(CNN)  -- On Monday's night edition of "Larry King Live," guest host Ali Velshi talked with TV cooking host Rachael Ray.



Rachael Ray visits "Larry King Live" on Monday night to give tips on stretching a family's food dollar to the max.



CNN's chief business correspondent asked Ray how you can make your meal-time dollars stretch in these tough economic times without sacrificing nutrition or taste.



The following transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity:



Ali Velshi: How do we keep from packing on the recession pounds? Tonight, help is on the way. Joining me in New York is Rachael Ray, host of "The Rachael Ray Show." ... We're all kind of stressed right now. We're trying to sort of do more with less and certainly eating in a hurry. You've got some great advice on that.



Ray: We need to go back to the way our grandparents prepared food. Instead of buying pieces of chicken, buy a whole chicken. You make that on Sunday, take the leftovers, roll that into fajitas, soups, stews, make your own stock. You've got to start thinking in bigger increments. ...



Stock up on lean meats and proteins, on veggies that you know your family likes and turn yourself into your own frozen food factory.



Every time that chicken breast goes on sale, stock up. Go home, put it in individual storage bags, pound it out nice and thin. It's a quick defrost.  Watch Rachael Ray's appearance on "Larry King Live" »



Velshi: All right. So you freeze; I like that. You make yourself into your own frozen food factory.



Ray: Even with vegetables. ... You know, if broccoli is on a great price this week, buy a ton of it, go home, blanch it a little bit of salted water, cold shock it, put it in a plastic food storage bag, done.



Velshi: What's the better deal: Buying your vegetables canned, buying them fresh?



Ray: Buying them at a local food market. You know, whether you're in a big city or a small town, farmers markets are your best bargain. You can buy direct from the small producer. And, you know, it's a great way to not only get organic, but get a great price on it.



Velshi: Let's talk about takeout food. Parents are trying to save time and money. In many cases, that leads us to fast food, because it's cheap and fast. ...



Ray: The food that we can get most readily and at the best bargain isn't good for us. It's processed. I mean all things in moderation. Everybody can have a burger once in a while.



Velshi: What do you recommend to our viewers [for fast food]?



Ray: Hey, I love a veggie sub at Subway. You know, I think that there is affordable fast food. If you're on the go, fine. Everybody needs to pick up a salad or a burger once in a while. There are healthy choices there. ....



If the kids really love fries, tell them they can have a few as long as they eat the veggies, too. And, there are a lot of great strategies you can take with kids in getting them to eat healthier -- little things like switching to whole wheat macaroni, whole wheat pastas.



Velshi: It sounds like it's a lot like dealing with the rest of your financial life -- if there's a little bit of planning ahead of time, you can actually save a lot of money.



Ray: Absolutely. I think you've got to go into the store armed with a good attitude ... and with coupons. And another really simple thing: When you go grocery shopping, do not look at the price on the product. Look at the unit price. Right there on the shelf, it will tell you the price per ounce or unit of measurement. And
Who says we need to go back to way our grandparents prepared food? what does rachel ray say what should we freeze
Ray: We need to go back to the way our grandparents prepared food. Stock up on lean meats and proteins, on veggies that you know your family likes and turn yourself into your own frozen food factory.
question: Who says we need to go back to way our grandparents prepared food?, answer: Ray: | question: what does rachel ray say, answer: We need to go back to the way our grandparents prepared food. | question: what should we freeze, answer: Stock up on lean meats and proteins, on veggies that you know your family likes and turn yourself into your own frozen food factory.