Peoria, IL – February 11, 2013 – The Peoria County Farm Bureau is sponsoring a Food Check-Out Day promotion at the Kroger Store on Sterling Avenue in Peoria on Tuesday, February 19.

The promotion will begin at 10:00 a.m. and concludes by 1:00 p.m. The Farm Bureau’s exhibit will feature a Spin the Wheel game asking customers a question about our food and fiber system. Participants will have an opportunity to win a $10 Kroger gift card.

Now in its 15th year, Farm Bureau’s Food Check-Out Week, Feb. 17-23, focuses on helping Americans learn how to stretch their grocery dollars with healthy, nutritious food. America’s farmers are committed to producing safe, healthy and abundant food. And they share a common concern with consumers when it comes to putting nutritious meals on the table while sticking to a tight budget. According to information from the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) Research Service, American families and individuals spend, on average, less than 10 percent of their disposable personal income for food.

Fruits and vegetables – along with whole grains, low fat dairy products, lean meats, fish, beans, eggs and nuts – are an important part of a healthy diet. Buying fresh produce when it’s in season and costs less, while buying frozen fruits and vegetables when they’re not in season, is a smart way to stretch a consumers dollar.

Knowing your food budget, planning balanced meals, making a list and shopping at competitively priced grocery stores with high quality produce, reading food labels, and comparing prices for different brands and sizes by using the cost-per-unit shelf stickers are just a few strategies to achieve better nutrition with less money.