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A Balanced Budget
Feeding Your Family Frugally
By Cheryl Loux
Buying in-season produce is another useful tip to eating healthy on a budget. Oranges, for example, are cheaper during the winter. Berries are cheaper during the summer and can be purchased frozen year round.
"Canned fruits (packed in juice) and vegetables these days are healthy," says Diane Peck, registered Albertson's dietician in Fort Worth, Texas. "They are processed differently and retain a lot of their nutrients." Peck suggests rinsing canned fruits and vegetables to get rid of excess syrup and sodium if needed.
Growing your own vegetables is another great money saver. Sarah Allen, mother of one from San Antonio, Texas, did just that. "I grew three tomatoes plants and two bell peppers in pots in my back yard last year," she says. "I had fresh produce all summer and it only cost me about $10 for the original plants." If you have a green thumb, put it to use to help you save money.
Staying away from prepackaged food saves money too. "Families will often discover it costs less to eat healthy because there's not as many prepackaged foods finding their way into the grocery cart," says Jones.
