During tough times families can find it increasingly difficult to prepare cost-friendly meals. The SNAP-Ed Connection provides tools and resources to health educators that help dispel low income families make healthy eating an attainable goal. One of those tools is the recipe finder, an online tool that allows you to quickly locate pre-analyzed and budget-friendly recipes that may support your nutrition education goals or lesson plans. Over 600 healthy recipes are right at your fingertips!
The recipe database also contains over 100 healthy takes on kid-friendly treats such as Baked Chicken Nuggets and Chocolate Chip Cookies, as well as recipes for the more sophisticated palate, including Mediterranean Roasted Eggplant and Peanutty African Stew . Most recipes were written by SNAP educators and nutritionists, however all users are encouraged to submit delicious and healthy recipes of their own.
The recipe finder is a great resource for discovering creative ways to use leftovers, and for finding low-cost proteins, one-pot meals, and dishes that use a limited number of commonly-found ingredients. Recipes that can be prepared in 30 minutes or less may provide busy moms and dads motivation to "eat-in" instead of grabbing food on the run. Eating in can save time and money plus improve the nutritional quality of your diet.
In addition to a full nutritional breakdown, each recipe includes an estimated total cost and cost per serving so that SNAP-eligible participants can budget wisely and prepare inexpensive meals. The cost of the recipes may be used to discuss food budgeting skills as a supplement to an existing lesson plan.
Recipes are also categorized by cuisine and can be printed or stored in a recipe file for later reference. Shopping lists that include all recipe ingredients are automatically generated when a user selects a recipe to prepare.
Recipes that are ready in 30 minutes or less may help the reluctant cook "eat-in" versus grabbing food on the run; possibly saving time, money and increasing the nutrient quality of the diet. Each recipe includes an estimated cost to help SNAP eligible participants budget wisely and prepare inexpensive meals. The cost of the recipes may be used to discuss food budgeting skills as a supplement to an existing lesson plan. In addition to the SNAP-Ed recipe database, health educators and SNAP participants can find more ideas how to stretch food dollars here:
30 Ways in 30 Days To Stretch Your Food and Vegetable Budget
Eat Right When Money’s Tight (webinar)
Eat Right When Money’s Tight (tip sheet)
Manage Your Food Dollars Wisely
Supermarket Savings: Six Tips That Can Total Big Bucks