Nourish PA: Recipes for On-the-Dime, Short-on-Time Families

Across Pennsylvania, families are pinching pennies, juggling busy schedules, and trying to find the balance of convenience and quality when it comes to food.

The average meal in Pennsylvania costs $4.05.

Of the 12.9 million people living in the state, around 2 million are receiving SNAP benefits (around 20,000 in our area).

Even with assistance, around 1.5 million experience food insecurity.

There are ranges of food insecurity. Some may not know where their next meal is coming from, while other households can’t afford nutritious food and/or live in food deserts.

Food banks and SNAP benefits help to bridge these gaps, often sending families home with fresh produce and more nutritious pantry items than they might be able to afford otherwise.

Getting good food is only the start of creating a good meal though. And that’s where one food blog turned non-profit is taking action.

PA Eats, a group that celebrates all things food culture in the Commonwealth, launched their Nourish PA recipe series in 2020.

“This series features recipes that use simple, affordable ingredients, ones that are often found in our state's food pantries,” Beth Archer said, executive director of PA Eats.

Turning ingredients into meals takes time, the right tools, and experience—something food insecure families might not always have. Nourish PA is created in partnership with Feeding Pennsylvania to fill in the knowledge and time gaps families might face.

“Do their clients need no-cook meals? We have a couple of those. Do they need something that can be done in the microwave? We try to keep the amount of kitchen equipment that you would need down,” Archer said. “We keep the ingredient lists down. None of them have more than ten ingredients, but often it's a lot less than that.”

Nourish PA also has tutorials on how to cook and prepare raw ingredients, like beans or avocados. Feeding Pennsylvania nutritionists also help craft recipes that feature less sugar, more protein— while not compromising on flavor.

“We want them to taste good!” Archer said.

"It’s one thing to get the ingredients, to be able to do something that is easy and nourishing. That will keep you full, that has a healthy component to it as well,” Archer said. "But food is should be enjoyed. And no matter what your situation is, that is the case for everyone. It should be enjoyed.”

Beyond their Nourish PA series, PA Eats highlights many culinary traditions and products found in the Commonwealth.