The Tuesday 10 It can be frustrating to stick with a healthy diet when factors like cost and kids enter into the equation. Junior Apple Kathy Lee faces a challenge many moms are familiar with: how do you provide kid-friendly fare that is both nutritious and inexpensive? 10. Switch snacks to veggies A large part of your grocery bill can be eliminated by avoiding the processed snacks and treats kids love. Parents know that Pop Tarts and Gushers are unhealthy, but there are plenty of seemingly healthy snacks – things that promise nutrition like “nutri-grain” crackers and “vitamin-enriched” gummy treats – that really rack up the total bill. The truth is, most of these processed “healthy” items are no better than candy, so as a parent, you don’t have to feel guilty for steering clear of them and heading for carrot sticks, apple slices and celery instead. An entire bag of fresh apples costs less than a single box of crackers, and is much healthier. Make the switch from boxed snacks to fruit and vegetables. 9. Eliminate soda, sports drinks and juice These items are expensive and unhealthy (though they almost always carry tricky health claims). Many moms are tempted to buy juice – and 100% real juice is often the most expensive of all. But even “real” juice is really just sugar water. Have the kids drink water instead. They can have juice when they go to Grandma’s. 8. Going organic? We all think of organic food as being more healthy – and generally, that’s true. But organic products are also much more pricey. Mark recommends making a choice to save yourself cash. While organic produce is a nice idea, it’s not the end of the world if you buy the regular tomatoes. Animal products like meat and cheese, however, are better when they’re organic. If you are going to spend a little extra money, spend it on the organic animal products and don’t worry about the lettuce. If you can’t afford organic foods, look for food that is at least produced in-state. Or, try to find out if there are local farms or butchers (bonus: they are often less expensive, too!). 7. Freeze! Frozen berries, vegetables and meats are generally much cheaper than fresh foods, and the irony is that many times, these frozen items are actually “fresher” than the fresh stuff! At least one frozen vegetable is always on sale, and they tend to rotate, so your family can eat healthy and enjoy a nice variety for just a few bucks a day! Cooking for a family day in, day out can get tiresome, so whipping up nightly stir-fries or stews with varying veggies is a simple, cheap way to keep things healthy and interesting. 6. Watch the sales Even that expensive European salad blend goes on sale at some point. Grocery stores tend to rotate the sales on spinach, romaine and other lettuce blends. Why pay 4 dollars for a bag of mesclun when you can … Continue reading “How to Eat Healthy on a Budget”
Read MoreMaple-Pesto Salmon Salad with Golden Raisins, Toasted Pine Nuts, and Hearts of Palm
Read MoreEgg White Omelet
Note: you can leave the yolks in for an extra boost of valuable antioxidants, protein, and vitamins. Yolks contain valuable enzymes and co-factors involved in improving mental health, nutrient absorption and cholesterol – yes, you’re reading that right – management. Don’t buy into the “yolks are bad” hype.
Read MoreAnd we were just getting over the carb onslaught of the holidays. The Super Bowl presents a little dilemma for guys (and gals) who are health-minded: how to simultaneously hang with buddies, drink beer, maintain healthy eating habits, not feel like a pig, avoid celery and carrot sticks, and all without spending the entire time manning the kitchen island. It can be done. Here’s what I plan to make (or enlist the rugrats to make while I mess with all the electronics after suffering through customer service in vain for two hours). I have a strict 20-minute prep rule for all game day foods, but I also like to eat food that tastes better than greasy pizza, stale chips, and dips that all taste pretty much like flavorless goop. The following things are really easy to make. They taste great, and you can mess around with seasonings and extras as much as you like without really ruining anything. Here’s how it works: Guacamole Plan on at least one avocado for each guest. Halve and peel avocados. Plunk in large bowl. Mash with utensil. Add in a few tablespoons of salsa, a teaspoon or so of salt, and juice of one lime or lemon (or a few squirts of ready-to-go lemon juice). Stir. Result for 5 minutes of effort: completely healthy dip everyone loves, and enough Omega 3’s to write home about. What to dip into this? Veggies, veggies and more veggies. Spinach and artichoke dip Most spinach-and-artichoke recipes are really just mayo and parmesan with a little green stuff thrown in. I do the opposite for a result that tastes just as good but is a lot healthier. You’ll need: 1 bag of frozen spinach (partially thaw in the microwave for 1 or 2 minutes) 1 bag of frozen artichoke pieces or hearts (thaw these puppies, too) 1 cup of parmesan (any kind, but I like fresh grated) 1 teaspoon of salt (any kind, but I like coarse) A few tablespoons of olive oil (enough to help mix all the ingredients) Dump it all into a medium-size glass or metal dish, mix, and bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes. Total prep time to get to your mouth: 13 minutes. (Don’t forget to pre-heat that oven.) For extra flavor: chop up some garlic, or, if you’re really, really lazy, when you’re picking up all your game day groceries, toss a small container of truffle oil or pre-chopped garlic into the cart. Add all you want into the mixture for awesome flavor. 20 minute chili For 6 guests, you’ll need: 2 pounds of fresh ground beef (I go for organic) 1 big can of chopped tomatoes (fresh is best, but hey, we’re being lazy this weekend) 1 big can of tomato paste 1 big can of chicken or veggie broth (again, organic) 1 or 2 cups of water (just eyeball it until it looks right, remembering that the meat will add juices) 1 chopped onion (you can buy this pre-chopped) … Continue reading “Sisson’s Super Bowl Tips”
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