Here at Double Up Food Bucks Arizona, we’re dedicated to helping Arizonans stretch their food budgets each and every day. But stretching your food dollars is about more than comparing prices — it’s also about eating healthy amounts of nutritious food each day.
Read MoreNo meat? No problem! You don’t need meat to make great food. However, having a meatless meal can be daunting if you don’t know where to begin. Here are a few breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert ideas to get you started. The best thing about these recipes is that they have tons of fresh produce ingredients. If you’re a SNAP customer, use your Double Up Food Bucks to buy fruits and veggies to make all of these recipes!
Read MoreGetting children interested in grocery shopping can be a difficult task, but involving them in the process can be engaging and will help teach them more about the food they eat, and also where that food came from. Next time you head to the farmers market, bring your kids along and follow these tips to make the outing fun, educational, and impactful.
Read MoreIt’s supper time! January is National Sunday Supper Month. Family dinners used to be considered a nightly tradition, but in 2018, that may not always be realistic. The Sunday Supper initiative was started to get families together at least one day a week to share a meal.
Read MoreDouble Up Food Bucks Arizona had a fantastic year, and we can’t wait to see what 2018 has in store! In 2017, we expanded to more markets, brought more families and individuals healthy and local produce, and highlighted some of the hard-working farmers, farmers markets, market managers and communities that make this program possible. Here is a breakdown of our best year yet:
Read MoreFor many, the New Year is a time to make resolutions to live healthier, including eating more fruits and veggies every day. Our Double Up Food Bucks “how to” guide is here to help you tackle your goals every step of the way!
Read MoreOnce your holiday parties are over, you might find yourself with a fridge full of leftovers, including all the fruits and veggies you doubled up on at your local farmers market. Think twice before you toss them – leftovers can be just as exciting and delicious as the meal itself, and using them can help eliminate food waste.
Read MoreThe holidays are often a time when families gather and share a meal. While comfort foods are common during these family gatherings, it is still important to make healthy choices and eat mindfully.
Many favorite holiday dishes can be given a healthy twist. You can substitute canned fruits and vegetables for fresh produce, and many yummy foods can be baked instead of fried. Get your family in the kitchen and whip up some of these healthy takes on holiday favorites. SNAP customers can double up on any of the fruits and veggies in these recipes for twice the holiday cheer!
Read MoreHave you been seeing lots of mysterious greens sprouting up at the market lately? Microgreens may be the reason. These luscious, bright spreads of sprout-like leafy veggies are cropping up across Arizona markets, but many customers aren’t sure what they are, or more importantly, how to use them.
Read More“What do you get when you drop a pumpkin? Squash.”
Halloween is just around the corner! It’s time for costumes, haunts, family, and usually lots of sugary snacks. This year, you can ensure your littles ones have tons of fun and cut down on the ghoulish sugar-buzz with festive fruit and veggie snacks.
Read MoreNational Hispanic Heritage Month wraps up this week, but there’s still time to celebrate with some festive and appetizing eats.
Read MoreWhen the leaves turn brown and the weather cools down, many markets open their doors again to offer seasonal fall produce.
New fruits and veggies will be popping up at farmers markets across the state. As summer harvests fade away, delicious sweet potatoes, squash, pumpkins, radishes, green leafy lettuce, kale, Swiss chards, turnips, sweet peppers and more will fill the stands at your favorite market.
Read MorePlanting and harvesting may be the last tasks on your mind during our Arizona summers, but the heat doesn’t mean you have to hang up your gardening gloves for the season. There are tons of edible plants you can grow during the summer, whether it’s in the comfort of your own home or outside. Spice up your summer meals and keep your thumb green with these home-grown veggies and herbs!
Read MoreMost of us know how to use the lettuce, tomatoes, onions and potatoes we bring home from the farmers market each week. But if you’re browsing your local market’s stands this summer, you might come across some unfamiliar, seasonal veggies. Don’t skip over these delicious finds! If you do, you’re missing out on learning about new ingredients, recipes and flavors. Plus, shopping for in-season produce can save money, as these items are often cheaper and more abundant than others at the market.
Read MoreIf you visit your local farmers market this June, you might find yourself leaving with eggs, honey, tortillas, and tons of fresh produce. If you’re shopping with your SNAP Quest card at participating markets, you’ll be heading home with even more in-season, Arizona-grown fruits and veggies.
Wondering what to do with all of your fresh finds? Check out these “5 Token Recipes” to start stretching your food budget. The ingredients for these recipes can all be purchased at your local market for approximately $5 spent on your SNAP card, plus your $5 worth of Double Up tokens. Many of these recipes will also leave you with leftover ingredients to use for other dishes.
Read MoreIt’s National School Breakfast Week, and this year’s “School Breakfast Challenge” encourages parents, students and school officials to start the morning with a healthy breakfast. As this week-long celebration wraps up, let’s try our best to practice what we learned this week. To help, we have gathered three yummy, nutritious recipes that you can make with your favorite mini chef to help start the day off right!
Read MoreShopping list:
4 cans (or 60 ounces fresh) black beans
2 cans (or 30 ounces fresh) corn
1 lime
garlic
onion
chili powder
tortillas
coriander
olive oil
vegetable stock
canned tomatoes or fresh tomatoes
The most important part of this clever shopping plan is the rotation of inexpensive ingredients. Ingredients that do double duty, instead of being used for a single meal, can help stretch your food budget further.
Read MoreIf it’s your first time planning a trip to your local farmers market, you may not know what to expect. What should you bring with you? If you’re using your SNAP Quest Card and Double Up Food Bucks, where should you go first? Get the most out of your shopping trip with these tips:
1. Plan ahead.
When it comes to shopping for food, going in with a game plan saves time at the market and cuts down on food waste. Research some recipes beforehand, and have a clear purpose for all the food on your grocery list. It also helps to know which fruits and veggies will be in season at the time of your shopping trip. Here’s a helpful guide to Arizona’s in-season fruits and veggies.
