Tip #10

Exercise!

Get up and move. Find a routine that works for you even if that means getting up earlier or going to bed earlier. Turn off the TV.  Play with your kids (if you have them).  Move!

I can highly recommend the Supreme 90 workout DVDs. The nutrition plan isn't bad. I modify it slightly to fit our needs. These DVDs are about 30 min a piece. I can fit that into my day. I have definitely seen results.

However, just find what works for you and get moving. You can eat right, but if you don't move, you won't see all the benefits of good nutrition.

Tip #9

This really isn't necessarily a food tip, but a household tip.

I like to look for cleaners that are more natural and not toxic. There are times when bleach is appropriate. We have ceramic tile flooring in our kitchen and bathrooms, so my floor cleaning options are limited if I want to take care of them appropriately.  I have discovered a wonderful all-purpose cleaner from Shaklee. It is super concentrated so it lasts a very long time. It's also made out of organic materials, so if you fill a cleaning bucket, you can clean your floors and then water your plants with the same water. It is super safe to use around children. My daughter was just crawling when I started using this, so I wanted something safe. 

Click here to see.

You can also use vinegar and/or baking soda for cleaning, but the odor is not as pleasant.

I also like to use products on my skin that are natural and free of chemical products. Google some of the products in your shampoo, lotions, and cosmetics. Many of them are derived from petroleum. Do you really want to be rubbing that on your skin, the largest organ in your body?

I like this for my skin care. The 5 step skin care makes my skin feel so smooth and healthy. With this product a little bit goes a long way. The fragrance is so fresh and pleasant.  I have tried other products from Green Living Bath and Body. I LOVE every single one. Since this is a local company, I feel great supporting local business.

For my children, I like to use Burt's Bees products. They, too, are a local company. (read the bottle). 
Tom's of Maine is another line I have tried, although, they tend to be more expensive.

Do your research. Sometimes we overlook what goes on the outside of our bodies. The outside is just as important as the inside.

Tip #8

Plant a Garden

There is no better way to get organic vegetables than to grow them yourself.  We have somewhat expanded our garden this year. We grew lettuce for the first time last year. It was so delicious. If you don't have the space to put a garden in the ground, you can always do raised beds or vegetables in pots.  Start small so that you don't become overwhelmed.

Tip #7

Stretching your meat....

Have you noticed how expensive meat is getting? One way to stretch your meat is to mix it with beans. There are a couple of ways to do this.

1) cook up a batch of beans until they are soft. Mash them. Use 1/2 mashed beans and 1/2 meat. An example of this would be taco meat. Pintos work great. If you season them with your usual blend of spices, then this not only stretches your meat, but is actually quite healthy. Cooked beans freeze great. So, cook up a big batch and freeze in little batches. Pull out what you need.

2) use whole beans mixed with meat. I have a wonderful sloppy joe recipe that uses black beans.

You can also use rice to help stretch your meat as well, but to be honest I prefer the beans because of the added protein. Both of my kids love beans, so it's not too difficult to do.

Yes, there is that added side affect from eating beans, but your body will adjust if you keep them in your diet.

Pinto beans are the beans I use the most, but if you don't like pintos, then use what you do like.

Tip #6

Living on a budget does present some challenges when grocery shopping. I like to buy organic when I can. However, there isn't always enough money. I keep a list of things on my fridge called the dirty dozen and clean 15. The dirty dozen are the things that are highest in pesticides. I try to buy these organic when possible. The clean 15 are those lowest in pesticides.

Dirty Dozen
1. Peach
2. Apple
3. Bell Pepper
4. Celery
5. Nectarine
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Kale
9. Lettuce
10. Grapes (imported)
11. Carrot
12. Pear

Clean 15
1. Onion
2. Avocado
3. Sweet Corn (I still prefer to buy this organic b/c up to 93% of corn and soy products in the US are genetically modified.)
4. Pineapple
5. Mango
6. Asparagus
7. Sweet Peas
8. Kiwi
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Papaya
12. Watermelon
13. Broccoli
14. Tomato
15. Sweet potato

Cranberry Duff

1 3/4 -2 c. Flour (I used 1 3/4 c. of my freshly milled hard white wheat)
1 c.. honey granules or 1/2 c. honey would also work
1/2 t. salt (I used sea salt)
2 t. baking powder (aluminum free)
1 t. cinnamon
2 c. whole raw cranberries (mine were dried b/c that's all I had)
1 c. milk
1/4 c melted butter
1 t. vanilla

Butter Sauce
1/2 c. butter
1 c. honey granules
3/4 c. half and half or whipping cream
1 t. vanilla
1/2 t. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together the dry ingredients. Add the cranberries, milk, melted butter and vanilla. Mix well. Pour into 8 inch square buttered baking dish. Bake 350 for 40 minutes. After the duff has been in the oven for 25 minutes, make the butter sauce by combining the butter, sugar, and cream in a heavy bottomed sauce pan. Bring to a boil and then lower the heat. Stir in the vanilla and cinnamon and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve the duff warm, drizzled with sauce, with extra sauce on the side.

Tip #5

Do not store your potatoes and onions next to each other. The onions will spoil the potatoes.