Plan More - Save More!

In an effort to keep up with our debt snowball, we cut back expenses in a few areas. We started with cutting back our food cash allowance by $50 for two weeks. This is a small change, but it's an additional $100/mo to put towards our debt snowball.

So, here comes the changes I need to make with meal planning. We eat lots of produce and lean meats. A few nights a week, though, we have homemade "fun" meals such as nachos or pizza. Anyways, costs can add up if you are always buying the convenient options!

Although we have managed to stay within our budget, I am convinced that we can cut a few more corners to save some money.

I planned our meals for next week using some new money saving pointers that I wanted to share:

• When cooking meals with meats, throw in more veggies, beans, or wheat pasta/rice and use less meat. Try only using half of a package and use those other healthy fillers. Save the other half of the package of meat for another meal. As we all know, meat is expensive and this really will cut back on the bill! You can still get your protein through the sources mentioned here.
• Speaking of beans and rice - buy in bulk! You know those bags that are about $1 a piece and you get four times as much as you would in the can for the same price? With a little pre-planning, you can cook the rice ahead and soak the beans overnight. Just make sure to use both within a few days. It's nice to have it in the fridge ready to go and speeds up dinner prep too!
• Scour your cabinets before planning your meals. I did that tonight and discovered I already had some great items and planned my meals around those. You bought it, you may as well use it before it goes bad!
• Plan your meals around seasonal produce as much as possible. I am still learning on this one, but have been trying it out. Tomatoes and avocados are very inexpensive right now and are very versatile.

Keep in mind that this will require meal planning. You want to cut corners, but you also want to keep your health at the forefront of your mind. There are ways. Eating healthy isn't as expensive as everyone says. A little bit goes a long ways with a little planning!

Eat local. Be Healthy.

Yesterday, I went to the first Farmers' Market of the season in Leavenworth. What a wonderful turnout of vendors and people! I was excited to get some fresh strawberries, lettuce, and especially farm fresh eggs. I also bought some meat straight from the farm, and I could definitely tell the difference. It was a little pricier than what it sold for in the store, but well worth it.

As many know, I love to plan our family meals. I have experimented with different ways to make meals healthy, affordable, and easy. I think that it is really trendy right now to coupon and save money, but I don't agree that is always best for our health when it comes to meals. Have you seen all of the processed foods in the Sunday circulars? The dinner table is not the place to start making major cutbacks!

When it comes to our health and eating hormone free and pesticide free foods, I will pay a little more each time. The long term effects outweigh the short term satisfaction of saving money. With that said, it is still important to stay within a budget and within reason.

Developing a menu of healthy meals within budget is an art. After a few times through, you will know what works for you and your family.

I believe that feeding my family healthy foods without hormones or pesticides will pay off in the long run with better health and vitality. If you do the same, you are also supporting your local farmers directly (without the middle man!) There are many places to cut back in the budget, but the foods we put into our bodies and our children's bodies should not be one of them.

The New York Times even had something to say about it in the article below:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/06/boosting-health-with-local-food/

Thanks for reading!

Meal Planning Trumps Couponing Every Time

As a mom who cares about nutrition and healthy eating, I have found couponing a bit disappointing. I know it's all the hype these days, and it can be fun when you find a good deal. Don't get me wrong, there are lots of great household coupons out there, but finding some for the foods we eat is nearly impossible. A few weeks ago, my family decided to cut back on processed food significantly. Our diet is clean and now consists of fresh meats, seasonings, whole grains, and tons of produce. You'll rarely find coupons to fit this lifestyle.

In these past few weeks, I have shifted the energy that I spent coupon hunting to going through clean eating cookbooks and magazines to plan meals. Clean eating can be expensive, but it doesn't have to be. I have watched produce and meat sales at stores and try to plan around those. I have been able to stay within our budget while planning out our dinners for the week. I also plan for plenty of leftovers and high protein snacks throughout the day to keep my metabolism churning.

The girls really have enjoyed trying new things. My boyfriend, David, and I have both lost some weight. I feel better physically and mentally. The best thing about it is that I LOVE planning! I found a new love for meal planning and cooking that I never thought was there.

If you think you don't have time to plan healthy meals, I would say that you don't have time NOT to. A few hours of planning and shopping on the weekend sets you up for success during the week. You won't be tempted to go through the drive through or pick up a pizza if you already know what meal you are planning to cook that evening. So, try it out! Share the fun with your partner by picking out meals that each of you can cook throughout the week. If you currently spend hours every weekend couponing, I challenge you to shift your energy towards scouring cookbooks and planning healthy meals. Plan with your family. Make a database of all of your favorite recipes. It's both fun and educational!

If you are not sure where to start, I am including a link that a few friends sent me that has more information on clean eating (and it also includes some easy recipes too). You can always start with a little research and try a few new meals. I promise that it is worth the time and effort!

http://www.eatcleandiet.com/