Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute
Food and Nutrition Resources
Plan Meals at the Start of the Week
Choose a day to plan out meals for the week and make a grocery list specifically for those meals. Check your cupboards and refrigerator before heading to the grocery to make sure you don’t buy items you already have.
Use Frozen or Canned Fruits and Veggies
Frozen and canned fruits and vegetables can be as healthy as fresh options. For vegetables, avoid frozen veggies with sauces and drain liquid and rinse canned options to remove any extra sodium. For canned or frozen vegetables, check the sugar content and rinse those packed in juice or syrup before serving.
Replace meat with other healthy proteins
Meat is often one of the most expensive items on your grocery list. Save money by replacing meat in your favorite family meals using beans, eggs, or canned fish or removing the meat all together.
Pass on expensive convenience foods
You can save money if you are willing to do more prep work. For example, if you buy a full chicken and cut it into parts, it will cost less than buying boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Buy a block of cheese and shred it yourself instead of buying shredded cheese.
Take Advantage of Area Food Resources
Rhode Island has a lot of resources to help residents access healthy, affordable foods. Here are several different programs you and your family may qualify for:
URL SNAP-ED
SNAP:
Double your SNAP dollars by purchasing Fruits & veggies at Farmer’s Markets