Healthy foods on a budget

Healthy foods on a budget




Want to fill your plate with delicious, healthy foods without breaking the bank? Good Food on a Tight Budget—the first of its kind—lists foods that are good for you, easy on your wallet and good for the planet.

Environmental Working Group’s health experts have chosen them based on an in-depth review of
government surveys and tests for nearly 1,200 foods.


BEFORE You Shop
■ Plan and save. Make a meal plan and shopping list . Use the food you have and the deals you find in store ads and coupons.
■ Add more fruits and vegetables to your meal plan. Fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables. You can get your 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day for about the cost of a bus ride in most
cities.
■ Add beans and lentils to your meal plan. Pick beans and lentils instead of meat for 2 or more dinners every week – lots of protein for less money.
■ Skip processed foods like frozen pizza, cookies and soda. They usually cost more than fresh, healthy food. Canned foods are convenient, but eat fresh or frozen when you can to lower your
exposure to toxic chemicals.

AT HOME
■ Cook and freeze large batches. Save money by cooking at home more and eating out less. Store food properly and throw less away.
■ Grow your own. You can buy seeds with SNAP dollars. You don’t need a backyard, just some containers, a sunny window and a little soil. Community gardens are often free. Try cherry tomatoes and lettuce first.




Check out www.ewg.org/goodfood