A117… HOW TO CUT YOUR

GROCERY BILLS IN HALF

 

Are you spending more of your family budget on food these days? If so, you’re not alone. According to a supermarket industry overview, total supermarket sales in 1997 were $323.3 billion. The average sale per customer transaction during that same period was $19.20. And consumers made an average of 2.2 trips

per week to the supermarket in 1997. Based on those figures, the average consumer is spending $40 to S50 per week at supermarkets (this figure doesn’t include food items purchased at other types of stores). Of course, the amount varies depending on family size and lifestyle, but it’s still a healthy bite out of any family’s budget.

 

Whether you spend $50 or $100 a week on groceries, you probably want to find ways to make your food dollar go further, yet still provide enjoyable meals. By practicing smart shopping techniques, you can do just that. And there is no need to leave out all your favorite foods to cut costs. In fact, it’s possible to cut your grocery bill by 50 percent or more simply by planning your food shopping trips in advance, practicing smart shopping once inside the supermarket, taking advantage of coupon and rebate offers, paying attention to check-out scanner charges, and knowing where to shop.

 

This special money-saving report provides information on these and other smart grocery shopping techniques that can help you cut your grocery bill in half.

 

Shopping for Food

 

The first step in smart shopping for foods is to do some planning. Think through the foods you will need for several days and make a list. To save shopping time, arrange your grocery list according to location in the store where you usually shop.

 

Compare supermarkets to find one most economically suited to your shopping needs. Food cooperatives, super “warehouse” stores and independent stores may or may not meet your needs. Remember that non-food items can be a significant part of your shopping bill. Some non-food items may be less expensive if purchased at other discount stores. Check costs in your area to determine the best place to shop for your non-food items.

 

Check food advertisements and compare prices. It’s a good idea to be familiar with more than one convenient shopping center so that you’ll have several shopping options. For store specials, consider buying an extra supply in reasonable amounts to save money over a period of time.

 

Develop a list of standard food items and staples that are always used at your house. Each week you can quickly check if these items are available or need to be restocked. Also, if the items go on sale you can more easily take advantage of the bargains. Such a list will help you buy only what you need, avoiding costly impulse purchases.

 

As you shop, consider using these eight money-saving tips:

 

1)  Plan shopping trips when you are not too hungry, tired or rushed. You’ll do a better job at comparing prices and getting the best buys when you choose your best shopping time rather than leaving shopping to the last minute.

 

2)  Shop alone or with a wise food shopper, if possible.

 

3)  Compare unit pricing. Large packages often are cheaper than smaller container sizes—but not always. If the large size is more economical but your use of the product will lead to spoilage or storage problems, the larger size may not be for you. .

 

4)  Check the price difference between nationally known brands of foods and store brands. In breakfast cereals alone there can be a great difference. For example, an 18-ounce box of nationally known breakfast cereal can easily cost $4.50, which equates to 25 cents per serving of breakfast cereal. Store brands may cost $2.25 for a 20-ounce package or 11 1/4 cents per serving. The difference is mostly in the packaging of the product with little nutritional difference between the two items.

 

5)  Recognize advertising gimmicks. Placement of food and other items on easy-to-reach shelves, in the aisles, and at the checkout counter encourages shoppers to pick them up and buy them even if prices are high.

 

6)  Check for “open dating” to determine freshness. It’s most helpful when you are buying foods that can spoil easily such as fresh meats, poultry, fish, dairy products and bakery items.

 

There are four basic types of “open dating”:

 

    “Sell by” dates tell you the last date the item should be sold from the store.

 

    “Best if used by” is often used on fresh bakery items to tell you when they are at maximum freshness. If you buy bakery items after this date, look for a reduced price and check for signs of spoilage. Older bakery products, which have lost their freshness, can still be used in casseroles and other food items.

 

    “Expiration” or “Use by” dates are found on products to indicate when active ingredients will still be good, such as yeast. It’s best not to purchase products after their expiration or “use by” dates.

 

    “Pack” dates indicate when a food processor has packaged the food. These dates are typically found on canned or packaged foods with a longer shelf life. Look for items with the most recent pack date to insure best food quality.

 

7)  If you cannot find an advertised sale item on the grocery shelf, ask for it. If the store has run out, you can ask about a “rain check”. Unless the ad says, “quantities are limited”, the grocer probably will offer you some form of compensation. The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) “Unavailability Rule” (explained at the end of this report) says how, and if, you and other customers should be compensated.

 

8)  Avoid buying convenience foods whenever possible. Sure, these items can make our lives a little easier but it’s a good idea to determine whether time saved is worth the cost. When it comes to convenience foods, you should consider your time, product cost, and uses in your family situation carefully. Here are some basic convenience food rules:

 

    Meats or poultry cut in pieces or slices usually cost more than large cuts of meats or whole chickens.

 

    Frozen entrees or main dishes (breaded chicken, TV dinners, burritos, pizzas, pot pies and so forth) typically are more costly than the do-it-yourself variety. Also check nutritional content and make sure it meets your needs. When these items are on sale, however, they may become the best buy.

 

    Plain, frozen vegetables are better buys than frozen vegetables packed with sauces. Purchase resalable frozen vegetables in larger quantities so that you can use only the amount needed for one meal. Depending on seasonal costs of fresh vegetables, frozen and canned vegetables may be the best buy. They also can be stored longer than fresh vegetables.

 

Make Sure The Scanned Price Is Right

 

While the preceding smart-shopping techniques can save you money, there’s one more step to ensure that you’re saving on your grocery bill: make sure you’re not overcharged when you checkout. While no cashier will -intentionally overcharge (or undercharge) customers, scanning errors can and do occur. That’s why savvy consumers are aware of prices and check scanner charges for expensive items or items they know are on sale.

 

Here’s what to watch for when you’re at the checkout register:

 

    Watch the display screen for prices. If you think you’re being overcharged, speak up. Ask about the store’s policy on pricing errors, and ask the cashier to make the adjustment before you pay. Although some stores simply adjust the price, others deduct an additional amount. And some stores will offer the mis-priced item for free.

 

    Bring a copy of the store’s flyer or newspaper ad to the checkout counter. Some advertised specials 15 percent off an item for two hours, for example, or a two-for-one promotion  may not be in the computer and must be entered manually by the cashier. Make sure he/she does so.

 

    Consider jotting down prices or special sales as you make your way through the store. In grocery stores you may want to use a pen or crayon to note the product prices on packages.

 

    Check your receipt before you walk away. If you notice an error, ask the cashier to adjust the total. If you’ve already left the checkout counter, ask the store or department manager or the customer service department to correct any mistakes.

 

Save Hundreds Of Dollars With Coupon And Refund Offers

 

A recent study by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) reveals that couponing ranks only behind “cutting back on gourmet items”, among the most commonly practiced money-saving grocery-shopping techniques. And a recent survey, conducted by a major coupon-processing firm, shows that savvy shoppers redeemed almost 7 billion coupons worth around $4 billion. Now that’s a lot of coupons and a lot of savings, but even at that, less than 3% of all coupons issued are ever redeemed. That means that there still are plenty of consumers who are not taking advantage of couponing as a way to save on their grocery bills. If you’re one of those people who think finding and clipping coupons is not worth the time and effort consider this: Many coupon shoppers report saving, on average, $5 to $20 for every $100 they spend on groceries by redeeming coupons and cashing in on rebate offers. So, depending on the amount of time and effort you invest in finding and clipping coupons, you could save several hundred dollars a year on your grocery bill.

 

To get started with couponing, you’ll need to find coupon and refund offers for the food items you normally buy. It’s important that you clip and use coupons only for those products you use regularly. It isn’t cost-effective to buy products you normally don’t use, just because you have coupons that provide money-off on those purchases. You can find money-saving coupons in many different sources, including the following:

 

   Freestanding Inserts: (FSJ’s). FSI’s are distributed in Sunday newspapers and account for over one third of all manufacturers’ coupons issued. Instead of throwing FSI’s away, clip and redeem the coupons for products you normally use. Besides using the coupons in your own Sunday paper, you also can cash in on coupons from papers you collect from friends and neighbors. Your local library also may give you FSI’s if you ask for their discards.

 

   Daily Newspapers: Many stores distribute their advertising circulars in local newspapers On Wednesdays or Thursdays. These circulars sometimes include “in-ad” coupons to be used only at specific stores. The redemption period on these coupons usually is about seven days. “One-on-a-page” coupons also can be found in most daily newspapers

 

   Magazines. Most women’s magazines, such as “Ladies Home Journal”; “McCalls”; and “Woman’s Day”, and some general interest magazines such as “Reader’s Digest”, provide a variety of moneysaving coupons within their pages:

 

   Home Mailers. Most people receive coupons in the mail. These coupons are sent by large marketing firms and manufacturers and their representatives. Not all of these coupons will be of value to you, but many of them could be for products you normally use.

 

   In-Store Coupons. These coupons and rebate offers are printed on product packages or inside the packages on the shelves at most supermarkets. These coupons can be redeemed only if you make another purchase of the same product. For example, inside your favorite box of cereal may be a coupon worth 50 cents off your next purchase of that cereal.

 

   Direct From The Manufacturer. Sometimes you may be able to get coupons just by asking for them. You can call the numbers listed on product packages or write to different companies and ask them to send you product coupons if any are available. Not all companies will provide you with free coupons upon request, but some do.

 

   Instant Coupon Machines. Thousands of stores across the country now have instant coupon machines positioned at “end-of-aisle” displays. They’re easy-to-use —just press a button on one of these machines and you’ll get a coupon for the particular product being promoted. Some stores also have these machines set up in the middle of aisles within easy reach of the products being promoted.

 

   Checkout Line Coupons. This is a relatively new marketing technique in which coupons are issued for products which are either complementary to or in competition with current purchases. These coupons are given out at the checkout line as purchases are being made and are redeemable on future purchases.

 

Once you find several sources for coupons, you can begin using the following “couponing” techniques to cut your grocery bill:

 

   Increase the value of your coupons by using them during sales and double-coupon promotions. Many stores redeem “double-coupons” at least one day a week providing you with extra savings on those days. Coupons also may be used in combination with items that have already been reduced in price because they are on sale. You can save even more if you buy sale items in quantity when you have coupons.

 

   Look for refund offers on fresh foods. You’ll often find “money-back” offers on meat, fruit and other fresh foods. You may get $2 or more off your next purchase by mailing in such a refund offer.

 

   Buy whatever brand product is on sale and foi which you have a coupon. Unless you have a definite preference for a specific brand name product, your best value will be the brand that is on sale and “couponed”.

 

   Use coupons to buy the smallest-sized packages of products you’re not familiar with. For example, let’s say you have a 50-cent coupon for a new breakfast cereal. Instead of using the coupon for the largest-size package, which is priced at $3.75, use it for the smallest-size package, priced at $1.50. If you buy at a store that offers double coupons, you can buy and try the cereal for just 50 cents.

 

The key to saving money with coupons and refund offers is to clip and redeem as many as you can on products that you normally use. If you’re willing to invest the time and effort it takes to find and clip coupons and refund offers, you can pocket big savings on your annual grocery bill

 

Consider Joining A Warehouse Club/ Wholesale Club

 

The Price Company opened the first warehouse club nearly 25 years ago. That first warehouse offered all sorts of merchandise, including food and groceries at wholesale prices. Since then, nearly 500-warehouse clubs opened in all sections of the country. The three major warehouse clubs, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Costco Wholesale, and Sam’s Club, and other clubs, typically charge an annual membership fee of $25 to S30. A5 a member of a warehouse/wholesale club, you1re entitled to shop in a warehouse that typically stores thousands of items and services, including health and beauty care products, computers, clothing, house wares, automotive supplies, and food and groceries. Most items are available at deeply discounted prices, and are available in large sizes and bulk sales.

 

Here’s an example (using the three leading clubs) of what warehouse clubs offer:

 

    BJ’S Wholesale Club, 1-800-BJS-CLUB

 

BJ’S Wholesale Club is a self-service, membership only warehouse that sells brand name food and general merchandise at savings of up to 50 percent off typical retail. The chain has more than 4 million members and over 80 locations in 12 states. It stores and sells fresh, frozen, and canned food as well as general merchandise, including office equipment, small appliances, cellular phones, lottery tickets, apparel, and house wares. BJ’s also offers such member services as discount travel, one-hour photo finishing, discounts for real estate and new car purchases, and an in-store food court, all for an annual membership fee.

 

BJ’S has no membership qualifications or restrictions. All businesses and consumers are welcome to join the club. The membership fee is $30 a year and includes a second membership card at no additional cost. Call the toll-free number for membership and location information.

 

    Sam’s Club, (800) 966-6546

 

Sam’s Club offers from casual clothes, house wares and electronics to office supplies, automotive supplies - even fresh meats, produce and baked goods. The chain carries high quality, name-brand merchandise for home or business. As a member of Sam’s Club, you’ll have access to high-quality, name-brand products at wholesale prices. Members also enjoy substantial savings on a number of services, as well.

 

    Costco Wholesale, 999 Lake Dr. Issaquah, WA 98027;(425) 313-8100.

 

Costco Companies is the largest wholesale club operator in the U.S. The company operates about 270 warehouse stores, mostly in the eastern and western US and Canada, but also in Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, and the UK, under the Price Club and Costco Wholesale names. Stores offer discount prices (to members only) on 3,600-4,000 products ranging from alcoholic beverages and computer hardware and software to pharmaceuticals and tires.

 

It also offers a number of services such as car- and boat-buying programs and discounts on car rentals, cruises, and hotels. Many stores sell fresh food and groceries at discount prices.

 

Consider Buying Food Wholesale By Mail

 

Another way to cut the cost of your food bill is to buy from companies that specialize in providing certain perishable and non-perishable food items to all parts of the country by mail. Many of these companies provide a wide selection of food items at wholesale prices. You can shop by mail and order Caspian Beluga caviar, dried fruit, nuts, candy, deli meats, escargot, cheese, coffee and tea, winter squash, mushrooms, olives, and many other food items.

 

While the mail-order savings vary from company to company and product to product, you can expect to save 50 percent and more on some items. Whether you have a taste for gourmet and exotic foods, or you prefer organically grown fruits and vegetables, you can get it by mail.

When ordering food by mail, keep in mind the weather and the season. Avoid ordering perishable items (soft cheese, fruits, vegetables, uncured meats) during the hot summer months. Many companies will not ship certain products during warm weather, and those that do will likely advise you to have the items shipped by an express service, and to consume them as soon after delivery as possible.

 

The following companies are representative of the many mail-order food providers that offer everything from caviar to ziti. Most of the companies listed also have product catalogs available upon request. Order as many catalogs as you can, and compare prices with those at your favorite supermarket.

 

• Wham! Foods, Inc., 2835 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, FL 33020; (954) 920-7857; Fax:

(954) 920-9587. This company offers food and beverage items at closeout prices averaging less than 50% of regular retail! Items available include cheese, drinks, meat, vegetables, seafood, snacks, candy, cookies, fruit, and more

 

• Hickory Farms, 1505 Holland Road, P0 Box 219, Maumee, Ohio 43537; (419) 893-7611; Fax: (419) 893- 0164; Internet: http://www.hickoryfarms.com . Hickory farms has been in business for nearly 45 years, offering a selection of summer sausages, meats, and cheeses at low prices. Contact the company to request a product catalog.

 

• Burgers’ Smokehouse, Burgers’ Ozark Country Cured Hams, California, MO 65018-9423 USA; (800) 624-5426; (800) 203-4424; (314) 796-4111 (for quantity discounts); Fax: (314) 796-3137. Offers an extensive selection of smoked meats including ham, bacon, jowl, pork loin and chops, sausages, barbecued meats, fresh beef, buffalo, poultry, and fish. Also offers cheese &cakes at wholesale prices. Contact the company to order a 6-page product catalog. USA; (800) 624-5426; (800) 203-4424; (314) 796-4111 (for quantity discounts); Fax: (314) 796-3137.          Offers an extensive selection of smoked meats including ham, bacon, jowl, pork loin and chops, sausages, barbecued meats, fresh beef, buffalo, poultry, and fish. Also offers cheese &cakes at wholesale prices. Contact the company to order a 6-page product catalog.

 

• The Great Valley Mills, 1774 County Line Rd., Barto, PA 19504; (800) 688-6455; Fax:(610) 754-6490.                  Offers family grown and produced foods including pancake, waffle & muffin mixes, 754-6490.         Offers family grown and produced foods including pancake, waffle & muffin mixes, natural all-fruit syrups and spreads, cheese, meats, flours, corn meals & cereals & bread mixes. A 32-page product catalog is available upon request.

 

 • Wolferman’s, One Muffin Lane, Box 15913, Shawnee Mission, KS 66285-5913 (800)999-0169; Fax: (800) 999-7548. Since 1888, Wolferman’s has been offering a selection of baked goods including deluxe muffins, scones, crumpets, old world breads, & tea breads at wholesale prices. Contact the company to request a 32-page catalog.

 

• Morisi’s Pasta, John Morisi & Son, Inc., 647 5th Aye, Brooklyn, NY 11215; (800) 253-6044; (718) 788-2299; Fax: (718) 788-3496. Offers over 260 varieties, 50 flavors and 65 shapes of natural pasta including Capellini, Ziti, Linguine, Fussilli, Manicotti, Mostiachiolli and Pene Rigati, Radiatore, Shells and Noodles, at discount prices. A 7-page product catalog is available upon request.

 

• Loujim’s Southern Cuisine, 7747 Cibroney Dr., Jonesboro, GA 30236; (800) 582-5461; Fax: (770) 478-6348. Offers a selection of jams, jelly, preserves, syrups, plain mixes, bread machine mixes, fruit flavored mixes, spites, vidalia onion salad dressing, salsas, sauces, pickles, relish and more at wholesale prices. Contact the company to request a 4-page product catalog.

 

• Konriko Company Store, P.O. Box 10640, New Iberia, LA 70562-0640; (800) 551-3245; Fax: (318) 365-5806. Offers unique food products including several varieties of rice, spices, seasonings, soups, crackers, gift baskets, and cookbooks. An 8-page product catalog is available upon request.

 

Coffee Wholesale, P0 Box 1614, Round Rock, TX 78680-1614; (512) 388-2200; Fax: (512) 388-9917; Internet: http//:www.cw-usa.com. This company offers a varied selection off gourmet coffee and tea at savings of up to 50 percent of typical retail prices. Also available at discount prices are espresso makers, cappuccino machines, coffee and tea supplies. Contact the company for pricing information on over 100 top-quality products.

 

   Caviar Express, P0 Box 18811, Encino, CA 91416; (818) 888-1913; (888) 228-6600. This company offers you a chance to save money on quality caviar for special occasions. Caviar Express imports fresh caviar from the Caspian Sea and sells it at wholesale prices. Contact the company for more information.

 

• Maples Fruit Farm, P0 Box 167, Chewsville, MD 21721; (301) 33~ 0777;Internet:http://www.virtumall.com/MaplesFruitFarm/greeting.html. Maple’s has been under one family’s ownership for over 200 years, providing dried fruit (apple rings, apricots. banana chips, coconut, dates, figs, pears, pineapple, raisins, papaya); pure Maryland maple syrup; specialty items, such as chocolate covered peanuts, almonds, and coffee beans; Goellitz Jelly Belly jelly beans; and many other items at savings of up to 50%.

 

Maples also offers both roasted and raw (salted and unsalted) nuts, including almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts, peanuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts, and others. Fruit and nut mixes, gourmet gift baskets, teas by Celestial Seasonings, Benchley and Twinings also are available, as are 100% Arabica bean coffees from around the world. The coffees are roasted daily at Maples’ own gourmet shop. Maples’ product catalog is available for $1 (refundable).

 

   Mr. Spiceman, Inc., 210-11 48th Ave. Bayside, NY 11364; (718) 428-7202. In business since the mid 1960s, Mr. Spiceman specializes in spices, herbs and other popular seasonings, at savings up to 60% off typical retail prices. Products include herbs and spices, including paprika, cayenne pepper, cumin, allspice, curry powder, and over 100 others. Also available are pasta sauces, Texas Best Barbeque sauces, soups, sauce mixes, marinade mixes, breath mints, pepper mills, and many other related products. Call or write the company to order a product catalog.

 

    Bates Brothers Nut Farm, Inc., 15954 Woods Valley Road, Valley Center, CA 92082; (619)749-3333. The Bates Brothers offer nuts of all kinds, and dried fruits. Save up to 40% off typical retail on some items. Choose from a wide assortment of nuts— peanuts, cashews, walnuts, almonds, pecans, macadamias, filberts, pistachios, and pignolias. You can get nuts raw, roasted and salted, and smoked. Salt less nuts of all types also are available. Dried fruit, including banana chips, figs, apricots, raisins, dates, pineapple, and coconut, also is available. Trail-mix, granola, wheat germ snacks, popcorn, taffy, English toffee, nut brittle, and other taste treats are sold as well. A price list is available by mail with a SASE.

 

   Walnut Acres Organic Farms, Walnut Acres Road, Penns Creek, PA 17862; (800) 344-9025; Internet: http://www.walnutacres.com. In business for over 50 years, Walnut Acres offers organically grown foods, nutritional supplements, and other products at savings of up to 30%. Choose from a selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, granola, baked goods, canned fruit, dried fruit, hot cereals, nuts, nut butters, milk powders, cheese, chilies and chowders, meat and poultry, soups, stews, sweeteners, pancake and waffle mixes, and vitamins and supplements. Call or write the company to request a free product catalog.

 

The Key To Saving On Your Grocery Bill

 

This special report has described several smart-shopping techniques designed to help you cut your grocery bill by 50 percent or more. The key to making these techniques work is in planning. Make up a list and stick to it. You’ll avoid most impulse purchases that way, and you’re more likely to shop for bargains on the things you need. Take advantage of coupons and refunds on the items you use frequently. And compare products and prices at several supermarkets and other food outlets. The better prepared you are for a weekly grocery-shopping excursion, the more likely you are to cut your grocery bills by 50 percent or more!

 

The Federal Trade Commission “Unavailability Rule”

 

The FTC issued the Retail Food Store Advertising and Marketing Practices Rule in 1971 and amended it in 1989. Known as the Unavailability Rule, it helps protect consumers against food stores that advertise bargains to attract customers but fail to have adequate stock available.

 

Under the amended rule, grocers may offer rain, checks to customers if they run out of advertised items. However, rain checks are not required if the ad clearly and adequately says, “quantities are limited” or that -products are available only at some stores. This allows grocery stores the flexibility to advertise items they cannot stock in large quantities or at certain outlets. Such items may be seasonal products, like holiday cakes, or perishables, such as fruits and vegetables.

 

If a store does not disclose the limited availability of an advertised item and runs out of that item, the Unavailability Rule excuses the store only when it can prove (to the FTC) that the advertised items were ordered in adequate time for delivery in quantities to meet reasonably anticipated demand, or it offers consumers one of three options:

 

   A “rain check” that allows customers to buy the item later at the lower price.

 

   A substitute item of comparable value to the sale item.

 

   Some kind of compensation that is at least equal in value to the advertised item.

 

If a store runs out of advertised specials, you should ask for one of these options. Chances are you will get something because most grocers want to satisfy their customers. If, however, you know of a grocery store that regularly runs out of “advertised specials”, fails to say when “specials” are in limited quantity, and does not provide rain checks, substitute items, or some other compensation, you should contact the FTC at:

Correspondence Branch, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580.

 

The following food equivalents can help you select only the amounts of these foods you need, eliminating waste, and cutting your grocery bill.

 

   Apples 1 pound = 3-4 medium

   Bananas 1 pound - 3 medium

   Beans, dry 1 pound = 2 1/2 cup dry = 5 1/2 to 6 cups cooked

   Bread— 1 pound = 15 to 18 slices

   Bread crumbs 8 ounces = 2 1/4 cups

   Butter or margarine 1 pound = 2 cups

   Carrots 1 pound = 3 cups sliced

   Cheese, yellow 1 pound = 4 cups grated

   Cottage cheese 1 pound = 2 cups

   Cocoa 1 pound = 4 cups

   Coffee, ground —1 lb = 40 cups liquid

   Coffee, instant 6 ounces = 90 cups liquid~

   Corn, canned 16 oz can = 1 3/4 cups, drained

   Corn, frozen 10 ounces = 1 1/2 cups cooked, drained

   Cornstarch 1 pound = 3 1/2 cups -

   Graham crackers 1 pound = 60 square crackers

   Flour, white 1 pound = 4 cups

   Flour, whole wheat 1 pound = 3 3/4 cups

   Macaroni 1 pound = 4 cups raw = 9 cups cooked

   Noodles 1 pound = 6 cups raw = 9 cups cooked

   Peas, green, canned 16 oz can = 1 3/4 cups, drained

   Peas, frozen 10 ounces = 1 3/4 cups cooked, drained

   Potatoes, white 1 pound = 3-4 medium

   Rice, regular 1 pound = 2 cups uncooked = 8 cups cooked

   Rice, precooked 7 ounces = 2 cups uncooked = 3 3/4 cups cooked

   Sugar, brown 1 pound = 2 cups packed

   Sugar, granulated 1 pound = 2 cups

   Sugar, powdered 1 pound = 3 cups