Did you know that the average family spends $500 a month on food? In these tough economic times, every dollar counts and food is often the easiest place to "trim the fat" in your budget.

Join TIMES NEWS correspondent Stacey Solt as she explores the ins and outs of feeding a family on a budget in her new column, The Frugal Foodie. She'll be taking a fun, practical approach to food, offering tips each week on how to trim your budget and plan ahead to save hundreds on your grocery bill each month.Beginning tomorrow, if you want to learn how to feed your family healthy and affordable meals on a budget, turn to the Lifestyle page in the TIMES NEWS every Wednesday.