Cheese

Cheese is a milk product that contains most of the nutrients of milk in concentrated form. There are two types of cheese: natural and processed.
Natural cheese is made from milk like the Cheddar and Swiss cheese. They differ in flavor and texture because of the kind of milk and seasoning used. The method of making cheese and the amount of curing time make a difference in its color and flavor.
Natural cheese may also be soft or hard. Examples of soft cheese are cottage and cream cheese. Cheddar cheese is an example of hard cheese.
Processed cheese is made from natural cheese but it is melted, pasteurized, and blended to make a smooth-textured cheese.
Cheese is sold in many forms by piece, in jars, and in pasteurized cans. The price of cheese depends on its kind and form. Cottage cheese is the cheapest kind.
Cheese should be stored in a refrigerator to preserve its nutrients and prevent spoilage.

Milk

Milk is a complete food. It contains proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. It can be consumed fresh ( cow's milk) or canned. Canned milk comes in varied forms: evaporated, filled, cream, condensed, and powdered. Evaporated milk is natural milk with part of the water content removed. Filled milk is reconstituted powdered milk with vegetable oil added. Powdered milk has its water and fat removed. Condensed milk is pure milk with water removed and sugar added. Cream milk is pure milk fat with protein element and water removed.

Time for Cooking Food

The food you plan to serve must be prepared within the convenient time. This means that you should consider the time needed in the preparation of your meals. You should plan foods that will be ready by mealtime to avoid a situation where some members of the family may skip their meals due to delay. Delayed meals can spoil the appetite.
Food cooked too early will turn cold by the time it is served. Some foods should be served hot is not appetizing. Reheating them destroys valuable vitamins in food; therefore, correct and proper timing is essential in meal preparation.

Buying Rice and Pasta Noodles

Rice is sold in the market in several varieties. When buying rice, consider the length of the grains. Long, whole grains are not dense and fluffy when cooked. Short and medium-length grains are soft and tend to stick together when cooked. These also burn easily.
Pasta is food made mainly from flour and water. There are many kinds of pasta. Some are flavored with parsley, basil, spinach or mint but their main difference is in their shape. Those with simpler shapes, but they often have the same taste.
Rice and pasta should be stored in airtight containers and in a cool place to keep their freshness for a long time.

Buying Meat, Poultry, Eggs and Fish

Meat, poultry, fish, and eggs provide you with many nutrients that you need. These include proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
Food rich in protein is allotted a large amount of money you have to spend, how you plan to use the meat, and the available time to prepare and cook the meat.
Look for the purple stamp on the dressed body of the animals. It is your guarantee that the slaughtered animal is health. Meat should not have foul odor and should be pinkish red.
Meat spoils easily, so it must be stored immediately and properly.

Buying Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables provide you with many essential vitamins and minerals; thus, it is important to buy fruits and vegetables carefully. You must know what you are buying to be able to get your money's worth.

Buy fruits and vegetables in season as these cost less than when they are out of season. Fruits and vegetables should be crisp, firm, and fresh . They should be free from bruises or rotten spots.
The ripeness of a fruit or vegetable makes a difference in taste. Learn to recognize ripeness by its color crispness, and freshness. Ripe fruits have bright and even-colored skin
Buy fruits and vegetables by the bulk rather than by piece. You can save much when buying in larger quantities.

Your Guide for Marketing

Having a market list when shopping helps control total foods costs for the family. With a list, you will buy only those things you need. Make sure your market list while planning your menus several days ahead. Be sure to include the food items that will be needed for the dishes that a part of your menus.