This blog is written by our staff who live throughout the State of Maine. They write tips for shopping, cooking, and eating healthy on a budget.
Whether you are from Kittery, Fort Kent, or anywhere in between, we hope that you will find something useful to help you and your family live healthier lifestyles.
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If you are looking for a way to stretch your budget and improve your family’s nutrition, consider adding more beans to your meals. Beans are convenient, versatile, and lend themselves to many tasty dishes. Beans are also a rich source of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Basic Beans – How to Cook Dried Beans Ingredients… Read more »
Now, what to do with the extra… The abundance of seasonal fruits and vegetables can sometimes be overwhelming during the summer months. We are surrounded by delicious fresh produce – crisp vegetables and juicy fruit. We may accidentally buy more than we can eat and be tempted to throw away (or compost) the excess food…. Read more »
The days are longer and our moods seem brighter. For many of us, that’s reason enough to gather our families and do something fun. Here are some low-cost, healthy activities to try this summer. Have a picnic at a local park or in your backyard Pack a healthy lunch for the family, some cold water,… Read more »
As the seasons change, so do our food cravings. We know that summertime provides a great variety of fresh fruits and vegetables here in Maine, but that isn’t always the case in the long winter season. We like to call winter “soup season,” as we crave warm, comforting meals – like soup – to stave… Read more »
Maine winters can sometimes seem too long and the summers too short. For this reason, it is important to enjoy all this beautiful season has to offer! In peak season – July, August, and September – you can find prices comparable to those in the grocery store. Visiting your local farmers’ market is a great… Read more »
People cannot live on bread alone – we need water too! Water is a vital nutrient during the summer because it acts as the body’s coolant. So stay hydrated with water! Water should be a top priority because it is needed for temperature control, digestion, bringing energy into the cells and helping waste products out…. Read more »
Have you ever heard that Monsters Don’t Eat Broccoli? Or A Fruit is a Suitcase for Seeds? Or how to Eat the Alphabet? Maine SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educators have over 60 nutrition-related read-aloud books to help students across the state learn healthy eating habits. The read-aloud books tell stories about food that are fun and engaging. … Read more »
How does the Easter bunny get hopping so early? With a good breakfast, of course! Without a doubt, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Breakfast means, “Break the fast.” For most of us, the body has gone through the night while we are sleeping (eight or more hours), without any fuel (or… Read more »
With Easter coming up this weekend, many of us are still finalizing Easter plans. If you are still searching for Easter basket ideas, this blog post is here to help with a fresh approach to the tradition. Easter baskets are usually stuffed with sugar-rich chocolates and candy. But we’re hoping to enhance your Easter traditions… Read more »
Today is St. Patrick’s Day, a day of celebration of Irish history and culture. As food is a building block of every culture, I felt inspired to try out a traditional Irish recipe I found on the Maine SNAP-Ed website. Colcannon is a dish made from potatoes with either cabbage or kale and other vegetables… Read more »