If you read the first issue of the Budget Smart Girl’s newsletter, you probably remember the Meal Makeover Moms, Janice Newell Bissex and Liz Weiss. They’re both registered dietitians and their Web site www.mealmakeovermoms.com is all about making meal times easy. Here they share some of their tips and yes, some mouth watering recipes.

Budget Smart Girl (BSG)-Your goal is to help busy families eat better. Food prices have gone up and continue to rise, so do you think it’s more of a challenge now? And how can people work around higher food costs?
Meal Makeover Moms (MMM)-Yes, it is a challenge. Money certainly is a lot tighter now than it has been in the past few years for many families and food prices have risen as well. One of the easiest ways to keep food budgets in check is to prepare meals at home. Dining out costs more, so we recommend eating in more often.

BSG-You emphasize fruits and vegetables but some people aren’t buying these food items because of the cost. Any suggestions for ways to squeeze in some fresh produce but still stick to your food budget?
MMM-Check out the sale circulars and buy the fresh produce that is on sale and in season. Also, don’t forget about canned and frozen fruits and veggies. They can be just as nutritious as fresh and are often a great value.

BSG-I recently read that many people are now eating at places like McDonalds because they figure it’s cheaper than buying food at the store. It does seem tempting to stop by a fast food restaurant some days, but are there any cheap alternatives at the store? What bargain foods can tempt people back into eating at home? And if you do go to a fast food restaurant, any suggestions for healthful picks?
MMM-Some good values at the supermarket to help steer people away from fast food include things like eggs, potatoes, beans, value-priced family size cereals, whole grain breads and pastas, milk, and poultry or lean meats that are on sale. Planning your menu around the items that are on sale at your local market can save a bundle of money. When eating at a fast food restaurant be sure not to super size your meal! Check out the nutrition facts information before deciding what to order, drink water or low fat milk instead of soda, and make these trips an occasional treat, not a regular habit.

BSG-Your Web site has recipes, any particular ones you recommend we try as an example of a low cost, but yet healthful meals?MMM-Here are a few:
Vegetable Garden Tofu Pie (under $1.00 per serving)
http://www.mealmakeovermoms.com/recipes/vegetarian/vegetable-garden-tofu-pie/
Potato Ole Omelet (under $1.00 per serving)
http://www.mealmakeovermoms.com/recipes/vegetarian/potato-ole-omelet/
Slow Cooked Barbeque Beef (under $1.50 per serving)
http://www.mealmakeovermoms.com/recipes/slow-cooker-soups/slow-cooked-barbeque-beef/

BSG-Your Web site also has the Meal Makeover Mom’s Club, tell me more about that and what people will find there. And tell us about your newsletter, what can we find in it?
MMM-We have over 6,000 members in our Meal Makeover Moms’ Club. Members receive a monthly online Newsletter or Update from us filled with new product news, recipes, favorite finds, notice of giveaways, and mealtime tips. Members can also send us their favorite recipe for us to ‘rescue.’ Our blog, Meal Makeover Moms’ Kitchen http://mealmakeovermoms.com/kitchen/ is a popular forum for sharing ideas and recipes, and our weekly radio podcast http://www.mealmakeovermoms.com/podcast/ has a loyal following of moms and dads who listen every week for new recipes and tips.

BSG-Kids…and yes, sometimes adults love to snack. Sometimes the high fat, high sugar snacks are the cheapest at the store. Do you have any suggestions for healthful, bargain priced snacks to slip into the lunchbox or as an after school treat?
MMM-We all love to snack! In fact children get about 25% of their daily calories from snacks. It’s a good opportunity to fill in the nutritional gaps in the diet. We suggest making your own snack bags using snack-size zip-top plastic bags. Fill them will homemade trail mix made from dried fruits, and nuts, pretzels, and whole grain crackers or serve up graham crackers with peanut butter, popcorn, cheese cubes, apple slices, or one of the snack recipes below:

Grab-and-Go Granola Bars
http://www.mealmakeovermoms.com/recipes/snacks-smoothies/grab-and-go-granola-bars/

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
http://www.mealmakeovermoms.com/recipes/snacks-smoothies/banana-chocolate-chip-muffins/