Eating Healthy in a Tough Economy!

World Environment Day 2013  THINK.EAT.SAVE

·         ~Happy World Environment Day! This year’s theme is THINK EAT SAVE~ Crazy food lady's breakdown: Think=use Choose MyPlate to guide your decisions EAT=Eat together as a family SAVE=Nothing goes to waste!  Leftovers can safely be eaten for 4 days, then freeze it and take it out for a stress free meal later on!  Catch some outdoor time and get your 30 minutes of exercise for the adults in your home and 60 minutes for your kids.  Eat healthy and love your family!

 

 

 

 

Our community is not unlike any other community, there are opportunities to share food.  If you have a large picnic or gathering this summer and you find yourself with too much food, share with others.  Check your local food pantries and shelters to see if they have a need for leftovers.   In 2011, according to the Feeding America website, 50.1 million Americans live in food insecure households. http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-facts/hunger-and-poverty-statistics.aspx

 

 It becomes very much a challenge during the summer for families when free and reduced lunches are not readily available for children.  When planning meals, be sure to plan for leftovers.  Often times, leftovers are a wonderful easy lunch for your family.  Cooking from scratch and selecting fruits and vegetables in season as well as being aware of food prices in your local store and using coupons when appropriate are all great ways of eating healthy on a tight budget.

 

Practicing the concepts of THINK EAT and SAVE is a great lesson for families.  If you are a family that is living in a daily situation of food insecurity, not having enough resources for food monthly, check into your communities local food banks and food pantries.  Also, be sure to apply for SNAP benefits.  Here in Nebraska, you need to do this through Access Nebraska http://dhhs.ne.gov/Children_Family_Services/AccessNebraska/Pages/accessnebraska_index.aspx

Remember, if you have a change in income or living situations, it is well worth your time to go through this process to see if your family qualifies.

 

Today is one day of many to come, so the idea of World Environment Day is a great way to be mindful of our planet, but we should be mindful of it everyday!

 

 as a family SAVE=Nothing goes to waste! Leftovers can be used safely for 4 days and then, freeze it! Take it out in a few weeks and you have a wonderful, stress free meal!~ Catch some outdoor time and get your 30 minutes of working out, eat healthy, and love your family~H

Enjoy Your World Environment Day today and Everyday!  Remember, THINK EAT SAVE!!