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Cutting Grocery Costs without Cutting Nutrition
Simple, healthy, and affordable ways to weather the rising price of food
by Karen Collins, R.D., American Institute of Cancer Research
Grocery prices are projected to increase again in 2008 – that’s following 2007’s highest annual increase in 17 years. But surviving these tough economic times doesn’t have to mean sacrificing good nutrition. Some simple strategies can help you cut food costs and eat more healthfully, too.
read more...
Biggest Loser Family Cookbook: Budget-Friendly Meals Your Whole Family Will Love
by Devin Alexander, Melissa Roberson
As grocery costs continue to rise, many family cooks are finding themselves in a tough predicament: How can they feed their families healthy, satisfying meals without breaking the bank? In The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook, New York Times best-selling author Devin Alexander shows families that eating on a budget can be easy, nutritious—and delicious! With more than 125 recipes that will satisfy every member of the family, Chef Alexander provides complete, affordable options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with mix-and-match side dishes, healthy snacks, and desserts. From Broccoli & Cheddar Frittatas to Steak Fajita Quesadillas, Family Sized Meatball Parmesan to Peanut Butter Fudge Sundaes, these wholesome, satisfying dishes will become an essential part of every family cook’s repertoire. In addition to an overview of the Biggest Loser eating plan and Chef Alexander’s recipes, readers will find helpful cooking and cost-saving tips from favorite Biggest Loser contestants and online club members. They will also find simple ways to get kids involved in the kitchen and fun ideas for family.
10 Tips for Improving Your Family's Eating Habits
With today’s busy lifestyles, families don’t always eat as healthfully as we would like. But by practicing healthy eating habits at home, you can make it easier for your family to eat right. Try these 10 tips designed to encourage healthy eating habits:
Be a good food role model. Telling children to eat nutritious foods is one thing — showing them is better. If you offer nutritious foods regularly — and if they see you eating them — your children likely will learn to like them.
Serve a variety of fruits and vegetables daily. In addition to bananas and apples, try something new like kiwi or papaya. Add vegetables to stir fries or casseroles.
Schedule a snack time and stick to it. Space snacks at least two to three hours before a meal.
Involve kids in meal planning and preparation. Children often will eat foods they help plan and prepare.
read more...
Consumer: food and drink news
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Coconut Pecan Granola
Makes about 8 cups or 16 servings
Less sweet than you may be used to, this granola adds a delicious crunch to yogurt -- try it with nonfat plain yogurt with sliced fresh peaches or strawberries. It also makes a delightful topping for fruit crisp and is a perfect quick breakfast on its own with skim milk. Add raisins or other dried fruit for variation.
• ¾ cup Fruit Sweet
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 6 cups old-fashioned oats
• ¾ cup toasted pecans
• ¾ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• pinch of salt
Preheat oven to 325° F.
Melt butter in a large mixing bowl in the microwave. Add Fruit Sweet, oats, pecans, coconut, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix until well combined. Spray a baking sheet with vegetable oil spray and spread mixture out on the pan in an even layer. Bake, stirring several times, about 25 minutes until mixture is light golden brown. Cool completely. Serve at room temperature. Granola can be stored, in an airtight container, for several weeks.
Basic Crepes
Makes 6 crepes
Crepes are surprisingly easy to make. The trick is to make sure the batter coats the bottom of the pan evenly and that your heat isn’t too high. These light wraps can be used to bundle up anything from ham and cheese to peaches and yogurt to sautéed mushrooms. Experiment with different fillings and try them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert.
• 2 large eggs
• ¾ cup low-fat milk (1%)
• 6 tablespoons arrowroot powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• Vegetable oil spray
In a large bowl, beat eggs with an electric mixer until pale yellow and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Mix in milk, arrowroot, oil, baking powder, and salt.
Spray a nonstick 9- or 10-inch skillet with vegetable oil spray and heat over medium-low heat. Add about 2 tablespoons of the mixture to the hot pan and tilt pan so the mixture is evenly spread over the bottom. Cook until bottom is lightly browned, about 2 minutes, then carefully lift crepe and turn over. Cook until second side is lightly browned, about 2 minutes more. Remove from pan and place between layers of wax paper. Continue until all the batter has been used.
Chipotle Tomato and Corn Bisque
Serves 4 to 6.
Smoky chipotle chilies provide complexity to this rich soup. Using evaporated milk in place of cream keeps it low-fat without sacrificing flavor.
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 medium carrots, chopped
• 2 medium stalks celery, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes, with juice
• 2-4 medium chopped canned chipotle chilies en adobo *, seeds removed
• 1 15-ounce can corn, drained
• 1 5-ounce can evaporated milk
• Juice of 2 limes
• 1 medium avocado, diced
• ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery, garlic, and oregano. Cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables soften, about 10 minutes. Add salt, chicken broth, tomatoes with their juice, and chipotles. Raise heat to medium-high and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, about 30 minutes.
Puree soup in a food processor (in batches), or using an immersion blender until smooth. Return soup to pot, stir in corn and evaporated milk, and raise heat again to medium-high. Cook until soup is hot and close to boiling, about 5 minutes. Stir in lime juice. Serve soup topped with chopped cilantro and avocado.
* Canned chipotle chilies in adobo sauce (“Chipotles En Adobo”) are available at Latin American markets and many supermarkets.
Thai-Style Shrimp in Coconut Milk
Serves 4.
This quick shrimp dish is surprisingly satisfying. Serve it over small scoops of steamed brown rice that will soak up the spicy broth.
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1-inch piece of ginger, peeled and diced
• 2 to 4 jalapeno chilies (to taste), stemmed and seeded
• ½ cup (packed) fresh cilantro leaves
• Juice and zest of 1 lime
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 14-ounce can light, unsweetened coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ½ cup white wine
• 2 pounds shrimp, peeled and deveined
In a food processor, combine the garlic, ginger, chilies, cilantro, lime zest, lime juice, salt, and olive oil. Process to a coarse puree.
Place wine and coconut milk in a large pot set over high heat. Stir in cilantro mixture, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-high, and simmer broth for about 5 minutes. Add shrimp, cover, and cook until shrimp are pink and cooked through, about 4 minutes. Serve shrimp immediately. Ladle into soup bowls along with the broth.
Dark Chocolate Sauce
This rich sauce is delicious drizzled over Strawberry Crepes (recipe above), Cinnamon Poached Pears, or simply used as a dip for fresh fruit. Using low-fat evaporated milk and fruit sweetener significantly cuts calories while still delivering creamy sweetness. Remember, though, that baking chocolate is high in fat, which means it still packs a fairly hefty calorie punch. Use this sauce sparingly.
• ½ cup evaporated milk
• ½ cup fruit sweetener
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate, roughly chopped
Place chocolate in a non-reactive bowl. Place milk and fruit sweetener in a small saucepan over medium-high heat and heat until hot to the touch but not boiling. Pour hot milk over chocolate in bowl, add vanilla extract, and let sit a few minutes until chocolate has softened. Stir until chocolate has melted completely. Serve sauce immediately, or cover and refrigerate up to one week. To serve, heat in microwave just until hot and liquid.
Copyright © 2006 Peter H. Gott, MD
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About Author:
Peter H. Gott, MD, is the author of the nationally syndicated newspaper column "Ask Dr. Gott." His articles have appeared in USA Today, the New England Journal of Medicine, Saturday Review, and other publications. He has a general practice in rural Connecticut.
Visit www.hbgusa.com for more information.
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9 Cash-Saving Tips That Pay Big Bucks
complaintsboard.com
The expression "a penny saved is a penny earned" doesn't cut it these days. But saving a few dollars here and there can add up...
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more...
Try out these Thanksgiving recipes from tasteofhome
You May Have Too Much Debt But You Also Have Options
How Life Works
If you feel like you're in over your head with personal debt, you're not alone. Millions of Americans have become overextended, many as a result of easy credit and the recessions. Credit cards, medical bills, personal loans and raising interest rates do not make a good financial mix.
read more...
Suze Orman's Recession Rescue Plan - helps you survive in times of financial crisis
OPRAH.com
Do you know what your family would do if you lost your job - or worse, your home? Financial expert Suze Orman is ready to help you
devise a recession rescue plan to survive - and possibly thrive - during this deepening financial crisis...
read more...
Could fat babies mean fat toddlers?
A new study from Harvard Medical School found that babies who gained weight quickly had a sharply higher risk of obesity. The study
followed close to 600 babies and found those in the top quarter of weight for their length at 6 months had a 40 percent higher risk of
obesity by age 3 than smaller babies.
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more...
The 10-Ingredient Shopping Trip
By Tara Parker-Pope and Mark Bittman
... In his latest “How to Cook Everything” segment on the Today Show, New York Times food writer Mark Bittman makes it
surprisingly easy to cook a week’s worth of dinners with just a 10-ingredient shopping trip.
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more...
Finding last-minute tuition money
There's still time to find funds for this semester's college tuition. But you'll have to move quickly.
By Gerri Willis
It's only a couple of weeks or even days until school begins. And if you don't think you'll be able to get a handle on your college
tuition bill, here with your guide to last minute money.
read more...
Short-term Payday Loans
econ4u.org
...Which are more expensive, late fees or short-term loans?...
A short-term payday loan can be a better option than overdraft fees, reconnect fees, late payment fees or a damaged credit rating when
the loan is repaid promptly. However, these loans are not suited for longer repayment periods...
Being realistic about budgeting can help avoid the need for short-term borrowing.
read more...
Your Just-in-Case Emergency Plan
by RealSimple
Who do you call if you can't make it home in time to meet the kids' bus? Who do
you trust to take in your mail when you're on vacation? Who do you trust with
the extra set of keys to your house?
read
more...
How to save $10,000 in 2009
By Liz Pulliam Weston
If you were hoping for a list of small tweaks you could make in your spending to save $10,000 a year, sorry. The reality is that
$10,000 is a lot of money. And saving big money usually means making big changes in the areas where we spend the most, such as:
Housing, Transportation, Food.
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more...
The Super, Sexy, Single Mom on a Budget
by Renee Rayles
A quick reference guide designed for the busy, single mom who has
little time to read while running the mom taxi, cooking dinner, helping with homework, and trying to fit in a date night every now and
then.
32 and Counting? Finding Your Happily Ever After Today
by Gi Gi
The author talks about the struggles a single mom goes through and the discovery that you can have HEAT (Happily Ever After Today) just
as you are, being single, taking care of your kids...
read more...
Single Mothers &
Male Role-Models / Mentors
Single mothers carry an enormous load of responsibility, especially those having sole and/or primary custody of minor children. They
nourish, they nurture, they teach, they discipline, they shelter, they protect, and they provide… all without the assistance of another
equally-invested adult.
read more...
Your 5-minute guide to protecting your identity
20 steps to protect yourself from identity theft, and seven ways to clean up things if you become a victim.
read more...
TheOnlineMom.com offers parents and consumers a guide to the top-rated, age-appropriate, kid-tested and parent-approved tech toys and gifts.
read more...
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
by Jeff Kinney
For those wondering why tween boys don’t read very much, the answer is that more books aren’t like this...
read more...
Ice Cream Tips
Make the easiest dessert even simpler
• Scoop in advance for a crowd. To serve ice cream quickly and in well-shaped spheres, scoop it up to several hours before needed, place balls evenly on a wax-paper lined sheet, cover with plastic wrap and store in the freezer until needed.
• Soften for easy scooping. If the ice cream is too hard for easy scooping, defrost it in the fridge for about 15 minutes or pop it in the microwave for about a minute, then give it a couple more minutes on the counter.
• Treat ice cream with the coldness it deserves. When shopping, make the ice cream freezer your last stop. Bag the ice cream by itself or with other frozen items, go directly home and unpack and put in the freezer as soon as possible. In your home freezer, always store ice cream in the main section, not the door.
• Be creative with serving dishes! Use juice glasses, coffee cups, colorful plastic wine glasses or even halved fresh fruit that's been scooped out. Freeze your serving pieces first to keepo the ice cream firmer.
read more...
Angie's Money-Saving Tips
by Angie Ketterman
• Tough, fatty cuts of meat are best for slow cooking. Buy inexpensive cuts like pork butt, pork spare ribs, beef short ribs and beef shoulder.
• Leftovers can do double-duty — use pork butt in pulled pork sandwiches or shred short ribs to serve with rice and beans.
• Tortillas are a great way to use up leftovers — you can put anything into them.
• Potatoes are inexpensive and make soups and stews more filling. You can also try pasta, beans or grains.
• Homemade soups cost a fraction of the canned version and are usually healthier. Freeze extra in single-serving portions for quick lunches.
• Buy extra sweet corn at the farm stand, cut kernels off the cob and freeze in plastic bags. It's great sautéed with butter or tossed in soups and stews.
read more...
AMERICA'S WORST RESTAURANTS FOR KIDS REVEALED
Eat This, Not That! Authors Grade 43 National Chains; 6 Receive an "F"
New York (August 1, 2008)
Which kids' menus are most likely to make your children fat?
A year-long study of children's meals has revealed vast dietary differences among America's favorite fast-food and sit-down chain restaurants... and discovered that many of America's most popular chain restaurants are nutritional nightmares for America's children.
read more...
Your health is valuable, but protecting it doesn't have to be expensive! Request a free quote and find out just how affordable quality health insurance can be.
Cocktail and Dinner Party Menus
There was a day when entertaining a crowd meant making an extra big pot of chile con carne or spaghetti sauce. And while that certainly remains a possibility...
read more
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