Sit back and enjoy food, topics and trends that start on California farms and ranches. take 5
Those of us lucky enough to live in the Golden State don’t have to look far to find tasty, nutrient- dense, farm-fresh foods to incorporate into our daily diets. And just because these foods are pleasing to our taste buds and great for our bodies doesn’t mean they need to be expensive or time-consuming to prepare. Here are a few tips gathered from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and other sources on how to eat nutritiously while saving time and money. Nutrient-rich California
1. Cook at home Cooking at home costs less and can be much more healthful than dining out, ordering takeout or eating packaged frozen dinners because you can control the ingredients. It can actually save time, and even more money, in the long run if you buy ingredients in bulk. This will allow you to double or triple recipes, so you’ll have plenty of leftovers to freeze for future use. Later on, when you come home tired and hungry, you’ll appreciate having some ready meals that need nothing but reheating— and you won’t have to get in the car or pay delivery fees.
2. Make your own snacks Another budget- and health-friendly practice is creating or assembling your snacks. Vending machines are convenient but often are filled with pricey treats that are loaded with sodium, fat or sugar. Healthier options can be expensive in serving-sized packages. To save money, buy yogurt, cottage cheese, nuts or trail mix in large sizes and divide them into smaller containers. Buying whole apples, melons, carrots, celery and other snackable produce and slicing them up yourself is also more economical than packaged, pre-cut produce.
44
Spring 2024
Powered by FlippingBook