Frugal Foodie

As a complete food freak, I must confess that grocery shopping is one of my favorite pastimes. Somehow frolicking through the produce section and gamboling through the cereal aisle never cease to entertain me. While shopping for food brings me immense joy, it also pains me because (much to my dismay) I cannot buy everything that strikes my fancy--it's just not in my tiny college student budget.
The reason I address this subject is that my sister, just recently married, is now discovering that food is expensive, and she asked my mom for tips on how to save a few bucks. This got me to thinking about my food spending habits. Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to eat healthfully on a small budget--at school, I shop at Whole Foods every week (mostly for its proximity to campus, but that's beside the point). Anyway, here are a few things that I have found helpful in cutting food costs:
-Buy local, in season produce. It's almost always cheaper than those Venezuelan mangoes in January. Plus, just think of how much less damage you're doing to the environment.
-Look for produce that is on sale for the week. Not only does this save money, but it ensures a varied diet. If you're trying a new fruit or veggie every week, you're getting a diversity of nutrients which supports overall health. Bonus points if it's organic!
-Go bananas! I buy a bunch every week-they're yummy and usually around 50 cents per pound.
-Trust the house brand. My sisters and I were brand name snobs as youngsters (honey-toasted oats?! Only Honey Nut Cheerios will do!), but now I have come to realize the wonder of house brands. I especially love the natural house brands that are appearing everywhere: Wild Harvest, Full Circle, and Whole Foods' 365. You can save a lot on cereal, canned beans, grains, yogurt, frozen fruit/vegetables...the list is endless.
-Allow yourself a treat. I've found that if I completely deprive myself of slightly more expensive treats, I ultimately have a total splurge excursion in which I spend way too much and buy items I won't need or use. My favorite indulgences are non-dairy ice cream and frozen waffles, but it can be anything--from a small container of high quality olives to freshly baked bread. Live a little!

I could write about this forever, but I'll stop for now. Feel free to comment and/or suggest alternative strategies. What do you do to save at the grocery store?