Tips: Healthy Eating on a Budget


Thrifty and safe food storage

  • Anytime you cook a meal that can easily be doubled, take the extra half and place it in the freezer.
  • Freeze soup, stock, stews and sauces in quart-sized yogurt containers - a quick and easy dinner!
  • Freeze baked goods like muffins, cookies, and pancakes for quick breakfasts and easy packed lunches.
  • Freeze homemade baby food in ice cube trays. Remove and store in plastic bags in the freezer.
  • Frozen bananas are good in fruit smoothies, banana bread or pudding. Freeze slices on wax paper, then place in freezer bags.
  • To make cooking time go faster and keep food from spoiling, freeze chopped onions, celery, garlic, herbs on wax paper and place in freezer bags.
  • Cheese (shredded or block), milk and nuts can be bought on sale then frozen for later use.
  • Thaw frozen foods overnight in the refrigerator or in the microwave on defrost. Don’t thaw them on the kitchen counter!
refrigerator and freezer


University of Maryland
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UMD Extension
This material was funded by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in cooperation with the
Maryland Department of Human Resources and the University of Maryland.  The University of Maryland Extension
will not discriminate against any person because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability,
religion, ancestry or national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides nutrition assistance to people
with low income. It can help you buy nutritious foods for a better diet. To find out more,
contact the Maryland Department of Human Resources at 1-800-332-6347 or apply online at www.marylandsail.org.