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Eating Healthy on a Budget

Cut Costs While You Shop Without Sacrificing Health

By Cheryl Loux

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Making a Smooth Transition
Make the transition to healthier eating smoother by allowing your children to choose some of the foods your family eats. This can be an exciting adventure for your family.

"Get your kids involved in the meal planning process," Peck says. "Ask them what they want to eat." You can give your child a choice of, for example, strawberries or bananas. Peck also suggests letting your children choose a fruit or vegetable they've never had before. This is a wonderful benefit because it helps them discover new foods on their own. Just remember make it fun!

Involving your children in meal preparations is also beneficial. Toddlers can help make a salad by tearing lettuce into little pieces. Older children can grate cheese or carrots. Allowing your children to assist in the kitchen during meal preparation helps them take an active role in the transition to better eating.

"We have our children take turns helping put groceries away, get items needed for meal preparation, make drinks and set the table,"Jones says. "We're trying to teach them that it takes a lot of time and preparation to feed our family and everyone can help out. It's part of being a family we're here to serve each other."

Tips to Help You Save

Keep these tips in mind to help save money:

  • Prepare home-cooked meals.
  • Drink water instead of sodas.
  • Buy fresh, in-season produce.
  • Canned fruits and vegetables are healthy and can be rinsed.
  • Grow your own vegetables.
  • Prepare a grocery list before you shop to help save you time in the store.
  • Use a calendar to help plan your meals weekly.
  • Get your kids involved in preparing family meals and have fun.

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