It's become a cliche of recession journalism: the how-to list for saving money on food.

But it's understandable. Food is one of our biggest expenses, and you can approach it in so many different ways. Today at WiseBread, there's a post offering suggestions for how to save money and eat healthfully. One thing the piece insists on is that you don't have to eat lousy food to save money -- which is good, since some of us would probably go into debt to eat good food.

If you’re on a budget, you can still eat well–all it takes is imagination and a sense of adventure. Invest in spices to liven up your meals. Experiment with sauces. Prepare them in large quantities, and freeze or preserve them. Make your own stock and freeze it in containers that will be ready when you want soup or stew. Curries, stews, and stir-fries are great ways to stretch meat or use leftovers.

Try macaroni and cheese with real cheese and whole-wheat or vegetable pasta. Even something as simple as a peanut-butter sandwich can be healthier with whole-wheat bread and real, old-fashioned peanut-butter. Yes, that’s right; comfort food can be healthy!

Read the full post here. A lot of these ideas aren't revolutionary -- stick to a shopping list, avoid processed foods, brown-bag it at lunch -- but they're worthy reminders, and there are a few other less familiar suggestions. Like this one -- call Grandma.

Chances are, your grandmother’s family’s recipes were economical. Perhaps you remember her talking about pierogis, ribs, curry, or gumbo. Phone up your mom, your grandma, or your aunt. Ask if they have any good recipes to share from the past.

What's the best single thing you've done to save money on food?

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