SNAP-Ed Connection

More In My Basket

The holiday season is approaching! You may be planning a celebration for friends and family in one big group or smaller gatherings. Regardless of the venue, starting holiday meal preparation is never too early.

If left to the last minute, meal planning can be a challenge.

No matter if you are having a dinner for one or ten. Planning your menu ensures all your favorite dishes are included and spent smarter. You will also shop more efficiently and decrease costs by avoiding unnecessary purchases.

Here are some tips you should follow to guarantee that you have a much easier time buying and prepping food.

Plan ahead

Do not wait until the week before a holiday to start planning and deciding what you want to make for your family.  Allot time to look for sales or coupons both online and at local stores, to maximize your food budget.You should also take note of everything you already have at home, so that you only buy the ingredients necessary to complete the dishes.

Save time on cooking

Buy frozen and canned goods to help save time in the kitchen. Fresh fruits and vegetables are a great addition to your plate but buying them frozen or canned is just as good for your health as they retain the same nutrients.Moreover, depending on the season, it may be cheaper to buy frozen or canned produce versus fresh ones.

Be flexible about your meat choice

Although tradition may dictate you buy a certain type of meat, your food budget may require you to do otherwise. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), dishes that include meat usually account for 40% of the cost of food for a small gathering.

Inexpensive meats for this time of year include a whole roasted chicken or lean pork roast. The USDA also states that frozen meats also cost less.

Again, make sure to spend some time considering your food budget and deciding how much you can spend this holiday season. You can adjust your dishes accordingly.

Invite others to bring food

If you are celebrating the holidays with friends and family, a good way to guarantee everyone saves is to have a potluck for your holiday meal turn your holiday meal into a potluck. Not only will it be fun to try different dishes, but it also helps save time in the kitchen.Discuss with everyone what you would like to have served and divide the responsibilities either by types of dishes (main dish, dessert, sides) or by each person’s specialty.

Make it yourself

Although it might be tempting to purchase ready-to-go foods at the store and not have to worry about cooking it from scratch, this choice will most likely cost you more money. Choosing to make a dish yourself may be more time-consuming, but it is also a better way to control the amount of salt, fat and sugar that is added to the food.Cooking should also not be a lonely task. Request help in the kitchen by giving your family age-appropriate tasks, such as asking your spouse to cut the vegetables and children to prepare the cookie dough.

Be creative with leftovers

On the week you prepare a big holiday meal, stretch your food dollars with leftovers for the week’s meals. There are many ways to incorporate leftovers in different meals such as using meat and vegetables for a soup or a sandwich.Just keep in mind that leftovers should not be in your fridge for longer than four days.

Take advantage of local resources

Another great way to stretch your budget is to find local resources. There are many organizations that support families during the holiday season such as churches, food banks and private groups.In North Carolina, you can find out about available resources in your city by calling the NC 211 line at 2-1-1 or visiting their website at nc211.org.

Use your SNAP/FNS benefits

SNAP can be very beneficial to you this time of year. SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and was formerly known as Food Stamps. In North Carolina, this program is called Food and Nutrition Services (FNS).U.S. Department of Agriculture

To find out if you are eligible for SNAP or to apply for the program, you can contact the More In My Basket (MIMB) team.  MIMB assists North Carolina residents over the phone and can help answer any questions you have. Call them today at 1-855-240-1451 or visit their website at morefood.org. They offer SNAP assistance in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Information accessed at: USDA.gov - Stretching Holiday Food Budget During Busy Holiday Season