Chef Jada Prince gives affordable cooking tips

March is National Nutrition Month, which highlights the importance of constructing informed food decisions, eating healthily and being physically energetic. This yr, there was a greater emphasis on maintaining the budget within the face of inflation and rising food prices.

U.S. consumers have spent extra money on food than they’ve within the last 30 years. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Americans spent 11.3% of their disposable income on food in 2022, greater than since 1991.

The owner is Jada Prince Sassy Chef’s Kitchen, a thriving minority- and women-owned boutique catering company and bakery serving the Washington, D.C. area. Raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Prince embraced the town’s solid blue-collar heritage and industriousness. After a life-changing automotive accident left her jobless, Prince began her culinary journey, now offering catering services for retreats across the country and a line of dry mixes with powerful health advantages.

In a recent interview with BLACK ENTERPRISESPrince discussed making nutritious food decisions on a budget, using progressive approaches to affordable food, and promoting nutrition in diverse communities.

Big Issue: Addressing food insecurity through community engagement

More than 44 million people, including 13 million children, experience food insecurity within the United States, and 60 million (1 in 5) received charitable food assistance in 2020. Through partnerships with local food banks and community organizations, Prince goes beyond simply providing meals to individuals and families in need.

“I work with local food banks, but I go a step further than just handing out food… I teach valuable cooking skills…” says Prince. Recognizing the importance of meeting people where they’re, Prince makes his presence felt at various pop-up food giveaways and even participates in community events focused on violence prevention.

“My involvement goes beyond charity,” he explains. “It’s about building relationships and empowering individuals to confidently deal with food challenges.”

Navigating dietary decisions on a budget

With rising food prices, making food decisions on a decent budget is becoming increasingly difficult for a lot of. In the face of persistent inflation and rising food costs, many Americans are turning to unconventional methods to stretch their budgets and maintain access to the food they need.

Food inflation continues to affect household budgets and the flexibility to take care of an adequate and nutritious eating regimen. Stressing the importance of shopping strategically, Prince suggests buying “frequently used staples in bulk, such as rice or potatoes.”

In addition to shopping in stores, Prince also recommends exploring international markets and wholesale stores to search out affordable but high-quality ingredients.

“My approach isn’t just about saving money. In today’s landscape, families need to maximize value and put health first without breaking the bank.”

Culinary education: Empowering families within the kitchen

Enabling families to cook nutritious meals at house is at the center of Prince’s mission. Recognizing that cooking skills are essential to long-term health and financial well-being, she actively engages together with her community to show the fundamentals of cooking and creative food preparation.

Prince emphasizes the importance of staple foods and strategic meal planning, stating, “if you learn to cook staple foods, you’ll be more inclined to do so, especially if you’re trying to eat sparingly.”

Practical tips like batch cooking and meal prep save time and enable families to consistently make healthier decisions. “Take a simple item, like a chicken breast, and create two or three variations of a meal from it by simply cutting the breasts and adding them to a pasta dish, a rice and vegetable dish, and a salad.”

Social cooperation: strengthening support networks

Outside of his work, Prince works with local ministries and organizations to serve those in need. From feeding the homeless to distributing food in food-insecure areas, her efforts exemplify the ability of community collaboration to handle food insecurity.

“My church feeds people every week,” he says. “Through partnerships with organizations like St. Lights Ministries and The Storehouse, both in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, together we can create a future with safer food for all.”

Simple ingredients, 3 easy meals: Prince provides three affordable, nutritious meals

Ingredients: chicken breast, broccoli, peppers, onion, rice, potato

Meal 1: Fried chicken

Fry the diced chicken breast with sliced ​​onion in a hot pan until golden brown. Add chopped peppers and broccoli florets and stir-fry until soft and crispy. Season with soy sauce, garlic, brown sugar and ginger. Serve with rice (optional).

Meal 2: Loaded baked potato

Bake the potatoes until soft. Top with potatoes with boiled chicken, broccoli, peppers, onion and cheddar cheese. Bake until the cheese melts. Serve with cream and optional additions.

Meal 3: Baked chicken in a baking tray

Preheat the oven and line a baking tray with parchment paper.

Place the chicken breasts (whole or diced) on a baking tray and surround them with broccoli florets, sliced ​​peppers and onion. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle together with your favorite spice mixture. Bake within the oven until the chicken is cooked and the vegetables are roasted and caramelized.