By Jennifer Huddy
Special to the Reporter
With the holidays and seasonal parties, reunions and gatherings, budgeting for food and eating healthy are real challenges. Many people struggle daily to find affordable, healthy food options and this becomes more difficult when trying to feed a holiday crowd.
Depending on where you live, you could face disparities in price, store availability, access to a variety of selections and the best value for your money.
I have found these simple tips to be helpful:
Shop early and make a list
Get to the grocery store early in the day to beat the crowds. Remember to take advantage of store coupons or promotions on seasonal and holiday items. Also, take a list of items you need — this will help you to stay focused and to buy only what you must have. Sticking to your list will reduce food waste. Food wasted is money wasted.
Buy store brand labels vs. name brands
Be sure to compare store brands to name brand products when possible. Check the ingredients too. I recommend buying name-brand products for items like your favorite gourmet crackers or olives only when you know they will taste better than generic brands. If the price is right, buy store-brand products for ingredients in which differences in taste and quality are not noticeable. You may save money while creating a healthy and tasty holiday dish.
Compare prices of fresh vs. frozen
Although many of us prefer fresh produce, remember that frozen and canned versions can be fine substitutes for fresh. To save money, compare prices and think about whether there’s a big difference in taste or quality.
When shopping for frozen or canned vegetables, read nutrition labels and select options that do not contain added salt or sauces. These items will be comparable to fresh and you can add your own seasonings.
Also, keep in mind that in-season fruits and vegetables are usually more affordable than out-of-season products.
Frozen and canned options will last longer than fresh and save you from having to throw away produce that goes bad when it is not eaten soon enough.
Go ‘plant-based’
Another way to possibly save money is by choosing plant-based main and side dishes over meat-based options. For example, beans and lentils are much more affordable protein sources than most meats. Plus, they are delicious and contain a lot of fiber, which is satisfying and may reduce the temptation to eat less-healthy snacks between meals.
Check out these fun recipes for hummus, lentils and vegetarian stuffing:
• Holiday Hummus Wreath: https://californiagoldminer.com/recipe/holiday-hummus-wreath
• Lentil Loaf: https://itdoesnttastelikechicken.com/puff-pastry-wrapped-lentil-loaf/
• Vegetarian Stuffing: https://thefoodcharlatan.com/butternut-cranberry-lentil-stuffing-recipe/
Make your party a potluck
Skip cooking the entire meal and turn your holiday party into a potluck. Let everyone participate in the fun. This will cut down on costs and you can enjoy the variety of everyone’s dishes.
A great trick to keep the party menu healthy is to assign a main or side dish for each guest to bring. Also, suggest the items they bring should be health-conscious (i.e., plant-based, high-fiber) and food allergy-sensitive. Ask your guests if they have food allergies or intolerances — for example, nuts, gluten, dairy — and share this information with your potluck participants.
By following these tips, you can provide your family and friends with food for the holidays that tastes good and adds to the enjoyment of the season.
Jennifer Huddy is a registered dietitian at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle. Visit Virginia Mason Nutrition Services online.
