FitSugar

Healthy Eating Tip: Freeze Overly Ripe Fruit For Smoothies

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:00:00 PDT

Summer, even as it's waning, puts me in the mood for fruit. I tend to overbuy or misjudge the appetites of my darling (read sometimes soooooo picky) daughters, so much of my tasty fruit tends to get overly ripe before I have a chance to eat it. If you can relate, save your about-to-spoil fruit by prewashing, peeling (if necessary), and dicing all your bananas, berries, peaches, kiwi, and melons. Place them in a plastic freezer bag so they're ready next time you want to make a smoothie for breakfast or a snack. Not only will this tip save you money and time, but it'll also encourage you to eat healthier. Plus, when fruit is frozen it tends to taste less sweet, but since overly ripe is extra sweet your smoothie will be as well.

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10 Tips to Save on Memorial Day Grocery Shopping

Emily Co — Sat, 26 May 2012 00:15:10 PDT

It's fun to host people for a barbecue, but it can also get quite pricey when everyone isn't chipping in. Consumer expert Andrea Woroch provides suggestions to cut your grocery bill when shopping for your Memorial Day meal:

Prepare most of your meal. Woroch says, "The general rule for prepared foods is that they are more expensive, and it's cheaper to buy the ingredients to prepare yourself." For example, prepared veggie platters and fruit salads "are never a good deal" and aren't exactly the freshest produce. However, prepared potato salad at a regular supermarket is less expensive and will save you time in the kitchen.

Get chicken from the butcher. Buy chicken breasts from the butcher counter instead of the prepared packets. They tend to be cheaper and are generally more fresh.

Consider boxed wine. Save money by skipping the bottled wine and going for the box. "Boxed wine is an affordable option for large parties, and the quality has greatly improved in recent years," she says.

Buy liquor at a superstore. If you're insistent on a specific bottle, then check out warehouse clubs like Costco. There are better deals on wine, liquor, and beer at a superstore, according to Woroch. While you're there, pick the store's generic version of vodka for an even cheaper deal.

Make your own salad dressing and marinade. Check out recipes online - here's a list of over 60 different marinades to make. "Most people will already have the basic ingredients like olive oil, some type of vinegar, and herbs at home," she says. "Other ingredients like lemon or lime, soy sauce, or honey won't cost much extra."

Read on for more.

Easy Ways to Get More From Your Food Budget

LearnVest — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:15:48 PDT

Go the extra mile with your food budget with these tips from LearnVest.

For years, many people - my husband, mom, sister and even my son - told me to stop wasting so much food.

Throwing away half a piece of chicken here or a handful of grapes there never seemed like such a big deal to me. If I was full or no longer in the mood for that particular food, then I had no problem tossing it.

That is, until I experienced a bad case of sticker shock during a recent trip to the supermarket. The cost of bread, eggs, fish - basically everything I was purchasing - had increased. And, according to the USDA, we can expect prices to rise even higher this year.

As I forked over my money and left with only a handful of bags, I realized just how important it is for me to pay more attention to what I spend on food . . . and to confront how much of it I shove down the garbage disposal.

Unfortunately, I'm not the only one with wasteful ways. In 2010, 33 million tons of food was thrown away, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Obviously, wasted food means wasted money, but figuring out how to make your grocery budget go further can be a challenge.

To keep more food in your fridge (and more money in your pocket), try these expert tips.

1. Ward Against Freezer Burn

Those large bags or packages of frozen veggies or meat come in handy when you have a large family, but "each time you open a bag of frozen food, air gets in and will cause freezer burn within two to three weeks," says consumer saving expert Andrea Woroch. Freezer burn will dry out the meat and make it less tasty. Woroch suggests going small.

Read on for more.

Ice, Ice Baby: Creative and Healthy Ways to Use Your Ice Tray in the Kitchen

Michele Foley — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:06:43 PDT

Eating healthy is no easy feat - it usually requires a little more time in both planning and preparation. But did you know that a simple ice tray can make healthy living a breeze? From smarter snacking to a good-for-you breakfast, keep reading for creative and healthy ways to use your everyday ice tray.

Smoothies
A smoothie makes a healthy on-the-go breakfast, but sometimes life is so hectic, there isn't even time to turn the blender on. Save yourself a daily mess by freezing a batch of your favorite smoothie to use at a later date. When you're ready to enjoy, let cubes defrost in a cup overnight and grab it on your way out the next day. We're loving this recipe for make-ahead coconut green smoothie cups. You can also save time by freezing yogurt in ice trays and portioning those cubes into baggies with frozen fruit - just dump the contents into the blender whenever you're in the mood for a smoothie.

Homemade Healthy Treats
Skip sugary store-bought popsicles and ice-cream treats and make your own at home. When using fresh fruit, like in this recipe for homemade berry-banana popsicles, you don't even need to add sugar. Add a little protein (and good bacteria mix) by using Greek yogurt, like in our recipe for Summer berry and yogurt ice-tray pops.

See more creative and healthy ways to use ice trays after the break!

6 Handy Tips For Packing Work Lunches

Emily Co — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:28:28 PDT

Bringing lunch to work every day sure does save more than a few bucks and keeps you healthy at the same time. It's such an easy everyday saving trick, and it's a great option for those trying to cut costs on their daily expenses. Here are a few tips that get me through the week.

Mental Meal Plan: What do you want to eat for the rest of the week? Give it some thought before you make a trip to the grocery store to buy some ingredients. For inspiration, flip through Yum's list of delicious work lunches. While you're grocery shopping, read our savvy tricks for saving money at the supermarket.
Prep on Sunday: Buy all the ingredients you need on Sunday so that you won't have to desperately scramble around the night before. If you're planning on making one dish that you'll be eating all week (such as soup), you can either keep it refrigerated or, depending on what type of dish it is, you can also choose to freeze it in five ziploc packets that you can ration out throughout the week.
Keep It Separate: If you want to keep your lunch fresh, try to keep the pieces separate and assemble it right before you're having lunch. This works best for meals such as salads and sandwiches - soggy bread and vegetables are not appetizing!

Read on for more tips.

8 Things You Should Try to Make From Scratch

Camilla Salem — Fri, 04 May 2012 04:15:33 PDT

It's all too easy to rely on the grocery store for some staple ingredients. But in reality, things like whipped cream and pickles are so easy to make on your own, you may never buy them again once you've tried the DIY version. Homemade bread, although it takes time and patience, is incredibly rewarding. You'll earn major culinary bragging rights by making any of these eight ideas from scratch.

Pickles: Pickling is a great way to preserve your favorite flavors and enjoy them all year long. This simple technique will have you pickling everything in sight!
Bread: We're not suggesting that you do away with store-bought bread entirely, but fresh bread, straight out of the oven, is something everyone should experience in their lifetime. This easy, no-knead recipe does require a significant resting time, but the result will change your world. As you get more comfortable with working with yeast, you can experiment with more complicated loaves.
Jam: Fruit lasts longer in jam form. And the homemade version is loaded with delicious, uncomplicated flavors, perfect for spreading on that loaf of bread you just made. Grab a flat of whatever is in season and start canning! Personally, we can't wait to make another batch of Concord grape jam.
Pizza dough: Store-bought pizza dough is superconvenient, but once you get the hang of a homemade recipe, you can enjoy pizza from scratch anytime. The best part about having a go-to pizza dough recipe is that you can make it in advance, freeze it, and then just take it out to thaw the morning that you're planning to cook up a pie.

Keep reading for more.

3 Ways Cottage Cheese Can Help You Lose Weight

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:53:15 PDT

In order to lose weight, eating low-calorie protein is a must. Protein offers sustained energy, satiates your hunger, and curbs sugar cravings. After you eat a protein-packed food, you feel so satisfied you don't have the urge to reach for extra bites, and this translates to weight loss. Choosing low-calorie, low-fat protein sources is a must and while Greek yogurt has gained a lot of recognition, don't leave out the unsung hero of the protein world - cottage cheese. Here are some ways this simple food can help you drop pounds.

Breakfast: High-Protein Addition
You know how after you eat a bagel for breakfast it's tough to shake that sluggish feeling all morning? Protein has the opposite effect. It offers you energy for hours, so you feel bright-eyed and ready to tackle the day. Eggs and yogurt are popular choices, but for something a little different, whip up a smoothie and you guessed it - add cottage cheese to the blender. For 81 calories, four ounces will add a whopping 14 grams of protein to your glass. The blender will puree the cottage cheese into a smooth consistency, so your taste buds won't even know it's in there. Not into smoothies? Enjoy a bowl of cottage cheese topped with fruit for fiber and sweetness, and nuts for even more added protein.

Keep reading to find out two more ways cottage cheese can help with weight loss.

23 Handy Uses For Vinegar

Emily Co — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 05:00:23 PDT

It's always a great idea to use the products you have that are already sitting in your kitchen for other purposes. You're saving green and being green! Not to mention, using these natural products will be less toxic for you and the other dwellers in your household. Here are a couple of great uses for vinegar:

Fabric softener. Add about 1/4 cup of vinegar to your laundry load to soften your fabric.
Static-cling remover. Add the same amount to reduce static cling.
Stain remover. Soak your clothes in vinegar to get rid of all kinds of stains.
Gum remover. Heat up some vinegar in the microwave and soak the area that's stuck to the gum. The chewing gum will dissolve.
Air freshener. Remove odor by putting a bowl of vinegar in the place where the smell is emanating. You can also put it in a spray bottle with equal parts water and deodorize the air.
Remove water rings. Mix equal parts vinegar and olive oil and dip a cloth in the mixture and wipe the water ring, moving with the grain of the wood. If a water ring is left on a leather furniture, wipe it down with just vinegar.
Keep cats away. Sprinkle an area with some vinegar to repel cats.
Clean rust. If you have a rusty tool or object, soak it overnight in vinegar. Rinse the objects with water after soaking so the vinegar won't affect them.

Read on for more handy uses.

The Best Way to Welcome New Parents (and Baby) Home From the Hospital

LilSugar — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:21:22 PDT

"When I had my baby, after 50 hours of unbelievable labor, I came home to a kitchen that was not quite through a remodel and a pretty empty fridge," said Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan, founding editor of The Kitchn. "After that, I swore that from then on I would always cook for my friends when they had babies, and that is how my famous Taco Box evolved."

We thought Sara Kate's New Baby Taco Box concept was such a clever (and actually useful) way to welcome home a new family, we were thrilled when she agreed to let us share it with you. Here's what's inside:

The Crate: Sara Kate's version is made from a wine crate, which she says you can ask a wine shop or local restaurant for (they'll most likely be happy to unload a few). She blocked out the words "Taco Box" in masking tape, spray-painted the whole thing, and let it dry.
The Flowers: Even if mom got plenty of flowers at the hospital, fresh blooms are always welcome (and especially nice when you know that the new family's likely to be cooped up inside for the better part of the first few weeks).
The Tacos: Shredded chicken, pork, or beef can be divvied up into freezer bags and used immediately, or frozen for later. Stash tortillas in another Ziploc bag, along with store-bought or homemade guacamole, salsa, rice, and whatever other accompaniments you please.
The Booze: New parents are likely to have lots of friends and family visiting, so a six-pack of beer or a bottle of their favorite wine is likely to be a welcome treat.

Other Fun New Baby Box Ideas
Tacos not your thing? No worries. The concept is easily adaptable to whatever you think the new parents would enjoy most. A few more ideas . . .

Breakfast in a Box: Include pancake or waffle mix, good maple syrup, fresh fruit, a bag of a favorite coffee or tea, milk, and juice.
Easy Italian: Go traditional with a homemade lasagna or baked ziti (these are also great because they can easily be popped into the freezer), or pick up the foundations - a box of good pasta, a jar of sauce, a loaf of Italian bread, and pair with salad ingredients, something sweet, and if it suits you, a bottle of wine.
Mediterranean Mezze: Hummus, pita chips, good olives, and grape leaves are perfect for a family who prefers to graze than to sit down to a big meal. Also a good option if you know that they'll have a lot of family in and out.
Souper Soups: Soup freezes easily, can feed a crowd, and is likely to last for several meals. Make a double portion of a favorite kind, and divvy it up into multiple plastic containers so that they can enjoy some now, and freeze some for later. Be sure to include some good crackers or bread and salad fixings as well.
Chef For a Day (or Night): If it's a really, really good friend (the kind who won't be too polite to tell you that she's exhausted and it's time to go home), offer to come over and cook dinner (let her make menu suggestions) one afternoon or early evening. So long as she's feeling OK, she'll appreciate the company, and it'll give you time to visit with the new parents and baby. Just don't leave any dirty dishes!

Source: Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan for The Kitchn

A Doctor Dishes: Which "Superfoods" Are Worth the Cost?

LearnVest — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:15:00 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Most people you speak to these days are trying to stretch every dollar as far as possible - even the ones they spend buying apples and oranges.

Food prices are expected to increase yet again this year, and food manufacturers are making portions smaller without reducing prices. Not surprisingly, a recent Rasmussen poll found that 93 percent of adults report paying more for groceries now than they did a year ago.

So how can we supercharge our grocery dollars and get them to do overtime for us?

Yes, some foods are obviously a better nutritional deal than others (think apples vs. potato chips), but there’s another class of foods that blows the rest of the field away in terms of nutrients and health-protecting qualities: superfoods.

Superfoods can help prevent diabetes and heart disease, repair damage to your body’s cells, and more. But before you go piling them into your cart, know that some superfoods are better nutritional bargains than others. As a doctor and a mom, I’ve sleuthed out which ones are worth the extra cost in terms of their long-term health benefits. Below is the scoop on which ones may help you age better, ward off cancer, and more.

What to Know Before Buying Superfoods

Before we dive into what to buy, there are a few important things to remember about consuming these foods:

Eating foods fresh and in their natural state, especially fruits and vegetables (rather than in pill or powder supplement form), usually allows us to absorb the greatest amount of their nutrients. The way a superfood is processed or cooked can significantly lower its antioxidant content.
If the superfood can’t be eaten fresh, look for easy and appetizing recipes containing it. No matter how “super” a superfood may be, if you don’t know how to cook it, you’ll probably let it go to waste.

Are Superfoods "Good Buys" If I’m Shopping on a Budget?

Read on to find out.