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Released: March 06, 2002 Choose Healthy Foods and Manage Food Costs MANHATTAN, Kan. - Healthful foods can – and do – taste good. Believing otherwise may mean that you are short-changing yourself, said Mary Meck Higgins, Kansas State University Research and Extension nutrition educator. Higgins also is a registered dietitian. "Eating is one of life’s pleasures, but choosing a variety of flavorful foods is important for physical and mental health. As an example, whole grain breads, cereals and pastas offer taste and essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber [which aids digestion]," she said. "Choosing health-promoting foods offers immediate benefits, such as increased energy, and long-term benefits, such as the disease-fighting phytochemicals. Knowing that you should choose a variety of foods may not be the same as doing it. It doesn’t have to be difficult," said Higgins, who offered these tips: * Get acquainted with the food guide pyramid, an easy-to-use visual tool that helps you learn more about different food groups and how to choose from them. * Choose a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. * Choose a diet low in saturated fats, and foods prepared with less salt. * Eat moderate amounts of total fat and sugar. * Drink plenty of fluids, including eight or more glasses of water each day. "Water is an essential body fluid – replacing it each day is important to bodily function," she said. * If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation. * Be physically active each day. Thirty or more minutes of exercise four or more days a week is recommended for optimal health. Foods that offer health benefits need not cost more than foods that don’t. For families and individuals who are faced with rising costs – housing, utilities, and medical expenses, for example – and who have limited resources, buying food sometimes is difficult. "Help is available," Higgins said. The Kansas Food Assistance program, also known as the food stamp program, can provide extra money each month to buy food of your choice at the grocery store or to contribute toward meals from a Senior Center. Most senior adults receive a benefit of $10 or more per month. "Ten dollars may not seem like much, but the benefit received each month from the Kansas Food Assistance program would allow people to add an extra serving or two of health-promoting fruits and vegetables each day," Higgins explained. The Kansas Food Assistance program is open to persons of any age who meet program guidelines, such as a limited income and financial resources of up to $3,000 for households where one person is age 60 or older. Resources include cash, checking and saving accounts. Certain resources such as your home and car are not counted. For more information about the food guide pyramid, nutrition, health, and stretching your food dollars, call the local county Extension office. For more information about the Kansas Food Assistance program and programs for senior adults, call the North Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-432-2703; the local county coordinator for aging services; or the Social and Rehabilitation Services office. -30- K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan. Story by: |