4 meal prep hacks you need to try with fresh Canadian produce this spring
The start of spring here in Canada means local produce is ready to be harvested and enjoyed. From fresh leeks to earthy mushrooms, a trip to the grocery store or farmers market is about to get a lot tastier.
Want to make it even sweeter? With the Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite +* Card, you can earn 4 per cent cash back on groceries*, giving you a simple way to keep more money in your pocket while stocking up on the good stuff.
It really adds up. Statistics Canada says the average Canadian household spends $8,659 on groceries per year, so finding ways to stretch your dollar matters more than ever.
To help you get the most out of every shop, we’re sharing easy hacks to keep your fruits and veggies fresher (and tastier) for longer. Start writing your grocery list now!
Batch pickling
Sydney Riggs/Unsplash
If you’ve recently seen the pickling craze taking over #FoodTok, it’s a fun way to add tang and crunch and use up or extend the shelf life large quantities of veggies.
Try pickling local carrots and radishes to add a touch of savoury goodness for bibimbap, a popular Korean dish featuring rice, seasoned meat, veggies, a fried egg, and spicy gochujang. Just slice them length-wise and add them to a jar with a quick brine. They’ll last up to two weeks and can be great additions for salads and sandwiches too.
As you’re shopping, don’t forget to grab a couple extras, since Scotiabank cardmembers earn on everyday essentials with 4 per cent cash back on groceries.*
Berry vinegar bath
Strawberries are a sweet delight that everyone needs in their lives, and this spring, there’s a simple hack to keep them fresh all week long.
Before you pop them into your healthy breakfast like a yogurt parfait or chia seed pudding, wash them in a diluted vinegar bath. And only cut them right before you’re ready to eat. This way, they’ll stay pleasantly sweet and firm.
Even sweeter? Stock up on seasonal produce from farmers’ markets and grocery stores alike and get 15 per cent cash back on purchases for the first three months (up to $2000 in total purchases) with the Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite +* Card**.
Sauté time
David Trinks/Unsplash
Beautiful spring leeks and peas shine in seasonal soups and pastas, upgrading weekday meals with a fresh twist. To keep prep time low, sauté a large batch of leeks at the beginning of the week and store them in the fridge.
Since they keep their texture and flavour, you can quickly toss them into spaghetti dinners or spring omelettes in seconds. A simple gourmet touch that only takes a few minutes to prepare? That’s a sweet deal.
Forgot to pick up a key ingredient for dinner? Not to worry, grocery delivery saves the day, plus you can earn 2% cash back on food delivery with the Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite +* Card.*
Brown bag storage
Polina/Unsplash
Fresh mushrooms are never a bad idea to grab at the supermarket. Not only do they bring earthy warmth to food, but they are also incredibly nutrient-dense and rich in vitamins and minerals.
To keep your mushrooms as fresh as possible, remove them from their plastic packaging as soon as you bring them home. Transfer the mushrooms to a brown paper bag, which absorbs excess moisture and keeps the air circulating.
Pro tip: If you’re feeling too tired to cook, treat yourself to a meal at home. With Scotiabank, you can earn two percent cash back on food delivery.
Veggie max this spring
So there you have it — eating seasonal food isn’t just delicious; it’s also helping out your bank account, thanks to Scotiabank.
So, turn your meal prep into real-time cash back. Start earning cash back with the Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite +* Card, and you’ll also enjoy the flexibility to redeem anytime once you hit a $25 minimum. Plus, with cash back on monthly recurring bill payments that you set up, you can earn on expenses you’re already paying for.*
Now your spring meal prep is looking a lot more rewarding. Learn more about the Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite +* Card and start veggie-maxing this spring.
* 4% Cash Back Earn Rate: You will earn 4% Cash Back on eligible Purchases on your Account at Grocery and on Recurring Bill Payments, up to an annual spend limit of $25,000. 4% Cash Back applies at merchants which are classified in the Visa Inc. (Visa) network as Grocery Stores and Recurring Payments (Merchant Category Codes (“MCC”): 5411). Recurring Bill payments are defined as payments made on a monthly or regular basis automatically billed by the merchant to your Account. Recurring Bill Payments typically include telecommunication, insurance, membership, and subscription-based purchases. Not all merchants offer recurring bill payments on credit cards; please check with your merchant.
2% Cash Back Earn Rate: You will earn 2% Cash Back on eligible Purchases on Gas Stations, Electric Vehicle Charging (EV), Transit, Rideshare and Food Delivery, up to an annual spend limit of $25,000 (Merchant Category Codes (“MCC”): 5541, 5542, 5552, 4111, 4112, 4121, 4131, 4789; Food Delivery category includes transactions made via eligible food delivery services selected by Scotiabank, which are subject to change).
1% Cash Back Earn Rate: You will earn 1% Cash Back (the “Regular Earn Rate”) on eligible Purchases made on your Account after you have reached the annual spend limit of $25,000 in either the 4% or 2% earn rate categories (the “Accelerated Earn Rates”) and on all other eligible Purchases made with the Account that are not within the Accelerated Earn Rate categories.
Annual Spend Limits: There are annual limits on the Cash Back you can earn at Accelerated Earn Rates, as outlined in the Cash Back Program Terms. These limits are based on Purchases within the Accelerated Earn Rate categories posted to your Account annually, calculated from your statement period, starting from the statement period of the month your Account was opened (“Account Opening Date”). Each annual spend limit resets every 12 months from the statement period of the month of your Account Opening Date. Once you reach the annual spend limits for any Accelerated Earn Rate(s), you will then only earn Cash Back at the Regular Earn Rate on all eligible Purchases made on your Account until the annual spend limits reset.
** Offer Description and Conditions: The 15% Cash Back and First Year Annual Fee Waiver (the “Offer”) applies only to new Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite +* credit card accounts (“Accounts”) that are opened, and any additional Account cards issued, between May 1, 2026 and November 1, 2026 (regardless of the date you apply for the Account) subject to the conditions below. We will waive the annual fee for the primary card and each additional card on the Account for the first year only. All other terms and conditions of the Program Terms continue to apply during the Offer period. Offer may be changed, cancelled or extended at any time without notice and cannot be combined with any other offers.
15% Cash Back Offer Description and Conditions: You will earn 15% Cash Back on the first $2,000 in eligible purchases you spend on your new Account within the first 3 months of the Account open date (the “Promotional Period”). Eligible purchases include purchases (less any refunds, returns or other similar credits) but do not include payments, cash advances (including balance transfers and cash-like transactions), interest, fees or other charges. After the Promotional Period, you will earn regular Cash Back on eligible purchases at the regular cash back rate (the “Cash Back Program Rate”) described in the Cash Back Program Terms and Conditions (the “Program Terms”). The 15% cash back rate for any category is made up of the sum of: (i) the regular Cash Back Program Rate (variable by categories as set out under the Program Terms); and (ii) a “Cash Back Bonus Rate”.
Cash back earned under this Offer can be redeemed to your Account provided it is open and in good standing at the time of redemption:
- Bonus Cash Back: The amount earned under the Cash Back Bonus Rate will be available for redemption to your Account after approximately 5 months from the Account open date in accordance with the regular Cash Back Program Terms.
- Regular Cash Back: The amount earned under your regular Cash Back Program Rate Can be redeemed to your Account anytime for a minimum of $25 each time you request a redemption.
EXAMPLE: If the Regular Cash Back Program Rate for the Groceries and Recurring Payments category is 4% then the Cash Back Bonus Rate will be 11% for that category so that you will earn a total of 15% on the amount of all eligible everyday purchases in that category during the Promotional Period. If you make $2,000 in eligible everyday purchases in the Groceries and Recurring Payments category, your cash back earnings will be as follows: (1) the Cash Back Bonus earnings of $220 (11% x $2,000) (shown as an adjustment in your monthly statements), and (2) the Regular Cash Back earnings of $80 (4% x $2,000) (shown in your monthly statements).
Annual Fee Waiver Offer Description and Conditions: We will waive the annual fee for the primary card and each additional card issued between May 1, 2026 and November 1, 2026 on the Account for the first year only.
Eligibility and Exclusions: Individuals who are currently or were previously primary or secondary cardholders of a Scotiabank personal credit card in the past 2 years, including those that switch from an existing Scotiabank personal credit card, as well as employees of Scotiabank, are not eligible for the Offer. Subject to the above exclusions, Scotiabank small business credit cardholders are also eligible for the Offer. By accepting this Offer you confirm you meet all Offer eligibility requirements. We reserve the right to revoke this Offer at any time if we determine you do not meet the Offer eligibility requirements, including after you have accepted the Offer or been approved for the Account.
Rates and Fees: The current annual fee is $120 for the primary card and $50 for each additional card (including those issued to co-borrowers and supplementary cardholders). The current preferred annual interest rates for the Account are: 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on Cash Advances. All rates, fees, features and benefits are outlined in the Application Disclosure Statement and are subject to change.
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