According the U.S. Department of Labor, food costs have been rising an average of 5 percent per year. Low-calorie food options also have increased about 19.5 cents per year, according to a report by the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
An easy way to eat healthy and keep grocery costs down is to focus on vegetables and fruits, said Robert Murray, a faculty member at the Ohio State University College of Medicine.
Buying frozen or canned food can save money. And, since preservation methods have improved dramatically, the nutritional quality of …

(NAPSI)-If the rising cost of food is taking a big bite out of your family’s budget, you’re not alone. Although the high cost of food is not expected to come down, you shouldn’t have to give up the taste and quality you and your family are used to.
Don’t worry. Making smart choices will allow you to keep your family happy. Buying frozen meals, side dishes and vegetables can provide great-tasting, high-quality foods for a fraction of the cost of dining out or fast food options.
Here are some tips to help …

The nonprofit Environmental Working Group studied 47 fruits and vegetables and ranked them according to contamination.
You can get the iphone app of this list or a .pdf at their web site.
Use the list when you shop to determine which organic produce you should be buying.

With a new year often comes a new resolution to eat better and make healthier choices. But as the economy continues to struggle, many parents are left wondering how to provide healthy food options while shopping on a budget. Although nutrient-dense foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, are often more costly than less healthful options, there are ways families can pull the purse strings tighter without compromising on nutrition.
“Even though many families will be shopping on a budget in the new year, nutrition doesn’t necessarily have to come …

(ARA) – While the days of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches may be a distant childhood memory, the “brown bag” lunch is once again becoming a popular fixture on the office desk.  With recent economic factors influencing food purchases, America is looking to the brown bag to save a few bucks. According to a new study from the market research firm NPD Group, weekday packed lunches among adults reached a new high in 2007, and this trend is expected to continue.
But “bagging it” doesn’t have to mean a boring turkey …