National Nutrition Month

Basic Foods Can Help You Save Money and Add Nutrition
Many people think eating healthy is expensive. This month is National Nutrition Month, and with a theme of “Nutrition from the Ground Up,” these tips can help you provide delicious meals without sacrificing your wallet.

Stretch your protein dollars by adding dry beans in burritos, tacos, soups and stews instead of meat, or adding beans to the mixture to increase volume at a cheaper price. Other low-cost sources of protein include low-sodium tuna, eggs and peanut butter.

Fresh produce is often less expensive during season. Buy only what you will use in a few days to prevent waste due to spoilage. Meanwhile, stock your freezer and pantry with low-sodium canned and frozen vegetables, like our Publix Steam in Bag vegetables, a variety of fresh-frozen veggies with just-picked flavor that cook up in minutes for the perfect side dish. Or you can use them frozen as an ingredient in soups, stews, and casseroles.

Healthy and inexpensive starches and grains include brown rice, whole grain pasta and barley. Use these in recipes instead of plain white rice or pasta.

Prepare foods for big nutritional rewards without spending money. Bake, broil, grill, steam, roast or stir-fry foods instead of frying them. Flavor your food with herbs, salt-free spices, pepper, vinegars and wine for lower fat and sodium content.

Publix carries all the ingredients you need to prepare healthy, delicious meals. Plan your meals by checking our weekly ad for current sales and to save time and money. Before you shop, take inventory of your refrigerator, freezer and pantry. Don’t forget to plan meals of leftovers to make sure they don’t go to waste, either.

Sources: www.rd411.com, http://nutrition.about.com, http://edis.ufl.edu