National Nutrition Month

Did you know that you can stay nourished on any budget? Abby Bishop, WIC Program Supervisor, shared important information with us in honor of National Nutrition Month. Key points discussed in her presentation included:

• Learn cooking, food preparation and meal planning skills.
• Use a grocery list and shop sales when purchasing food.
• Learn about community resources such as SNAP, WIC and local food banks.
• Practice home food safety.

It’s so important to also eat foods from a variety of food groups. Families can do this by including your favorite cultural foods and traditions. Eating foods in various forms including fresh, frozen, canned and dried. My kiddos love dried mangos! You can also create a challenge for your family and pick a fruit that you can find fresh, frozen, canned and dried and decide as a family which one you love best. One item that comes to mind that you can find in each form is apples!

You can also experiment with recipes using different ingredients. We’ve made sloppy joes with lentils as our protein and my family loved them. Lastly, you can also try new foods or global cuisines. Did you know that if you try a food item from Trader Joe’s and you don’t like it you can return to Trader Joe’s for a refund? Get out there and experiment!

In addition, she shared that we could do the following:

• Get creative with leftovers and ways to reduce food waste.
• Enjoy more plant-based meals and snacks.
• Buy foods in season and from local farmers when possible.
• Grow food at home or in a community garden.

One of my favorite in season vegetables during the summer is corn on the cob! One of my children when they were younger called it “cornamacobb.” I can go through 4-5 on my own in one sitting if it is sweet and fresh with no butter or salt!

This summer is the perfect time to try a new food or recipe!