With the current state of the economy, everyone is on a tight budget. There are many ways to help consumers cut back but one area that should receive more attention is the purchasing of food. Instead of buying snacks and lunches at school, consider doing a greater amount of shopping and taking food from home. It is a great money saver and a way to give back to the community in the long run.
Another perk of cutting back on snack spending is the health conscience aspect. It is a way to control one’s daily sugar intake and a way to cut back on calories.
When grocery shopping, look for foods that will be filling over a long period of time like protein bars or granola bars.
Easy on the go snacks like trail mix are also a great alternative. Don’t like the standard store brand mix? Make your own! Toss whole, unsalted almonds, dark chocolate chips, and dried cranberries into a bag for a homemade style trail mix. The almonds will provide high amounts of vitamin E while the dark chocolate will give antioxidants and the dried cranberries will give your body natural sugar.
In a hurry first thing in the morning? Grab an orange or a banana on the way out the door. Bananas are rich in potassium and oranges are full of vitamin C. Actually any fruit is a great snack choice. The natural sugar in fruits can give your body the same energy boost that a candy bar can, but has none of the calories.
One of the most amazing parts of living in the Central Valley is without a doubt the excess amounts of food that we get to choose from. Not only does the Valley produce food that is distributed locally, but as well as state wide and nationally. The fact that the San Joaquin Valley feeds most of the nation is something that all occupants should take pride in. Instead of complaining about the crime, the pollution or any other nonsense, residents should be thankful for the fresh food we have right at our fingertips.
Buying local is also a great helping hand for the local farmers by supporting the hard work they do day in and day out. Fresno is great at showcasing local foods by hosting several farmers markets across the city. If you have some time, head down to one and check it out. Not only does the food taste amazing, but you can find some great finds and local produce for a much better price than in local grocery stores.
Other quick and easy snacks include (but are not by any means limited to) a handful of carrots, peanut butter and celery sticks, pumpkin seeds, and even a few pretzels.
When out and about, we all know that it can be tough to not give into the convenience of fast food. But there are ways to get around all the calories and fried goodness that most restaurants offer. Look for smaller portioned meals and instead of getting a soda, opt for water. The more opportunities to drink the daily recommended 64 ounces of water the better, so why pass up one while you are enjoying a burger and fries?
The best advice that can be given to anyone looking to cut back on snack intake and help save money is portion control. Instead of eating an entire pizza, let’s just settle for a slice or two. Don’t eat the entire bag of Doritos, but a handful instead.
It doesn’t take much to make a change, but cutting back on food is a drastic one. It will take time for your body to adjust to the amount of snacking done throughout the day, but the results are well worth the actions. And besides, we could all use a bit of help saving money these days.

Local Farmer
Markets:
Fulton Mall
Farmer’s Market
Tulare St.
Fresno, Ca 93721
(559) 490-9966

Fresno Farmers Market
3003 N Wolters Ave
Fresno, CA 93703
(559) 227-8026

The Vineyard Farmers Market
Located on the
Northwest Corner of
Blackstone & Shaw
Wednesdays: 3 – 6pm
Saturdays: 7 – Noon