Eating healthy doesn’t have to break the bank

Tackling food insecurity

As we all know, a well-balanced, nutritious diet is important for our overall health. For those diagnosed with malnutrition, it is vital. The inability to access recommended foods whether it is due to factors such as lack of transport and/or location is known as food insecurity. Food insecurity is one barrier for those overcoming a malnutrition diagnosis.

Budget and the rising cost of foods are also factors leading to food insecurity. Here are some tips to help buy healthier foods without overspending.

• See what is on sale this week and base your planned meals on things you already have at home and what is on sale. Go through your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry to see what you already have in stock and what else you may need.
• Cook once, eat twice. Prepare multiple servings to have for several days during the week. This will reduce the amount of ingredients needed on your grocery list and the number of meals needed to prepare.
• Buy produce when it is in season. In-season fresh fruits and vegetables are often cheaper and have better quality compared to off-season produce.
• Try swapping meat proteins for eggs or beans to make “meatless meals” a couple times a week. If buying canned beans, buy options labeled as “no added salt” or “reduced sodium”. Drain and rinse before use.

For more tips and tricks to save money at the store, please view the “Eating Healthy on a Budget” handout in the OSU Patient Education Library.

Community resources

Whether a patient lives in the Columbus-area or outside of it, there are ways to connect them with resources to prevent food insecurity. Please visit these sites for more information:

• Fresh Trak
• Findhelp.com
• Meals on Wheels
• Mid-Ohio Food Collective

See links below for places you can eliminate malnutrition by donating, volunteering, and supporting initiatives focused on tackling food insecurity.

• Besa
• Rescuing Leftover Cuisine
• Policies tackling food insecurity:
  • Home and Community-Based Services 1915(c) Waiver
  • Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver) and/or a State Plan Amendment (SPA)

Hub post contributed by: Devon Wagner, RD, LD, MS

References:

1. The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Eating Healthy on a Budget. Published online 2008. go.osu.edu/pted116