5 homemade foods that are better than store-bought

By Halley Molstad, CD, RD, Gundersen Nutrition Therapy

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Here are 5 foods you should consider making at home rather than buying from the store.

• Salad Dressing - Salad Dressing is quick, easy and inexpensive to make. The standard recommendation for an oil and vinegar dressing is to add 1 part vinegar or citrus juice to 3 parts oil. Feel free to add seasonings such as garlic, onion, peppers and dried or fresh herbs and spices to your taste. Mix all ingredients in a container with a lid—such as a canning jar—then just shake and serve! Try our Fresh Basil Vinaigrette and Sesame Ginger Vinaigrette recipes.
• Spice Mixes - Spice blends at the store like taco seasoning and chili seasoning can contain a significant amount of sodium along with the herb and spices. If you make your own, you can tailor them to your taste, reduce the salt content and potentially save money. Try our Taco Seasoning recipe.
• Fruity Yogurt - Yogurt is a good source of protein, calcium, potassium and vitamin D, but often the fruited yogurt you buy at the store has enough sugar added that it should be considered a dessert. Make your own fruited yogurt by purchasing a large container of plain yogurt and adding frozen or fresh fruit. If it is too sour for you, try adding a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup.
• Dips - Salsa, hummus, guacamole and veggie dips are widely available in stores, but these items tend to have added sodium and preservatives. Dips like these are easy to make. Once you get a few recipes under your belt these items can usually be made quickly at home with limited ingredients. Try our Guacamole, Hummus, Cashew Butter, Salsa and Ranch Dip recipes.
• Granola/Energy Bars - Granola bars can be good for a breakfast on the go or a quick snack, but they can also contain comparable amounts of sugar and sodium to a candy bar. There are a wide variety of recipes available for granola bars, no bake granola bars, energy bites and breakfast cookies. These items can be made before your work week starts and used throughout the week. Try our Energy Bites and Granola recipes.

These are just a few examples of homemade foods that are better than store bought both in nutrition and cost. Feel free to try our Corn Bread, Garlic Bread and Alfredo Sauce recipes to get more nutritious bang for your buck.