West Milford - Here’s a thought - will the shrinking food dollar result in smaller waistlines ? According to the West Milford residents interviewed, that may turn out to be a healthy, happy side effect of rising food prices. Deborah Lokai, a single mother with four girls ranging in age from 12 to 23 years old, said she shops every two weeks. She makes a list of the basic items but, she said, with five females in the house there’s a lot of girl stuff’ to buy too, adding about $50 a month to her supermarket bill. Lokai, who runs Deb’s ABC Day Care in West Milford, said that they are eating more vegetables, snacking on nuts and drinking water instead of soda and ice tea. While economical pasta dishes are still on the menu, desserts are limited. “High prices are forcing us into a leaner diet,” Lokai said. Her other concern is the diminishing size of so many products. “It seems every single can or box has gone down in quantity,” she said. Smaller portions seem to be a growing trend. According to a New York Daily News article, Edy’s ice cream for instance, has decreased its volume from a 1.75 quart to a 1.5 quart container of the frozen treat. This change reportedly was made to close the gap caused by the rising cost of gas, cocoa and dairy products. Tropicana’s 96 ounce orange juice containers have been downsized to 89 ounces and even a large pack of Wrigley’s gum is now two sticks short of a full pack. Upper Greenwood Lake resident Gabriella Bakalian, interviewed while choosing fresh vegetables in Shop Rite, said she is watching her food dollar by utilizing what’s on hand. “I take better stock and make due with what I have at home,” she said. She has become more discerning in what she buys, skipping what she really does not need and cutting down on meat. Bakalian is using more vegetables, although they are costly, because they seem to go further, she said. Making a big pot of pasta a fagioli, for example, can actually work out to be an economical dish. Kathy Foster, a senior citizen who lives alone on a fixed income, has learned through the years to live within her means. “You did without. If you couldn’t afford it, you didn’t buy it,” she said. Foster is a coupon and sale shopper. “Rarely do I buy at full price,” she said. She has a yen for fresh peaches but refuses to buy them until the price comes down. “I love to bake,” she added, but now a batch of her famous brownies costs between $10 and $12 to make. Much to the disappointment of friends and family, those butter-rich brownies are on hold. Worried about what her oil heating bill will be next winter and keeping up with gas prices, Foster said that you have to cut somewhere and her food budget is one area where she can exert some control by careful shopping. Speaking of the high costs at the supermarket, West Milford resident Carol Di Giacomo said, “I think Americans may learn to eat smaller portions. Maybe this is the awakening we needed to cut down.” Chips and candy are not often on Di Giacomo’s shopping list. She looks for meats on sale, buying a lot of chicken but will still treat herself to a steak once a week. “I cut back on some things so I can enjoy another,” she said. The savings earned by driving a distance to stores that are offering double or triple coupons disappear into the gas tank, Di Giacomo said. Shrinking quantities, escalating food costs, soaring gas prices, “Where will it end,” Di Giacomo wondered. Maybe without the ice cream, cookies, chips and those delicious brownies, the end will result in a much slimmer, healthier population. But then it may be necessary to fill up the tank, drive to the mall and buy new clothing to show off that trimmed down physique.