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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.
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Consumer: food and drink news
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Healthy Recipes for Your Kids
by Missy Chase Lapine
Author of The Sneaky Chef
Sneaky Chef's Breakfast Cookies:
Makes 16 to 18 large cookies
• 2 cups whole grain cereal flakes (such as Wheaties or Total)
• ¾ cup Flour Blend (¼ cup white flour, ¼ cup whole wheat flour, and ¼ cup wheat germ)
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 large egg
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup canola oil
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• ¾ cup low-fat ricotta cheese
• Cinnamon sugar for dusting
Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper (or spray with oil).
Using a rolling pin, gently crush the cereal (in a sealed plastic bag) into coarsely crushed flakes. Alternatively, you can quickly pulse the cereal in a food processor.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together Flour Blend, crushed cereal, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. In another bowl, whisk together egg, sugar, oil, vanilla, and ricotta cheese. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix just enough to moisten dry ingredients. Drop single tablespoonfuls onto the baking sheets, leaving about an inch between cookies. Flatten cookies with the back of a fork and then sprinkle tops generously with cinnamon sugar (or just sugar if your kids don’t like the cinnamon flavor). Bake about 18 to 20 minutes, or until nicely browned and crispy around the edges.
Sneaky Chef's Chocolate Chip Cookies:
Makes about 50 two-bite cookies
• 1 cup Flour Blend (½ cup white flour, ½ cup whole wheat flour, and ½ cup wheat germ)
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup rolled oats, finely ground in a food processor
• 2 tablespoons blanched, slivered almonds, finely ground in a food processor (omit if allergic)
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ¼ cup sugar
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ¼ cup White Bean Puree * (see Make-Ahead Recipe below)
• ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Remove butter from refrigerator to let soften.
In a large bowl, whisk together Flour Blend, baking soda, salt, ground oats, and ground almonds (optional). Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and both sugars until creamy. Beat in egg, vanilla, and White Bean Puree. Add dry ingredients and mix on low speed. Stir in chocolate chips. Make two-bite cookies by dropping rounded half-teaspoonfuls, spaced 2 inches apart, onto nonstick or parchment-lined baking sheets.
Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool on a metal rack.
Store cookies in airtight container at room temperature.
* Sneaky Chef’s Make Ahead Recipe -- White Bean Puree:
• 1 15-ounce can white beans (great northern, navy, butter or cannellini)
• 1 to 2 tablespoons water
Rinse and drain the beans and put in the bowl of your food processor. Pulsing in on/off turns, puree the drained beans with just 1 tablespoon of water in processor until smooth, stopping occasionally to scrape down sides of bowl. The goal is a smooth, but not wet, puree. (You are aiming for the consistency of peanut butter.) If necessary, thin with a little more water by one teaspoonful at a time until there are no flecks of whole beans visible.
Store in the refrigerator up to 3 days, or freeze ¼ cup portions in sealed plastic bags or small plastic containers. Makes about 1 cup of puree.
Double this recipe if you want to store another cup of puree.
Sneaky Chef's Corn Muffins:
Makes 6 large muffins (or 12 mini-muffins)
• ½ cup Flour Blend (3 tablespoons white flour, 3 tablespoons whole wheat flour, and 2 tablespoons wheat germ)
• ½ cup yellow cornmeal
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup canola oil
• ½ cup White Puree * (See Make-Ahead Recipe below)
• ½ cup fresh or frozen corn kernels, pureed
• Optional toppings: ¼ cup chocolate chips or ¼ cup shredded low-fat cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin tin with paper liners.
In a mixing bowl, whisk together the Flour Blend, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In another large bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar until well combined, then whisk in the oil, White Puree, and pureed corn. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until flour is just moistened (don’t over-mix or the muffins will be dense).
Scoop the batter into muffin tins, filling just over the top. If you’re using mini muffin cups, scale back quantities to fit into the smaller sized cups. Top with a few chocolate chips, or sprinkle with shredded cheese, and bake for 22 to 24 minutes until tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
* Sneaky Chef’s Make-Ahead Recipe -- White Puree:
• 2 cups cauliflower, cut into florets
• 2 small to medium zucchini, peeled and rough chopped
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1-2 tablespoons water, if necessary
Steam cauliflower in a vegetable steamer over 2 inches of water, using a tightly-covered pot, for about 10 to 12 minutes until very tender. Alternatively, place cauliflower in a microwave-safe bowl, cover with water, and microwave on high for 8 to 10 minutes until very tender.
While waiting for the cauliflower to finish steaming, start to pulse the raw peeled zucchini with the lemon juice only (no water at this point). Drain the cooked cauliflower. Working in batches if necessary, add it to the pulsed zucchini in the bowl of the food processor with one tablespoon of water. Puree on high until smooth. Stop occasionally and push contents from the top to the bottom. If necessary, use the second tablespoon of water to make a smooth (but not wet) puree.
Makes about 2 cups of puree. Double recipe if you want to store even more, which can be done in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze ¼ cup portions in sealed plastic bags or the small plastic containers.
© Missy Chase Lapine, all rights reserved.
Testimonials to The Sneaky Chef
A Must-have for Parents! April 4, 2007 "Wow! I bought this book and tried out a couple of recipes right away... my kids wolfed down the spaghetti (with hidden sweet potatoes) and later the mac and cheese (with hidden cauliflower). Couldn't be simpler! This book is an absolute god-send for parents. I'd recommend it for anyone who has finicky kids (or even for adults -- I can't wait to try the Brainy Brownies.)" - Maugham Fan "Guin"
"In my world, ingredients and presentation are everything. In Missy's world - where she's helping kids to eat healthier - the same rules actually apply, but it's trickier because kids have their own idiosyncratic ideas about what looks and tastes good. I am very impressed with the way she has artfully disguised the best ingredients inside interesting recipes that children will enjoy eating. I think The Sneaky Chef is a brilliant and timely concept, yet one that is not easy to execute. Missy, however, is the one person who can turn it into a household name. Her creative genius and knowledge base are the two things that will make this book, in my opinion, an outstanding success." - World-renowned chef, DANIEL BOULUD
"As parents and doctors, we are always seeking real life solutions to the problem of getting our kids to eat healthier. We attended a cooking workshop with Missy Chase Lapine and the results were absolutely amazing. This woman has mastered the art of sneaking foods into meals that the kids normally wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole. Not only that, she made it incredibly easy to incorporate these methods into our busy lives. She has changed mealtime for our family. We've been referring our friends to her workshops, and now we will enthusiastically recommend this book to them and to our patients. We honestly believe that this book is indispensable for any parent who cares about their kid's health." - ANASTASSIOS KOUMBOURLIS, M.D., M.P.H., Chief, Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Schneider Children's Hospital, and PETRA KAUFMANN, M.D., M. SC., Assistant Professor of Neurology, Columbia University
About Author:
Missy Chase Lapine is the author of The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids’ Favorite Meals (Running Press, March 2007). She is the former publisher of Eating Well magazine and the founder of a natural baby product line Baby Spa®. Missy is currently on the Culinary Arts faculty of The New School, in New York City, and operates The Sneaky Chef workshops, which is a program of cooking classes and demonstrations that teach families how to eat healthier. She is a contributor to Parenting Magazine, Ediets.com, and Education.com, and available to individuals, groups and businesses for private cooking instruction, workshops and personal coaching in The Sneaky Chef methods and recipes. Missy lives with her family in Westchester, New York. For more information visit www.TheSneakyChef.com.
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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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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.
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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...
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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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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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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.
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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.
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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?
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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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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...
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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.
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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.
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TheOnlineMom.com offers parents and consumers a guide to the top-rated, age-appropriate, kid-tested and parent-approved tech toys and gifts.
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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...
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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.
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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...
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