Health Net Shares Ways to Maximize Nutrition, Minimize Costs
March 09 2015 - 12:17PM
Business Wire
For National Nutrition Month, here are 10
budget-friendly tips for serving up nutritious and delicious
meals
March is National Nutrition Month, and Health Net, Inc. is
sharing tips designed to help consumers serve up nutritious meals
while simultaneously stretching their dollars.
“The goal of National Nutrition Month is to help increase
awareness about the importance of making informed food choices,”
said Patricia Buss, M.D., medical and health care services
operations officer for Health Net. “Many are under the impression
that healthy eating is expensive. However, the opposite is true.
Studies have shown that eating healthy meals not only is beneficial
to our bodies, but also actually helps to save money.”
Ten Nutrition-Maximizing, Money-Saving Tips
Health Net encourages consumers to embrace these
budget-friendly, nutrition-focused tips:
- Make a list and stick to it.
Studies have found that an average 60 percent to 70 percent of
grocery store purchases are not on the shopper’s original list. Not
only does that mean paying more at the cash register, but those
extra items often are impulsive and non-nutritious. Instead, before
heading to the supermarket, plot out a week’s worth of meals, along
with whatever ingredients are needed. Once at the store,
steadfastly stick to the list.
- Eat before you shop. Before
setting foot in the supermarket, make sure your stomach isn’t
running on empty. Studies have shown that hungry shoppers are less
discriminating and more likely to fill their carts with
nutrition-poor choices.
- Avoid processed foods. As much
as possible, stay clear of processed foods. Processed foods are
those that have been altered from their natural state, either for
safety reasons or because it makes them easier to store or use. Not
all processed foods are inherently unhealthy, but they usually are
more expensive. Conversely, unprocessed foods tend to be less
expensive and more nutritious. When you’re at the supermarket,
think in terms of buying fresh ingredients for a delicious meal
versus prepackaged meals and snacks.
- Choose cheaper cuts. When you
reach the meat and poultry section, don’t shy away from
less-expensive cuts, such as brisket or chuck roast. Not only are
these cuts nutrient dense, but – when prepared using a slow-cooking
method – they also can be among the most tender and flavorful. If
fish is on your grocery list, look for “Frozen at Sea” (FAS), which
means it’s been flash-frozen in as little as three seconds onboard
ship. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization, thawed FAS fish is less expensive than – and
virtually indistinguishable from – fresh fish.
- Let the season be your guide.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are healthy food choices, and they
usually are at their most affordable when they are in season.
Consequently, become familiar with when your favorite produce is in
season and plan menus accordingly. If you see off-season produce,
there’s a good chance it’s imported, meaning it costs more than
what’s grown closer to home.
- Be late to the farmers market.
Depending on where you live, your local farmers market may save you
money during normal business hours. However, come closing time,
sellers often want to unload whatever hasn’t sold, and shoppers
often can walk away with fresh fruits and vegetables at bargain
prices.
- Don’t frown on frozen. It’s
sometimes assumed that frozen fruits and vegetables should be
avoided in favor of their fresh counterparts. In reality, though,
frozen produce is nutritionally on par – and sometimes even
superior – to the fresh stuff. When opting for frozen, experts
recommend selecting vegetables without salt (or at least low in
sodium) and fruits packed in 100 percent juice rather than syrup.
In addition to the nutritional value, frozen produce – at certain
times of the year – often may be less expensive than fresh fruits
and vegetables.
- Stay on budget with staples.
Some foods that are both nutritious and perennially low priced
should be seen as kitchen staples. Items in this category include:
beans, peas, lentils, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, carrots,
greens, apples, bananas, eggs, peanut butter, canned tuna, oats,
brown rice, barley and quinoa.
- Avoid snack sticker shock.
Although store-bought snacks are small in size, they can take a big
bite out of your wallet – in addition to ranking low on the
nutrition scale. Instead, consider purchasing an economy-sized tub
of low-fat yogurt and dividing it into small containers of your
own. Or create homemade trail mix by combining nuts, dried fruit
and whole-grain pretzels, then storing snack-sized portions in
airtight containers.
- Make home your default dining
location. While there’s nothing wrong with dining out
occasionally, the majority of your meals should be prepared and
consumed at home sweet home. In addition to being less expensive
than the dining-out option, home-cooked meals generally have a
higher nutritional quotient. Although it’s not mandatory to cook
completely from scratch, be aware that some convenience items –
like prepared sauces and precut vegetables – may come with a higher
price tag.
Health Net Members Have Access to Decision Power®
Services
Health Net members who want help or information on healthy
nutrition and fitness practices may access Health Net’s Decision
Power® program that’s designed to facilitate healthy lifestyle
choices and provide access to Decision Power® Health Coaches who
can help individuals reach their nutrition and weight-loss
goals.
To access Decision Power® services, members can log on to
www.healthnet.com, select Wellness Center > Get Healthy and
click on Health Promotion Program. Members also can call the
Customer Contact Center at the number on the back of their Health
Net ID card for more information and be directed to a Health
Coach.
Medical Advice Disclaimer
The information provided is not intended as medical advice or as
a substitute for professional medical care. Always seek the advice
of your physician or other health provider for any questions you
may have regarding your medical condition and follow your health
care provider’s instructions.
About Health Net
Health Net, Inc. (NYSE: HNT) is a publicly traded managed care
organization that delivers managed health care services through
health plans and government-sponsored managed care plans. Its
mission is to help people be healthy, secure and comfortable.
Health Net provides and administers health benefits to
approximately 6.0 million individuals across the country
through group, individual, Medicare (including the Medicare
prescription drug benefit commonly referred to as “Part D”),
Medicaid, U.S. Department of Defense, including TRICARE, and
Veterans Affairs programs. Health Net also offers behavioral
health, substance abuse and employee assistance programs, managed
health care products related to prescription drugs, managed health
care product coordination for multi-region employers, and
administrative services for medical groups and self-funded benefits
programs.
For more information on Health Net, Inc., please visit Health
Net’s website at www.healthnet.com.
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Health Net, Inc.Lori Rieger,
602-794-1415lori.rieger@healthnet.comwww.twitter.com/hnlori
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