Comments on: It’s June 1! Let the Summer Begin!

By: Kristy @ Master Your Card

Kristy @ Master Your Card — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:32:41 +0000

The 'changing our eating habits' is a goal of mine as well, and like you, it seems to fall flat every I decide to try. My biggest challenge isn't the cooking, I'm actually pretty decent with that. My biggest challenge is that I'm sort of lazy when it comes to cooking for one. When I get the opportunity to cook for others, I absolutely love it. But, cooking for just myself is kind of boring and lonely, lol. But, I've gone three months in a row on blowing my budget in the grocery and eating out categories, so I've got to start reining that in. I'm definitely looking forward to the tips from others, as well! Kristy @ Master Your Card’s last blog post..The Cost of Owning Pets

By: Elisabeth

Elisabeth — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 05:47:49 +0000

This is a simple piece of advice concerning eating habits. My husband always says that the way God made it is not only the best for you but tastes the best. One example he uses is ice cream. Which one tastes the best - the one with the least amount of ingredients, such as Breyers - not the one with all the stabilizers and chemicals in it. So, if you're looking to start off gradually, maybe you could start there. Just ask your self questions about everything. Did God make sugar? No, no refined sugar. Did he make yellow cheese? (Why do they have to dye it?) Did he give eggs or Egg Beaters? I hope this makes sense. I'm a little tired right now and feeling kind of fuzzy! Elisabeth’s last blog post..Farewell, Granny Smith

By: Rebecca Rivera

Rebecca Rivera — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:04:28 +0000

Homeschooling is so exciting! I am so excited for you guys. Rebecca Rivera’s last blog post..Mother's Day

By: Jarhett Gaines

Jarhett Gaines — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 09:14:13 +0000

Nourishing Traditions is an absolute must! Though it took my wife and I several years to really get into it. Azure Standard is a fantastic Tool as well, we’re always amazed and what we can find on there. We live here in the Northwest also, and each summer we try to make a weekly trip to our local farmers market a habit. Like Ottaviano suggested, we always try to buy a little bit more than we think we need, end up with some surprise meals, and always run out anyway.

By: Chica

Chica — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:33:10 +0000

Hooray for family reading time! here’s a tip that really helped me and my family save money, not just on clothes – RENTING BOOKS. We found the Netflix of books, Bookswim, and it’s been amazing to save money for required school reading in addition to my personal reading. we rent instead of buy – genius!

By: Tina

Tina — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:29:18 +0000

One idea I’m trying is to go online and find some free math, spelling and writing worksheets or projects and put them together in a livebinder. that way my kids can go online and open the one binder, work on a project and move on to a fun outdoor activity. I like the online binder because it keeps the kids focused on the pages I want them to see and doesn’t make it easy for them to search for something else. Feel free to check it out.

http://livebinders.com/play/play?id=1778

Tina’s last blog post..Lower School Summer Review

By: Angelsong

Angelsong — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:40:02 +0000

One idea I have: When you find or create a recipe for yourself, make notes as to how your family likes it, when it is used, and similar information. Also, when you are substituting or creating new combinations of ingredients (and it's wonderful to do that, by the way), think about which flavors and textures complement each other or contrast pleasantly with others. Give yourself permission to experiment, and to think outside the box. Angelsong’s last blog post..Finances are looking up

By: trek

trek — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:06:40 +0000

We buy a lot of produce at the local warehouse club. There, I can purchase six heads of romaine lettuce for about $3.59. At the grocery store, you’d pay $3.99 for half of that. Bananas are $1.32 for a 4lb bunch.

For meal ideas that don’t require recipes…

1. Fruit plate with yogurt or cheese. Simply prep your fruits, arrange them on a plate and add a side car of your favorite yogurt or wedge of cheese. For the kids, you can arrange the fruits in shapes or happy faces (my Neatnik still loves this). To make the process even easier, prep your fruits ahead of time where possible. When I buy melons, I make cubes or balls and store them in resealable containers in the fridge. Also makes healthy snacking quick and easy.

2. Chef’s salad all the way. We eat lots of salad here. Usually a chef style salad for lunch and dinner. I keep the salad spinner’s crisper loaded with lettuce; diced green pepper in resealable containers, too. Around here, we like lettuce, cucumbers, peppers, artichoke hearts, hearts of palm, chick peas, tomatoes, broccoli… your mileage may vary. For the “chef” part, sometimes I roll up cold cut meats and cheeses into little spirals and slice them before laying them on top of the veggies. Other times, we’ll have shredded chicken off of a rotisserie bird ($5 at the wholesale club and we get 3+ meals out of it before making stock), or tuna salad, or even steak or hamburger or tilapia on the side. Just because it is a “chef’s” salad doesn’t mean it all has to be in the same bowl. Great way to finish up leftover protein in the chill chest: nobody has to have exactly the same meat on their plate.

trek’s last blog post..Portmanteau

By: L. Ottaviano

L. Ottaviano — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:33:39 +0000

Being a "good cook" and "needing a recipe for everything" need not be mutually exclusive. According to my friends, I am a good cook, but I get all my recipes from the Epicurious website (www.epicurious.com). Whatever I need to use in the pantry, I type in and search for recipes that use that ingredient. Unless I don't find what I need there, I try not to use other recipe websites because it can get overwhelming. Just stick with one or two recipe websites you like. I have found that one of the keys is to buy vegetables even if you don't have something in mind to do with them. Then, when the kids need a snack, tell them to eat a carrot, or celery with peanut butter on it. Just don't buy unhealthy snacks in the first place, and the family will have no choice. If you worry about vegetables going bad in your fridge, toss them in the freezer at the end of their shelf life and save them to make chicken stock. (Put a $5 whole chicken in a pot with the frozen veggies and simmer for multiple hours. Strain and use the chicken meat for enchiladas. Refrigerate stock overnight, skim fat, freeze.) L. Ottaviano’s last blog post..Friends, Romans, Countrymen...

By: Angelsong

Angelsong — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:20:24 +0000

Please check your e mail... Angelsong’s last blog post..Finances are looking up