MetroFamily Magazine May June 2022

Don’t skip the freezer section. Find budget-friendly fruits perfect for smoothies, plus vegetables for soup, stir fry and more in the freezer section. Frozen fruits and vegetables tend to be about half the price of the fresh varieties and have a much longer shelf life. Robinson transfers fresh fruits to her freezer at home to save money, too. “When fruits like pineapple, bananas or berries are close to going bad, I put them in the freezer to use for smoothies later,” said Robinson. Find more ideas on how to cook with frozen fruits and veggies at shapeyourfutureok.com/4-reasons-frozen- veggies-are-the-coolest. Get creative with staple ingredients. Buying in bulk is a tried-and-true way to stretch a budget, and simple ingredients like sweet potatoes, onions, peppers and brown rice can be used in a variety of recipes. Robinson uses this strategy for snacks, too. “My kids always seem to be hungry as soon as we get in the car,” said Robinson. She buys healthy snacks like fruit, cereal and graham crackers and makes easy grab-and-go portions for the week. Always have an easy backup on hand. Because life happens (like forgetting to thaw an important ingredient or someone announcing they have a big school project due the next day), stock up on simple, easy-to-make meals you can throw together in a pinch.

“I always keep two or three quick meals on hand so we are less likely to eat out,” said Robinson. Shape Your Future has 30-plus recipes that take 20 minutes or less to make including crispy oven fries and easy egg drop noodle soup. Peruse all the options at shapeyourfutureok.com/tag/20-minutes-or-less. Don’t skimp on flavor. Food is meant to be enjoyed! Incorporate variety and boost your flavors with affordable seasonings: 1. Italian seasoning: pairs well with potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini and roasted turkey or chicken 2. Chili powder: pairs well with onions, bell peppers, sweet potatoes and low-fat ground meats 3. Garlic powder: pairs well with avocado, cauliflower, asparagus, chicken and salmon

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Find more great ideas to stretch your food budget without sacrificing nutrition at ShapeYourFutureOK.com.