
Step 1: Shop Your Pantry First
It sounds so obvious, but it is one of the most powerful exercises you can do — simply shop your pantry, before you shop your local store. Open your fridge, freezer, and pantry and make a list of what you already have. You’ll be amazed how many ingredients are hiding behind that jar of pickles, which might be a half bag of rice, a can of beans, a few frozen veggies, or pasta you forgot you bought. That’s money you’ve already spent. Start your meal planning by asking: What needs to be used up this week? What can I build meals around that’s already in my kitchen? Shopping your pantry first cuts down on waste and helps you focus your grocery list on only what you really need.
Step 2: Make a List (and Stick to It)
A list is the tool that keeps your shopping focused. Before you go, check the Price Chopper weekly ad or app for what’s on sale. If chicken thighs, brown rice, and green beans are featured this week, you already have the foundation for a few healthy meals, grilled chicken with rice bowls, a simple stir fry, or a chicken and veggie soup. Write down exactly what you need for the week’s meals, and don’t stray far from the plan once you’re in the aisles. Pro tip: Make a list on your phone. Organize it by department (produce, deli, dairy, frozen, etc.) to save time and prevent backtracking to get you in and out of the store faster.
Step 3: Check the Weekly Sales
The Price Chopper app is your best friend. It’s like a treasure map for smart shoppers. Look for deals on produce, proteins, and pantry staples you use most often. Stock up on family favorites when they’re discounted. Freeze extra chicken breasts, ground beef, or veggies in meal-sized portions to stretch your savings further. Even better? Use those sales to inspire your meal plan. If ground turkey is on sale, make tacos, turkey burgers, or stuffed peppers. If fresh broccoli and carrots are featured, plan a stir fry or veggie-loaded pasta night.
Step 4: Don’t Skip the Deli — It’s Your Secret Weapon
For families on the go, the Price Chopper deli counter is pure gold. It’s like having a restaurant right inside the store, ready when you need dinner fast but still want real food.
- Rotisserie Chicken: The Weeknight MVP
For under $10, you can pick up a hot, juicy rotisserie chicken that can turn into three or four different meals. Eat it fresh the first night with a pan sauce or gravy, steamed veggies and a side salad. Shred the leftovers for chicken tacos, add it to soup, or toss it with pasta and veggies. Pro tip: When you’re done, save the bones! Simmer them with water, onion, celery, and carrots to make homemade chicken broth, a healthy base for soups and sauces that costs almost nothing. - Tuesdays Chopper Chicken Meal for $15
Price Chopper’s famous $15 fried chicken meal feeds four and comes complete with sides, usually mashed potatoes, mac n’cheese, barbecue beans, or vegetable of the day and 4 house-made biscuits or rolls. Pair it with a bagged salad or tray of cookies for an easy, crowd-pleasing dinner. - The Hot Bar: Customizable and Convenient
Price Chopper’s full hot bar is one of the most underrated meal hacks around. Whether you’re in search of a full meal or just sides to go with something in your fridge at home, you’ll find roasted vegetables and meatloaf, or hearty sides like mac n’ cheese or mashed potatoes, you can mix and match your way to a complete meal. It’s perfect for singles, couples, or families who want variety without cooking multiple dishes. And because you pay by the pound, you’re only buying what you’ll eat, minimizing waste and saving money. - The Salad Bar: Fresh Salad Made Your Way
For the stores that have one, Price Chopper’s salad bar offers a wide variety of fresh produce chopped and ready to top tacos or create side salads for a full week. Similar to the hot bar, you’ll pay by the pound and save yourself the vegetable prep at home. If you don’t have a salad bar at your store, grab a big bag of mixed salad from the produce section and use it all week long.
Step 5: Quick and Easy Meals at Home
When life gets hectic, try making these fast meals at home that beat fast food:
- Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas
Grab pre-sliced peppers and onions from the produce section, toss with pre-seasoned and sliced fajita steak from the meat counter, and roast at 400°F for 20 minutes. Serve with tortillas and store bought salsa. - Rotisserie Chicken Fried Rice
Use shredded rotisserie chicken, day old rice, frozen mixed vegetables, and a couple of scrambled eggs. Add soy sauce and a drizzle of sesame oil for flavor. Dinner’s ready in 15 minutes. - BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
Shred leftover chicken and add BBQ sauce or put uncooked chicken breasts or thighs and a bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce into your slow cooker while you are at work then when you get home, pull and pile the barbecue chicken onto buns with a side of coleslaw from the deli or a bag of chips, and dinner is served. - Patchwork Pasta Night
Boil pasta, toss in a jar of marinara, and add whatever veggies you have on hand to patch together a healthy and delicious meal. Sprinkle with shredded Parmesan cheese for comfort food made from pantry staples. - Baked Potato Bar
Scrub your Russet potato under water, pat dry and cook in the microwave or in your oven until the potato is fork tender. Split the potato open and set out a variety of toppings from your fridge or pantry allowing each person to customize their own baked potato. Use your imagination on the toppings, taco toppings on potatoes would be delicious. Each of these meals takes under 30 minutes to prepare and costs far less than a fast-food order for the family.
Step 6: Maximize Your Cart Load
Every item in your cart should work harder for you. That means choosing versatile ingredients that can appear in multiple meals throughout the week.
Here’s how to think strategically as you shop:
- Cross-Utilize Ingredients
Buy items that can play multiple roles. For example: A bag of spinach can be used for salads, tossed into pasta, or added to omelets. Greek yogurt doubles as breakfast and as a healthy base for sauces or marinades or as a swap for sour cream. Fresh fruit makes great snacks and can sweeten smoothies or oatmeal. - Shop the Perimeter First
Most of your healthiest and most cost-effective foods are along the outer edges of the store, produce, meat, dairy, and bakery. Fill your cart there before venturing down the aisles for pantry staples. - Avoid Overbuying Perishables
Buy smaller amounts of fresh produce more frequently or choose frozen fruits and vegetables. They're just as nutritious, last longer, and often cost less. - Compare Unit Prices
Price Chopper shelf tags make it easy to see cost per ounce or per pound. A slightly larger container may cost a bit more upfront but will save money long-term if you use it regularly. - Plan for Leftovers
When you cook, make enough for lunch the next day. Packing your own lunch saves you money and calories and Price Chopper’s deli containers or reusable meal prep boxes make it easy.
Step 7: Choose Best Choice Products
Price Chopper’s private label brand, Best Choice, is your secret to saving big without compromising quality. From canned goods and frozen vegetables to household staples like pasta, sauces, snacks, and dairy, Best Choice products often cost 20–30% less than name brands and it tastes just as good. The difference is only in your mind, I promise.
Step 8: Think Beyond Dinner
Eating better for less isn’t just about dinner, it’s about finding smart swaps and strategies all day long.
- Breakfast:
Skip the coffee shop. Brew your own at home and add a splash of milk or oat milk. Pair it with a banana and peanut butter toast. - Lunch:
Use leftovers creatively. Turn last night’s chicken into a wrap, a salad topper, or a rice bowl. Stock up on deli meats and cheeses to assemble quick sandwiches for a fraction of what a takeout lunch would cost. - Snacks:
Buy larger containers of yogurt, nuts, or trail mix instead of single-serve packages. Portion them into reusable containers for grab-and-go convenience. - Dessert:
The bakery has affordable treats for when you want a little something sweet, or grab a brownie mix and bake your own. You’ll get a dozen servings for the cost of one bakery cookie.
Step 9: Eat Seasonally
Seasonal produce is fresher, tastes better, and costs less. Price Chopper’s produce department features local and regional growers whenever possible, which means you’re supporting nearby farmers while saving money. In fall, that means apples, squash, and sweet potatoes are at their peak. Use this knowledge to meal plans around what’s abundant that month, your wallet (and your taste buds) will thank you.
Step 10: Reward Yourself
Smart shopping isn’t about deprivation; it’s about balance. When you save money, you free up room in your budget to splurge on the fun stuff, like a nice steak from the butcher counter, a special bottle of wine, or a treat from the bakery. Go on, treat yourself.
The Bottom Line
Eating better and spending less isn’t about being perfect — it’s about being intentional. By shopping your pantry first, planning your meals, making a list, and taking full advantage of Price Chopper’s deli, hot bar, and weekly sales, you can feed your family well . . .within budget.
Jenny Vergara is a local food columnist for IN Kansas City Magazine, founder of Test Kitchen Underground Supperclub and co-host of the Hungry For MO podcast. She is a respected food and beverage industry consultant and commercial real estate agent with Nomad Develops specializing in the hospitality sector.
Her goal is to make you hungry! Find her on Facebook and Instagram.
