Families are spending more time and money at the grocery store than ever before, comparing prices, quantities, and brands as rising inflation causes purchasing stress for many. In situations like this, it’s easy to feel that quick, highly-processed foods with few nutrients are the only affordable options, but financial and nutrition experts from University of Tennessee Extension advise that it is possible to limit food costs without sacrificing health and nutritional benefits.
“Increased prices on the necessities of life challenge the livelihoods of Tennessee families,” says Christopher T. Sneed, Consumer Economics Specialist and Assistant Professor with UT Extension Family and Consumer Sciences. “Prices are forcing many people in both rural and urban areas to reevaluate normal habits of earning, spending, and saving.”
Sneed suggests that Tennessee residents first take advantage of any benefits they qualify for, such as WIC and SNAP. Use WIC vouchers for allowed foods and SNAP dollars for foods that cannot be purchased with vouchers. Budget SNAP benefits so that they last for the entire month. Limiting trips to the grocery store can help with this, as multiple trips means spending more, both in dollars and in minutes.
Before heading to the grocery store, Sneed also advises that shoppers should determine what they have on hand already, create a shopping list, and determine how much they plan to spend. Checking for advertised sales, specials, and coupons for foods that are already on the shopping list and using a calculator while shopping can help shoppers stick to their budget.
Kristen Johnson, a UT Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Assistant Professor and Nutrition Specialist, adds that shoppers can compare prices on canned, frozen, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Frozen and canned fruits and vegetables are full of nutrients, are often more affordable, and have longer shelf lives, which leads to money savings and less food waste.
“Look in your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer and take stock of what you already have before heading to the store,” says Johnson. “Then, use this information and spend some time to plan the meals you will serve the upcoming week. Incorporate foods that need to be used quickly before they spoil into your meal plan, and then use the meal plan to develop your grocery list for shopping.” Johnson advises that incorporating a variety of protein foods into your meal plan can help stretch food budgets as well. Items like canned and dried beans, chickpeas, eggs, peanut butter, canned fish, and both silken tofu and firm tofu are delicious, nutritious, and affordable protein foods available in most grocery stores.
Several UT Extension publications also provide additional guidance in these areas. Stretching Your Food Resources D 85 Stretching Your SNAP Benefits D 86 Load Up Your Digital Grocery Cart D 133
If you or your family are struggling with food insecurity due to inflation, contact Mary Parker Draper at the UT Extension office in Smith County at 615-735-2900 for information on local resources, such as food pantries and classes that can help you meet your nutritional needs without sacrificing financial well-being.
Through its land-grant mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. utia.tennessee.http://utia.tennessee.edu.edu.
Peanut Butter No-Bake Cornflake Cookies
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 cups corn flakes
In a large saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and peanut butter. Cook over medium high heat until center starts to boil. Make sure to stir constantly so the sugar doesn’t burn! As soon as the sugar mixture comes to a boil, remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and corn flakes. Mix until corn flakes are evenly coated in sugar mixture. Use an ice cream scoop to drop cookies onto parchment or wax paper as quickly as possible before mixture starts to cool and harden. Let cool on wax paper for 20 to 30 minutes before enjoying. Submitted by Karen Patterson, Riddleton FCE Club.
