The grocery store is full of food items that can be made at home for less money. Often the homemade foods are healthier as well. These 7 items are easy to make at home.

They're also cheaper than the store bought versions, because they contain fewer preservatives and unhealthy additives. It's a win-win!  

1. Granola. Homemade granola can easily be made from a variety of products that many people already keep in their kitchens, like nuts, oats, seeds, honey and raisins. The recipe you use may vary depending on your preferences. Once you've made granola a few times from a recipe, add variation to make it more to your own tastes.
2. Vegetable Soup. In the mood for vegetable soup? Why eat it from a can when you can make your own from the extra vegetables in your crisper? To make a tasty vegetable soup, cut up vegetables and combine them in a pot with vegetable broth and tomato sauce. Finally, season your soup with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Pasta Sauce. Pre-made jarred pasta sauces can get expensive, especially if you eat pasta on a regular basis. Make your own with a can of plain tomato sauce and seasonings like salt and red pepper. Customize the spices and ingredients for each dish.
4. Frozen Pizza. Why buy frozen pizza when you can make your own from scratch? Find a good pizza dough recipe, spread the tomato sauce over the dough, and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Once you're in the habit of making your own pizza, you'll be able to do it quickly and easily. Simplify the process by making a double or triple batch of dough and freezing the extra for next week.
5. Frozen Dinners. Frozen dinners are costly and most of them aren't even that good. You can make your own frozen dinners by freezing meal-sized portions of your dinner leftovers. Freeze them in bags or in small plastic containers. Label each frozen dinner and include the date.
6. Pies. Pies made from scratch often have fewer dyes and preservatives than pies purchased at the grocery store. Simplify the pie making process by doubling the pie crust recipe and freezing the extra for next time. For the filling, buy berries cheaply when they're in season and freeze them to be used throughout the year.
7. Bagged Salads. Bagged salads are convenient but expensive. Keep the lettuce, shredded cheese and cut up vegetables on hand. Throw them together into a bowl at the beginning of the week and take out what you need as you prepare meals. Making one large salad at the beginning of the week saves time so you won't have to make a new salad every night.

Following these tips, you can enjoy healthy, homemade foods all week long.