Your Child's Health - Archive

Also in this issue: Teach Your Child the Goal of Sports Too Many Ear Infections? Prevent Household Poisonings Dealing With Dental Injuries Register to be a bone marrow donor NEWSLETTER HOME PAGE		Eating Healthy on a Budget Your child’s nutrition still matters in today’s struggling economy Providing a healthy diet for your child may require some planning and creativity, but the good news is that healthy food does not necessarily have to be more expensive. One reason many people think healthy items cost more is they associate healthy foods with items that are prepared in advance. Packaged salads and frozen dinners are more expensive because the price includes labor – not because the contents are healthier. “The key is planning,” says Annette Cole, director of Clinical Nutrition at Children’s Medical Center. “If you don’t plan in advance, that is when you begin straying away from the budget idea and start buying pre-packaged or processed items that are quick fixes. The real trick to eating healthy on a budget is buying food you can make yourself, which also happens to be the key to eating healthy.” Planning saves time In addition to planning your grocery shopping trips, it is important to plan meals in advance. Making a meal from fresh ingredients requires less time when all the ingredients and recipes are available before preparation time. Cole suggests creating a schedule for the upcoming week’s meals and then shopping for the ingredients to those meals on the weekend. Another way to save time preparing meals is to buy foods that can be multi-purposed. The roasted chicken that you eat with rice and peas one night will yield leftovers that can be used in pasta the following night. Chopped lettuce can be used for a sandwich at lunch and for salad at dinner.  “No one is perfect,” says Cole. “You’re not going to be Martha Stewart tomorrow, but if you move in the right direction, it’s a start. Eating healthy on a budget involves planning, organizing and thinking it through, but once you develop a system, it does become easier.” Five tips to eating healthy on a budget: Cut coupons. Buy fresh, unprepared foods. Make your own meals. Re-use or freeze leftovers. Buy fruits and vegetables in bulk when on sale. Resources Children’s Health Library: Nutrition Events Want to learn more about proper nutrition in a fun and interactive environment? Join us for the Kids in the Kitchen event, April 18 at Children's Legacy in Plano. Last reviewed: April 2009		Find a Doctor Find a Speciality & Service Support Children's About Children's childrens.com
The health information presented in this email newsletter is intended for information purposes only and is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional. This information should not be used to treat or diagnose a health condition. Always seek advice from a trained healthcare provider. Thank You! For more health information, visit our comprehensive health library.