Food Budget: What to do as the Economy Sags, Drags and Lags as seen on KCNC TV 9

Nutrition recession: what to do with the food budget as the economy flags, sags and drags.
Prices are way down on the stock market and way up at the grocery store.
Just thinking about it could make you lose your appetite
Provide tips that won’t break the bank and will balance your nutrition budget

Imagine high food prices could put the nation on a diet as people, strapped for cash, tighten their belts and eat and weigh less.
Soaring food prices have the opposite effect -- fatten up the nation.
As price of one food goes up, people buy less of it, but buy other, cheaper food in its place, and cheaper foods tend to have more calories than those with a higher price tag
Finding the best deals on groceries may become more important than buying the groceries they like best, so they may start buying cheap foods they wouldn't otherwise buy.
Quite simply fats and sweets cost less, whereas healthier diets cost more

Shop the perimeter of the grocery store for the bulk of your groceries
This is where most of the basic, fresh and less processed foods are.
Most produce, dairy products, meats, and grain products are usually located on these outer aisles. Often these foods are the most nutrient-rich-that is, they provide a substantial amount of nutrients for their calories.
Then after you shop the outer aisles, dip into the inner aisles for staples that you know you need.

Produce: Nutrient rich and economical ways to give you more nutrients per bite
To save money buy colorful, delicious fresh produce in season
In the winter, think the three “c’s” carrots, collards and cabbage which provide you crunch, color and cost savings
Use dried fruit like raisins
A full fruit serving is only ¼ a cup, and provides plenty of fiber, vitamins and anti-oxidants for your health
At 25 to 30 cents per serving, you economically meet one of your recommended fruit servings, compared to 75 cents to a dollar a serving for fresh fruit in the winter.
Frozen and canned fruit and vegetables are also a nutrient-rich option.
Processed just after they are harvested, they maintain nutrient content
You only take out what you need, storing the rest and decreasing expensive food wastage.

Beverages
Shocking statistic, 84% of teens spend money and drink on a daily basis, sports drinks
Milk with nine essential nutrients, is the best bargain at $0.25 per glass
Compare with sport and energy drinks at one to two dollars per bottle-and usually the bottle is two servings, butt realistically the kids drink it in one sitting

Save on protein foods
With flash frozen foods such as fish and meat, use only the amount you need, reseal the package, and return it to the freezer. Properly stored, there's no waste
When you do buy meat, choose smaller portions of lean cuts.
Use more inexpensive, vegetarian sources such as beans, eggs, tofu, and legumes
Eggs are an excellent, inexpensive source of protein that can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
You could also try using a smaller portion of meat, fish, or poultry and extending the dish with whole grains, beans, eggs, and/or vegetables.
Purchase in the bulk bins

In this economic recession we also face a nutrition recession: People are overwhelmed, overweight and undernourished
We too often buy high-calorie foods (chips, dips, cookies, candy) which are generally cheaper than low-calorie foods as processed foods are cheaper to produce, ship and store
Follow some basic general principles such as: shopping the perimeter of the store, incorporating dried, frozen and canned produce, choosing more nutrient –rich beverages like milk, and less pop and energy drinks, and looking at alternative protein.
It takes an investment of your time and planning, however in these tough economic times, you can still feed your family with nutrient –rich foods while on a budget