Meridian Health Plan of Illinois’ Eat Well, Be Well Initiative Helps Families Prepare Affordable, Healthy Meals During Nutrition Awareness Month
Date: 03/12/26
Affordable strategies focus on budget-friendly recipes, practical ideas as grocery costs remain elevated
CHICAGO (March 11, 2026) Meridian Health Plan of Illinois, Inc. (Meridian), a leading managed care organization in Illinois and a company of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), is launching new affordable strategies within its Eat Well, Be Well initiative to help families across Illinois prepare healthy, budget-friendly meals using simple ingredients, pantry staples, and cost-conscious cooking techniques. This coincides with Nutrition Awareness Month in March and features a weekly meal plan with five nutritious, family-friendly meals that minimize total grocery cost.
Grocery prices remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels and the U.S. Department of Agriculture expects food prices to increase by 3.0% in 2026, outpacing overall inflation.
“Nutrition is a foundational pillar of health,” said Cristal Gary, Meridian Plan President and CEO. “As grocery prices in Illinois remain about 30% higher than they were in 2019, affordability continues to be a barrier for many families. Our Eat Well, Be Well initiative offers practical, cost‑conscious approaches that help make healthy meals more accessible.”
How Eat Well, Be Well Tackles Food Affordability without Sacrificing Nutrition
The average cost of just one meal in Cook County is $4.04, according to Feeding America. That translates to $84.84 a week to feed one person three meals a day. Meridian’s Eat Well, Be Well Nutrition Awareness Month campaign provides a pathway to slicing costs significantly, without sacrificing nutrition.
The strategy focuses on easy-to-prepare meals built around affordable, commonly available ingredients such as rice, beans, pasta, potatoes, frozen vegetables, and budget-friendly proteins like chicken thighs. These recipes were recommended by Meridian’s registered dietician and include options like One-Pot Cheesy Rice and Bean Skillet, Sheet-Pan Chicken and Potatoes, and One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta. The recipes are all designed to be flexible, with simple ingredient swaps and portion adjustments—such as increasing vegetables, reducing refined grains, or choosing lean proteins—so families can adapt meals to their health needs while staying within budget.
In addition to recipes, Meridian’s resources and online content provide practical budgeting strategies, including:
- Planning meals in advance and creating a shopping list
- Shopping pantry and freezer items before buying new ingredients
- Purchasing staple items in bulk when possible
- Using frozen and canned fruits and vegetables to reduce spoilage and cost
- Checking grocery store apps and weekly ads for discounts and promotions
Meridian’s Eat Well, Be Well program is part of Meridian’s broader commitment to improving whole-person health by addressing social drivers of health, including food security, preventive care, and nutrition education.
Meridian will share recipes, meal planning tips, and food budgeting resources through its Eat Well, Be Well platform and community outreach efforts. Demonstrations will be available for media interviews to showcase affordable meal preparation techniques designed for families with limited time and resources.
“Nutrition plays a critical role in preventing chronic disease, supporting child development, and improving overall health outcomes,” said Hannah Gruenewald, Meridian, Registered Dietician, Health Equity. “Eat Well Be Well connects people to healthy food resources and nutrition support available in their communities, while helping families prepare healthy meals using ingredients they can readily access. As a result, we’re helping families build lifelong habits that support better health.”
To learn more about Meridian’s Eat Well, Be Well program and access affordable recipes and nutrition resources, visit ILmeridian.com/EatWellBeWell.