MANY household families say that the cost of healthy groceries makes it hard for them to cook healthy meals, according to a survey It’s Dinnertime, you don’t have to spend a lot to get good food.

The next time you’re at the grocery store, try these tips:
• Buy fresh produce when it’s in season—it’s less expensive and tastes better that way. Also look at frozen and canned fruits and vegetables. They often cost less than fresh and may be more nutritious.

• Compare unit prices, most often found on a small tag on the shelf under the item. Compare the cost of different-sized containers and different brands.

• Read food labels. Consult the “% Daily Value” to find out if a serving of food is high (20 percent or more), or low (5 percent or less) in a nutrient. Choose foods with lower percentages of saturated fat and sodium.

• Choose whole grains. They keep you full longer. Look for the word “whole” (such as “whole wheat” or “whole grain flour”) in the first ingredient. Other common whole grains include brown rice and oatmeal.

This advice and the It’s Dinnertime survey come from the experts at Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters®, sponsored by the ConAgra Foods® Foundation and Walmart. Cooking Matters is part of the No Kid Hungry campaign, a national movement to end child hunger in America by connecting kids with healthy food every day. Learn more at www.CookingMatters.org. North American Precis Syndicate Inc.