NEGAUNEE -- Giving people ideas about how to incorporate more fruits, vegetables, as well as fiber and antioxidants into their meals was the goal of the Healthy Eating on a Budget presentation at the Negaunee Senior Center Friday morning.

Seniors were shown how to prepare a healthy veggie bean soup.

• 2 cups onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup celery, chopped
• 1 green pepper, chopped
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 sweet potato, cut into small cubes
• 15 ounce can tomatoes, diced with juice
• 15 ounce can black beans, including liquid
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon red cayenne pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 6-8 cups water

1. In a large Dutch oven, saute onions, garlic, celery and green pepper in olive oil.
2. Add water, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, black beans and all the seasonings.
3. Simmer for 1 hour.
4. Be sure to remove bay leaf before serving.
5. If desired, this soup can be cooked in a crock pot on high for 2 hours or on low for 5-6 hours.

There were also other wholesome recipes that were shared.

Registered dietician Rita Short was on hand to give seniors her expert opinion about how to make meals more nutritious without breaking the bank.

"I'm working right now under a grant through the Public Health Department, Marquette County Health Department, and it's administered though UPDON, which is the Upper Peninsula Diabetes Outreach Center," said Short.

About 20 seniors took part in the event.