Food prices continue to rise, and for many, these increases make it challenging to afford groceries. For some, the financial pinch is getting tighter as extra Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits known as Emergency SNAP or E-SNAP have recently ended.
For over 400,000 Minnesota families, college students and older adults who rely on SNAP to put food on the table, these changes may have people wondering how to save money on groceries.
With some planning and creative thinking, you can stretch your food dollar and provide healthy, nutritious meals for your family.
- Make a plan: Planning meals and listing the items you need can help you stick to your budget. Learn how to prepare a two-week food supply to meet your family's nutrition needs.
- Shop and save: Look for discounts and promotions on the items you need and plan your meals around those items. Buying generic or store-brand items may also cost less.
- Stock up on non-perishable and frozen foods: Canned and frozen fruits and vegetables last much longer than fresh and can be a quick way to add fruits and vegetables to your meal.
- Cook at home. Eating out can be expensive, so try cooking meals at home as much as possible. Visit Real Life Good Food to find tasty, low-cost meals the whole family can try.
It is important to remember that there are food assistance resources available:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Even though emergency SNAP benefits have ended, households can still apply for regular SNAP benefits if they meet the eligibility requirements.
- Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Program
- WIC provides nutritious food to pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants and children.
There are also local food banks and other community organizations that provide food assistance to those in need.
- Contact the MN Food HelpLine if you have any questions about food shelves, free meals, farmers markets or other resources in your area.
- Senior LinkAge Line is a free statewide information and assistance service that helps connect older adults to local services, like food assistance.
- To find a dining site in your area or learn about home-delivered meals, call the Senior LinkAge Line at 800-333-2433
Learn more about the end of E-SNAP and browse frequently asked questions on the Minnesota Department of Human Services website.
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