More than 94,000 Wyomingites do not know where their next meal will come from, according to the latest Feeding America data, including nearly 26,000 children.

As families continue to face higher costs for groceries and other necessities, experts said it is possible to eat healthy foods on a budget.

Rachelle Bartnick, vice president of community impact for the American Heart Association, suggested starting with small substitutions, including lower-cost proteins, whole grains and homemade alternatives to some packaged foods.

"You can think about swapping out a sugary bottled dressing with a homemade, simple vinaigrette. Then you can think about swapping lean proteins with, say, beans or other legumes," Bartnick said.

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The association recommended tofu, lean ground turkey and chicken as budget-friendly protein options. It suggests brown rice, quinoa and barley as high-fiber alternatives to white rice. Canned tuna can add an inexpensive source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids to salads, sandwiches or brown rice bowls.

Healthy eating does not mean every fruit and vegetable has to come from the produce aisle, which can be more expensive. Bartnick pointed out canned and frozen foods generally last longer, helping households avoid wasting money when fresh food spoils. She added frozen produce is typically preserved when it is ripe and retains its nutrients.

"Having frozen foods, for example, frozen produce is a healthy swap and it is a misconception that it's not as healthy as the fresh produce section," Bartnick emphasized. "We advocate for that a lot of times."

Bartnick stressed the importance of checking labels and choosing canned or frozen products marked as low sodium, "no salt added" or "no sugar added." Frozen fruits and vegetables can be used in soups, stir-fries and smoothies. She also suggested avoiding fruit packed in syrup.