Fit City Challenge - Eat Right Article Page

Eat Right on a Budget

Healthy meals don't have to be costly or hard to make. With a little bit of planning meals can be convenient, healthy, and inexpensive. Try these tips to make healthy eating a little more wallet-friendly.

	Choose easy one-pot recipes. Find meal options that can last for more than one night. Check out crock pot meals and Fit City recipe finder for ideas.
	Use coupons. Clipping coupons or printing them from web sites can save you 10- 15% on your grocery bill. Also, if you haven't already, consider joining your supermarket's shopper's club for price specials.
	Follow portions for protein. Meat is usually the most expensive part of a meal. Remember a portion of meat is the size of a deck of cards (3 ounces). A pound of chicken breasts could serve 5 adults if you control portions.
	Make a meatless meal. Beans are an excellent source of protein and are also an inexpensive way to create a healthy meal. Try a meatless meals recipe or learn more about meatless meals on a budget.
	Think outside the crisper. Frozen or canned fruits and vegetables will last longer than fresh versions from the produce department and are just as nutritious.
	Don't throw money away. Keep leftovers safe by refrigerating them quickly, use before they go bad and you can make one meal into a few. Rice and pasta can help stretch out a small amount of leftovers. Leftover chicken can be mixed with rice for a stir-fry or mixed with a pasta sauce over spaghetti.

Source: Adapted from the American Dietetic Association www.eatright.org.

EAT RIGHT

Eat Right on a Budget