Economic times are tough and Hy-Vee is here to help Midwesterners find great deals and nutritious meals in spite of the economy. We were founded in 1930, right in the heart of the Great Depression. Our founders, Charles Hyde and David Vredenburg, opened a small general store in Beaconsfield, Iowa. That store grew to become Hy-Vee, a company known for excellent service and low prices.

We’ve come a long way but still today Hy-Vee is known for excellent service and low prices. Here are some resources and ideas to use to make the most of your food dollar, with our help. At Hy-Vee, we want to make your lives easier, healthier and happier!

1. Go to the web! At www.hy-vee.com, you can now view special online ads.
2. Open a “My Hy-Vee” account. It’s free and it automatically sends the weekly ad, the weekly menu, new recipes and even a nutrition article. You choose which pieces you’d like to see regularly. Of course you can change these selections at any time.
3. Your “My Hy-Vee” account allows you to plan your shopping list from foods in the ad or recipes or even the weekly menu. You can click on the "ADD TO SHOPPING LIST" icon and build the list you need. Planning ahead and using a shopping list are two secrets to sticking to a budget. It’s fun and easy!
4. Now, stick to your shopping list! Don’t shop when you’re hungry and can’t resist foods not on your list.
5. Watch for “Shopping on a Budget” store tours with your Hy-Vee registered dietitian. You can find nutritious, less-expensive foods in every aisle.
6. Look at the “30 Meals for $3” section on www.hy-veehealth.com. This gives you great ideas and recipes for less-expensive meals.
7. We also have a “Budget-Friendly” meals section on the website and in the stores. These feature items from the weekly ad.
8. Buy fresh produce in season and frozen or canned vegetables on sale. The nutritional value is similar.
9. Try more private-label (Hy-Vee-brand) items. They’re usually the same great quality at a lower price.
10. Think about leftovers when you shop. Our rotisserie chicken is a good example. Perhaps your family only needs to eat half of the bird at one meal and you can plan on a chicken casserole for the next dinner.

Fiesta Beef and Noodles
Serves 4 (about 1 cup each).

All you need:
1 lb 80%-lean ground beef*
1 cup water
1 (3 oz) pkg chili-flavored Ramen™
1 (16 oz) pkg frozen Hy-Vee Fiesta Blend vegetables

All you do:
1. In a large skillet, brown ground beef. Drain beef and rinse with hot water; set aside.
2. In the same skillet, combine water, Ramen™ noodles (broken into several pieces) with seasoning packet and frozen vegetables. Bring to a boil; reduce heat.
Cover; simmer 3 to 5 minutes or until noodles are tender, stirring occasionally.
3. Return beef to skillet and heat through.

Nutrition Facts: 340 calories, 9 g fat, 4.5 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 75 mg cholesterol, 620 mg sodium, 27 g carbohydrates, 8 g fiber, 3 g sugar, 31 g protein.
*Rinsing cooked, crumbled ground beef with hot tap water is a simple way to reduce fat by 50% or more.

Cost Per Serving: approximately $0.96

Suggested Menu:
Fiesta Beef Skillet
Toasted Garlic Bread (made from leftover hamburger or hot dog buns) Hy-Vee Canned Peaches Fat-Free Milk
Total cost per serving for meal: approximately $1.62/serving