Piedmont shares tips during National Nutrition Month

Emelina Carranza, a clinical registered dietitian at Piedmont Macon, shares tips for eating healthy on a budget.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Piedmont Macon is sharing tips during National Nutrition Month to help people eat healthy while staying on a budget.

Emelina Carranza, a clinical registered dietitian at Piedmont Macon, says people should check what is already in their refrigerator before grocery shopping to save money and avoid waste. She recommends making a list of items on hand, identifying what is needed and then creating a grocery list. Carranza also advises against shopping while hungry to prevent unnecessary purchases.

Carranza says to keep meals simple when planning.

“Think of your protein source, your veggie, mainly the non-starchy vegetable, your starch, your carb,” says Carranza.

She adds that meals can be enhanced with sauces or kept simple by using herbs, lemon juice, vinegar or garlic for added flavor.

Carranza says consumers can also save money by checking the price per unit when shopping and recommends choosing foods that provide nutritional value rather than sugary items.

“Foods that are higher in protein, fiber, healthy fats,” says Carranza. “Those foods with more added sugar, sodium, they tend to not do too much for our bodies typically and we get hungry soon after we typically eat them.”

Carranza recommends affordable, nutritious options such as eggs, canned tuna, peanuts, beans, whole-wheat bread and rice.