Fresh Focus #49: Myth - Eating Healthy is too Expensive

Eating healthy is just too expensive. If you have said or thought this exact statement, we as dietitians want to be able to help sort things and come up with the best plan. In episode #49, Healthy Teaching Kitchen Dietitian Abbie Spiwak, shares some common strategies for cost-effective nutrition.
Nutrition advice is anywhere and everywhere these days. The information can be overwhelming to sift through. Here at the Fresh Focus podcast we thought it would be a great time to review some common nutrition myths. We will be going through several nutrition topics and diving in more to help all of you out there listening. In our Myth Busters series, we invited Abbie Spiwak, RDN, to chat about a common myth she hears in her Healthy Teaching Cooking class, and a few strategies to help combat it when you have a similar feeling.  
 
Myth:  Eating Healthy is just too Expensive.   
 
We know everyone thinks this from time to time. That’s why the VA Dietitians want to help sort things out, and come up with the best plan. In episode 49, we review three strategies to help make healthy eating changes and those can help us understand how to add some healthier food choices to our meals and snacks.
 
1.       Recipe Selection/Replacement: Look for recipes with similar ingredients to help build our weekly meal plan. Replace ingredients in recipes with alternative ingredients we already have available at home, instead of purchasing extra items you may end of wasting.
 
2.      Food Budgeting: Divide up our grocery store trips along with planning the food budget for the month. If grocery shopping twice a month, make sure we aren’t buying all fresh items on the first trip as they wont last all month.   
 
3.      Time Management: Look at the calendar. If we will not be home, don’t plan for an evening meal that takes extra time to prepare. Try a slow cooker meal for that evening. Or if you have an early appointment the next day try preparing Crustless Quiche Muffins to have on hand for a delicious grab and go breakfast on your way out the door. 
 
Check out HTK YouTube channel for more great recipe ideas! Contact your local VA Dietitian to help assist and guide to better prepare for success with reaching nutrition and lifestyle goals.