The corner grocery store where you can pop in
for an affordable gallon of milk and a bunch of bananas doesn’t exist anymore
in many communities across the country.

More and more neighborhoods sit squarely in a so-called “food desert,” areas in small towns to big cities where there is little to no access to healthy and affordable food. According to a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, about 2.3 million U.S. households live more than a mile from a grocery store and have no vehicle to drive to one for regular shopping trips. Another 3.4 million live between one-half and 1 mile away and also don’t have a car.

A food desert is typically found in low-income communities where the closest place to get food is a convenience store with high-priced products and little or no fresh fruits and vegetables. Consumers in these communities are paying a price.

They spend more to feed their families.
Studies show that urban residents spend between 3% and 37% more for food
when compared to the same items purchased in supermarkets in the suburbs.

They also develop more chronic health
problems. Studies have found that residents
in neighborhoods like these have higher rates of diabetes, cancer and
cardiovascular disease.

Local and federal leaders are working on
solutions, according to the Food Empowerment Projects. Food
justice advocates in Chicago, where 500,000 people live in food deserts, have
opened food co-ops with fresh foods for sale. In Los Angeles, the city offered
incentives to grocery stores and sit-down restaurants with healthier meals to
open in food deserts. And New York City launched the Green Carts program, which
brings inexpensive fresh produce to areas without a grocery store.

But, despite those efforts, thousands of
families continue to have trouble finding affordable and healthy foods on a
regular basis. The problem is two-fold for those living in a food desert: There
is no economical store nearby, and they don’t have their own vehicle to get to
one on a regular basis.

If you live in a food desert, preparing healthy meals can be a challenge, and simply moving can be an unrealistic option for most. But, on those occasions where you can get to a large supermarket or big box store, there are items you can stock up on to ensure you have cheap and healthy food at home.

Here are five steps you can take to eat healthy foods on a budget when resources are limited.

5 Tips For Healthy Affordable Food in a Food Desert

Team up
and plan

Michigan State University’s extension office recommends teaming up with a friend or family member with a car to get
to the store and also plan meals together. Buying and
cooking in bulk can help to reduce your food costs and the time it takes to
prepare meals.

Focus
on canned, frozen produce

Fresh vegetables and produce are tasty, but
they can be impractical for families who can only get to the store once or
twice a month. Here’s the good news: Frozen and canned produce are cheaper and
still healthy.

Researchers have
found that the vitamin content in eight frozen fruits and veggies — corn,
carrots, broccoli, spinach, peas, green beans, strawberries and blueberries —
were nearly the same or even higher than fresh ones. Canned fruits and
vegetables also offer about the same nutritional benefits as long as you steer
clear of high-sodium or high-sugar varieties.

Stock
up on dried beans

Think lentils, kidney beans, black beans and
more. Those little legumes pack a powerful punch of protein and fiber at a very
affordable cost. TheKitchn.com offers a very simple,
but yummy way to whip up a pot of beans. A one-pound bag typically costs about
$1 and makes about 10 very filling servings.

Fill up
on eggs

Fresh meat can be expensive, but, like beans,
eggs also provide plenty of protein at an affordable price. And, if you have
access to a freezer, you don’t have to worry about them spoiling. You can
freeze egg whites and yolks, together or separately, in the freezer. Momables.com shows you how.

Buy
what’s on sale

When you can get to the store, focus on buying
items that are only on sale to help cut your costs and make the most out of
your food budget. Most stores have circulars at the door. Or, you can pull them
up online before you go.

Eliminating food deserts won’t be easy. Lawmakers, grocery stores and communities will have to make some big changes. In the meantime, planning ahead and focusing on healthy and affordable foods when you can get to the grocery store may be the best strategy for those living in a food desert.

Consumer Education Services, Inc. (CESI) is a non-profit committed to empowering and inspiring consumers nationwide to make wise financial decisions and live debt free. Speak with a certified counselor for a free debt analysis today

This article was syndicated and originally appeared on the CESI Debt Solutions website.