Dragonfly Tales: Eating well on a budget

Gini,

If you're anything like me, you might be concerned with how increasing gas and food prices are impacting your family. That's why I wanted to share a few ideas from the nutrition experts at Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) that I use at home with my family of five. These tips have helped make it easier for my wife and I, and our three children to eat healthy - while still staying within our budget.

Before heading to the grocery store, my family likes to sit down and plan out our meals for the week. First, we see what we already have in the freezer, refrigerator, and cabinets and then we write out meals around items that we already have on hand. Making a list helps us stay organized, save money, and choose healthier options. Involving the kids in this has also made them more interested in making meals and eating what we make.

Did you know that over 30% of food is wasted at home due to spoilage or improper storage? Food that goes bad before you can eat it is a waste of money. That's why my family makes our budget go further by properly storing the foods we've bought. If we know we won't eat something right away, we put it in the freezer. This makes our food last longer and helps ensure there's always something good to eat at home.

Jason Wilson makes dinner with his family.

When my family has leftovers from a meal, it's easy to forget about them. If you can't see it, you won't eat it. That's why we make sure to store leftovers in a visible spot in the fridge, and use them in school lunches for the next day. When I know what needs to be eaten, it's easier to waste less and plan meals ahead of time. We also like to have fun by creating new dishes and snacks with items we think will go bad soon.

We often hear about buying foods that are in season because they can taste better and don't need to travel as far to get to the supermarket. But did you know that they can be more affordable too? By learning more about what's in season around you, you can arm yourself with knowledge to help you spend less at checkout. That's a win for your body and your budget.

It's been helpful for my family to keep in mind that while expiration dates are useful, labels aren't always right. Use-by or best-by dates aren't always about food safety; they exist to help us estimate when products will be at their peak flavor and quality. While I am cautious about some foods, I often use my eyes and nose to determine if something has gone bad before throwing it away. If the product has changed in color, texture, or smell, you may want to avoid eating it.

I hope these ideas inspire you to think creatively about eating healthy on a budget! The entire PHA team is working every day to help families in every zip code access healthy and sustainable food. Please consider supporting our important work today.

Thank you,

Headshot of Jason Wilson