- Author: Christopher Deleon
- Editor: Emily Harris
Growing your own garden can help you and your family save money and eat more fruits and vegetables! You can grow edible plants in your yard, in a pot, or anywhere you have space. Most plants just need a bit of water, some sunlight, and enough soil to grow into beautiful, food producing plants. Here is how you can get started this spring:
Image Source: https://snaped.fns.usda.gov/photo-gallery/
Purchase seeds or plants.
Did you know that you can purchase edible plants and seeds with your EBT/SNAP Benefits? It's true! You can purchase any edible plant or seed from SNAP retailers and farmers markets. Click on the Ecology Center link to find the nearest farmers market near you -->Ecology Center
Image Source: https://www.snapgardens.org/
According to the USDA, "For every $1 dollar spent on seeds and fertilizer, home gardeners can grow an average of $25 worth of produce. Growing food from seeds and plants makes SNAP benefits last longer, allowing recipients to double the value of their benefits over time."
Learn more about purchasing edible plants and seeds with EBT/SNAP Benefits here.
Image Source: https://snaped.fns.usda.gov/photo-gallery/
When choosing plants, try choosing plants that grow well during April. Here's a couple of fruits and vegetables you can look for: Beets, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Melons, Onions, Peas, Peppers, Potatoes, Spinach, Squash, Tomatoes, and Watermelons.
Image Source: http://bit.ly/2pyY4RB
Reduce the amount of salt you use by growing your own herbs!
Herbs are perfect to grow at home and can be planted in small containers. Use them to give your meals extra flavor without using salt. Here are some ways you can use herbs in your meals:
Image Source: Eat Healthy, Be Active Curriculum
/span>- Author: Araceli Delgadillo
Spring is upon us and with it comes warmer temperatures. This is perfect weather for a refreshing peach banana smoothie, whether you're looking for a healthy, refreshing recipe for your next family gathering or simply a new breakfast idea. This peach banana recipe is sure to keep you cool as the temperature warms up. Enjoy!
Image source: http://www.thelittlesouschef.com/easy-banana-peach-smoothie/
Ingredients:
1 banana (medium, peeled and sliced)
2 cups of peaches (peaches can be fresh or frozen)
½ cup of canned pears (drained)
1 cup fat-free milk (or 1 cup of low-fat milk)
Directions
- Combine banana, peaches, canned pears, and milk in a blender.
- Blend until smooth
Recipe Source:
https://whatscooking.fns.usda.gov/recipes/food-distribution-fdd/peach-banana-smoothie
/span>