FOOD+NUTRITION By Jennifer Bookout RDN, LDN
BUDGET-FRIENDLY
FUELING Food prices are on the rise, forcing many of us to re-evaluate our grocery budget. Budget-friendly fueling doesn’t have to be synonymous with boring meal routines. Despite ongoing inflation and supply chain issues, there are many ways to fuel your active lifestyle and fight food fatigue without compromising nutritional value or breaking the bank! Increase your meal satisfaction, reap health benefits, and start saving now with the following strategies:
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Create a food budget
Cook at home
Set your limit for groceries and dining out each month. Be sale-savvy! Before each shopping trip, compare store prices and look for sales. When shopping, make a list and stick to it. Don’t shy away from conventional produce…organic produce is often much more expensive with the same nutritional value.
Be sure to use or freeze your leftovers, and get creative with the items already in your pantry. Make mealtime a fun, family event. You can’t go wrong incorporating nourishing and inexpensive eggs, beans, bananas, root veggies, oats and other whole grains, or canned tuna.
Plan your meals
Shop seasonally
Preparation is key before a competition or race, and so is planning before shopping. Take a little time each week to look online for yummy and cost-effective recipes. As a general guide to help with building meals, explore myplate. gov for tips and recipes to try today. Don’t be afraid of unconventional meals – everyone loves breakfast for dinner! Remember, for frozen foods and foods with a longer shelf life, buying in bulk often means cost savings in the long run.
Early March in Memphis is still pretty chilly, and the winter months can make good fresh produce more difficult to find. Frozen and canned fruits and vegetables hold much (if not slightly more) of the same nutritional value as fresh fruits and vegetables! As a bonus, these frozen items are often cheaper with a significantly longer shelf-life. March is also a great month for incorporating arugula into your salad greens, antioxidant-rich garlic into your recipes, a colorful burst of radishes, and earthy mushrooms into meals.
Jennifer Bookout RDN, LDN is a nutrition therapist at Memphis Nutrition Group, a nutrition and lifestyle counseling practice offering in-person and virtual nutrition therapy specializing in a non-diet, weight-neutral approach. Memphis Nutrition Group helps individuals reconnect with their bodies, find confidence and clarity in everyday choices, and create a peaceful, balanced approach to food that tastes good and feels even better. Contact Memphis Nutrition Group at 901.343.6146 or visit MemphisNutritionGroup.com for more information.
