Save Money, Energy & Your Health by Eating More Fruits & Veggies

We talk a lot about saving money at the grocery store, but meal planning and couponing doesn’t just have to be about dollar signs. You’re already planning out meals, why not plan to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your meals to save your family’s health as well? It’s much easier than you might think!

Shape Your Future, the Oklahoma Health Improvement Plan Obesity Work Group and the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust have partnered with Fruits & Veggies—More Matters as a resource to make it easier for individuals and families to get more fruits and vegetables into their daily routine.

Here are 10 great and easy tips for planning and shopping for your meals, and, don’t forget, whether it is fresh, frozen, canned or locally grown, adding any fruits or vegetables benefits you:

• Dried  fruits – Take advantage of the vast assortment of dried fruits available and dress up your cereal or salads, or simply enjoy as a snack.
• Leftovers – Re-create leftovers to make a whole new meal. Use them in wraps or sandwiches, for quesadillas, in casseroles or with pasta.
• Convenience – Pick up some frozen or canned fruits and vegetables for later in the week or for busy nights.
• Experiment – Try new fruit or vegetables or prepare a familiar one in a different way.
• Seasoning  Combinations – Buy plain (unseasoned) frozen vegetables and create seasoning combinations using herbs, lemon juice, or garlic to keep out the fat and salt.
• 100%  Juice – Look for fruit and vegetable juices that say 1005 juice!
• Smoothies  for Breakfast – Frozen fruit makes great smoothies for a breakfast or on the run.
• Easy  to Grab & Go – Fill up that fruit bowl so you and your family can grab and go.
• Meatless  Meals – Plan one or more meatless meals for the week – there are endless possibilities for using dried or canned beans. They’re cheap too! Check out the variety in your store.
• Make  More – Plan for leftovers so you have a ready meal.

You can also find over 1,000 ways to serve fruits and vegetables into your diet on the site, including meal planning, ways to serve, recipes, growing your own and buying locally.

For more information about incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet, including meal planning, ways to serve, recipes, growing your own and buying local, or National Nutrition Month initiatives, visit www.ShapeYourFutureOK.com and www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org.

This post is sponsored by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust.