You're probably already well versed regarding the health benefits of vegetables. With the current experts recommending five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day, most Americans aren't getting enough. One reason people refuse to buy more vegetables is the cost. The price of fresh veggies in the produce aisle has skyrocketed recently making it even more of a challenge for vegetables to be budgeted into the daily diet. Luckily, there are ways to serve vegetables at meals without breaking the bank. Here's how to eat veggies even if you're on a budget:

Pick Fresh Vegetables Carefully at the Supermarket

It's an unfortunate truth that Americans throw away almost twenty-five percent of the produce they buy at the grocery store. One way to prevent wastage is to pick fresh produce carefully to help prolong its freshness once you get it home. Learning to choose produce that's fresh and without bruises or other evidence of decomposition can help you avoid wasting money on food you're unable to serve. It's also important to know how to store veggies to keep them tasty longer. Some veggies are best stored in the refrigerator while others do best at room temperature. Educate yourself about the nuances of properly storing the vegetables you buy if you want to save money on produce.

Buy Fresh Vegetables Seasonally and Freeze Them

You'll get the best deals on fresh vegetables when you buy them in season. Check the internet to find out what's currently seasonal and stock up to save. Most vegetables can be frozen and used later if they don't have a high water content. You can also invest in a vacuum sealer to keep veggies fresh longer. Stock up when a vegetable is plentiful and cheap and you can use them later in your recipes.

Buy at Your Local Farmer's Market

If you have access to a local farmer's market, take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to buy locally grown vegetables. The prices are often significantly lower than you would pay in your local grocery store and the produce is usually fresher. Stock up in season and freeze the excess to use later.

Buy Store Brand Frozen Vegetables

You can often realize a significant cost savings by buying frozen vegetables packaged under your grocery store's private label. Frozen veggies are a quick and easy way to prepare a healthy meal and the nutritional value is often the same or superior to fresh vegetables. Be sure to stock up when your grocery store has a special sale for even more savings.

Grow Your Own

Even if you're limited for space, it's not difficult to grow your own vegetables. You can grow fresh herbs to add to your recipes right on your windowsill and vegetables in an area the size of a small table. You can even grow vegetables in containers. A little internet research will show you exactly how to set up a small vegetable garden in a limited space.

By spending a little time tending to your garden, you can have fresh vegetables for almost nothing.

Now there's no excuse for not getting your nine servings of vegetables each day. You can have your veggies and still stay within your family's budget.