March is National Nutrition Month! The theme this year is “Food Connects Us.” Times are hard, groceries are expensive, can you still eat healthy and on budget? Yes! You can and here are a few tips to get the most nutrition for your food budget.
*Cook More, Eat Out Less. Eating out can be expensive. Many foods can be prepared for less money (and more healthfully) at home. Pre-packaged foods, like frozen dinners and packaged pasta or rice mixes can also add up when you calculate the cost per serving. Find a few simple, healthy recipes your family enjoys and save eating out for special occasions.
*Make Your Own Healthy Snacks. Convenience costs money. Many snacks, even healthy ones, usually cost more when sold individually. Make your own snacks by purchasing large tubs of low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese and dividing them into smaller containers. For trail mix, combine unsalted nuts, dried fruit and whole grain pretzels or cereal; store small portions in airtight containers. Air-popped popcorn and whole fresh fruits in season also tend to cost less compared to pre-packaged items.
*Plan what you’re going to eat. Deciding on meals and snacks before you shop can save both time and money. Review recipes and make a grocery list of what ingredients are needed, then check to see what foods you already have and make a list for what you still need to buy. When shopping with a list you will be less likely to buy things that are not on it. To “Create a Grocery Game Plan”, and so many more helpful tools, visit MyPlate.gov.
*Decide how much to make or buy. Making a large batch by doubling a recipe will save time in the kitchen later on. Extra portions can be used for lunches or meals later in the week,
or frozen as leftovers in individual containers for future use. Plus, purchasing ingredients in bulk is often cheaper.