Eating on a Budget
Eating nutritious, satisfying meals doesn't have to be expensive. Senior nutrition programs can provide older adults with tips on how to buy, store, and prepare food in a way that maximizes their budget.
Tools & Toolkits
- Thumbs Up for Healthy Choices in Food Pantries— Utah State University Extension toolkit
- Collection of Nutrition Education Resources— Links and archives from Greater Wisconsin
Agency on Aging Resources, including Beneficial Bites and Eat Well, Age Well - Discover Foods— EatFresh.org advice for buying, storing, and cooking various foods
- Eating Healthy on a Budget— Health and Human Services handout
- Making Every Dollar Count— Course on managing money from the University of California Cooperative Extension
- Grocery Budget Calculator— Tool from Iowa State University
Spend Smart. Eat Smart
- Spend Smart. Eat Smart— Strategies to get more for your money from Iowa State University Extension
- Dairy
- Fruits
- Grains
- Protein
- Vegetables and more
- Cook at Home— Cooking tips and terminology from Iowa State University Extension
MyPlate Fact Sheets
- Eat Healthy on a Budget — Benefits and tips on healthy eating
- Kitchen Time Savers — Practical tips for efficient meal preparation
- Make a Meal Plan— Meal planning tips to organize, save money, and choose healthy options
- Shop Smart— Tips to buy budget-friendly and healthy options from each food group
- Stretching a Holiday Food Budget— Tips from USDA's MyPlate Holiday Makeover series
SNAP-Ed Resources
- Eat Right When Money’s Tight— Resources for making healthy food choices on a tight budget
- Healthy, Thrifty, Holiday Menus — SNAP-Ed Connection recipes
- Seasonal Produce Guide — Guide on in-season fruits and vegetables
Quick Guides
- Are Canned Foods Nutritious for My Family?— Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics considerations for including canned foods in your diet
- Shelf-stable Foods— Fact sheet about canned vegetables from Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources (GWaar)
- Eating on a Budget — Tips to help your grocery money last longer
- Building a Garden at Home— Porch article on growing your own food
- Best Practices for Reusable Grocery Bags—Virginia Cooperative Extension on food safety and care with reusable grocery bags