Saving money tips- buying healthy fruits and vegetables on a budget

Tips on Fruits and Vegetables for Budget Shopping

Visit your local farmer market- find Farmer's Markets near you here!

It's a fun way for kids to learn more about how food grows, introduce them and let them explore new food, and even meet some farmers.Let the kids explore new foods and maybe even give them a few dollars to choose their own produce.

You'll find great in-season fruits and vegetables and some baked goods or homemade butters or jams. Studies have shown that most produce can be bought for a cheaper price at farmer's markets,  and most people agree it is fresher and tastes better too!

Shopping at your local farmer's market also supports the local community, boosts the economy and reduces the carbon footprint for transporting food. If you've never visited your farmer's market the summer is a perfect time to check one out! If you and your child enjoy the outing,  you may make it a weekly tradition to go the market together and explore the local offerings then bring the goodies home to cook a new dish together.

Before you go to the grocery store:

• Look for savings and coupons. Plan on buying those fruits and vegetables that are on sale
• Plan your weekly meals and healthy snacks
• Add some low cost and healthy proteins to your shopping list- such as; beans and tofu
• Check your refrigerator for frozen fruits and vegetables that you can use in meals or smoothies
• Keep impulse and hungry shopping under control by making sure you and your child have eaten a healthy meal or snack before leaving home!

• Buy fresh fruits and vegetables in season, they tend to be less expensive.
• Buy whole fruits and vegetables. You pay more for the pre-packaged or pre-cut versions.
• Buy frozen and canned fruits and vegetables.
• Buy generic brands, they tend to cost less and the taste is very similar.
• Buy bulk when possible, they tend to be a better bargain.

• Use the fresh fruits and vegetables within a few days of purchase or freeze them.
• Use the frozen and canned fruits and vegetables later in the week, since it keeps longer.
• Chop up some of the fruits and vegetables and put in a storage container to have quick and easy snacks available.
• Fun quick summer meals and snacks- Try using your fruits for smoothies or vegetables for a quick stir fry meal

Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables

Click here Free Printable - Find Fresh Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables 6 pagePDF that shows what's in season and how to choose the freshest foods. See sample page

You may also be interested in these fun interactive healthy food games from our website:

Harvest Maze Farm Game- Learn about healthy fruits and vegetables- visit an orchard, garden and farm and help Chef Solus collect fruits and vegetables.

Online Food Puzzles: 16 puzzles-  choose from easy to difficult.

Printable Fruit and Vegetable coloring pages

Introduce kids to the Fruit Food Group with this fun learn and color page!

Identify the vegetables and their names worksheet

We have tips,  tools, printables and games so kids can associate being healthy and eating well with fun! That's why our website is 'The Fun Way to Learn About Nutrition'.

We provide free healthy educational tools for kids, parents, teachers, and communities in English or Spanish. Join over 40,000 parents and 5,000 organizations and schools  Sign up- it's fun, educational and free!