Words on Wellness: Save money, eat well

When grocery prices go up, it may not seem possible to eat healthy foods while on a budget. However, eating healthy on a budget is possible when following a few tips.

Five tips to save money while eating nutritiously: Look for deals and plan your meals! Plan your meals around weekly ad specials and what you have on hand in the refrigerator, freezer, and cupboards; Buy in season. Seasonal produce often costs less and has better taste. Visit snap.nal.usda.gov/nutrition-through-seasons/seasonal-produce to find out which foods are in season; Schedule a day to cook. Cook large batches of your favorite recipes to portion out and freeze for quick-fix meals throughout the week. For easy recipes to freeze, order the cookbook Healthy in a Hurry?14 Main Dishes for Now or Later from the ISU Extension Online Store (store.extension.iastate.edu); Get creative. Make it a game with leftovers to find ways to incorporate them into meals and snacks before they are no longer safe to eat. Use fruit in smoothies, put leftover vegetables in pasta, or use leftover meat in a stir fry and shop smart. Check the unit price on items and compare brands to get the best value. Use unit prices to not only compare brands and product sizes but also to compare forms of a food like fresh, frozen, and canned. Visit the ISU Extension and Outreach Spend Smart. Eat Smart. website (www.extension.iastate.edu/foodsavings) for more information on unit prices.

Source: Choose My Plate Tip Sheet: Eating Better on a Budget, www.choosemyplate.gov/ten-tips-eating-better-on-a-budget