Healthy Tips
How to Shop, Cook, and Eat Healthier
Healthy eating and cooking are habits that can improve your health. Making fruits and vegetables a staple in your diet is also an important step toward a healthier lifestyle.
Grocery Shopping Tips
Before you go shopping:
- Check what food you already have and brainstorm how you can incorporate it and other leftovers into new meals.
- For example: Add new fruits and vegetables to leftovers to create new meals
- Think about new healthy recipes you and your family might want to try.
- Schedule what you plan to make for the week.
- Planning ahead can help with busy days.
- Make a shopping list
- Organize the list into different categories either by food group or recipe/meal.
While shopping:
- Stick to your shopping list and try not to make any impulse purchases.
- Avoid junk food, candy, processed food aisles.
- Buy fresh fruits and vegetables that are in season.
- Maximize your budget
- Look for deals or items that are on sale.
What can you get with a $5 V4V Voucher?
1 mango ($1.00), 2 pieces of corn ($1.00), 1 bundle of celery ($1.99), and 3 carrots ($1.00)
Please note that prices may vary by store location. Check your local store or farmer’s market for current prices. Please visit our partner site EatFresh.org to view other healthy eating and shopping tips.
Fruit & Vegetable Tips
How to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet:
- Pick fruits and vegetables that are in season. Fruits and vegetables that are in season will taste better and be more affordable.
- Consider buying frozen fruits and vegetables, especially when not in season.
- Make sure to eat fruits and vegetables with every meal.
- Roast a pan of vegetables and then add them to any meal.
- Make sure 1/2 of your plate is composed of fruits and vegetables.
- Try switching up your daily snacks and trading some for fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Place fruits and vegetables within reach so it encourages and reminds you to eat them more often.
Please consult your doctor or health care provider if you have specific health related concerns or questions.
Cooking Tips
- Cook meals ahead of time to allow for busy days.
- Add more vegetables to recipes to create larger batches and stretch meals.
- Use leftovers to make new meals. For example, chop up a previously roasted chicken and add it to a stir fry.
- Roast a pan of vegetables and add them to different meals.
- Give enough time to fully defrost your frozen item.
Healthy Eating Tips
Families that eat together tend to eat more fruits and vegetables. Family meals are also an important time to share and talk. Use these tips to eat together more as a family.
- Set a doable goal for eating meals together – it’s okay if your family is not able to eat together every day!
- Plan when your family will eat together- set dates and times on your calendar so there’s a clear plan in place.
- Focus on each other -try to remove distractions when eating.
- Try new foods as a family.
