January 2012: 31 Day Healthy Recipe Challenge

Welcome to the New Year! I can think of no better way to start a new year than with a challenge lasting the entire first month of the year. And this year, that challenge is going to be a 31 Day Healthy Recipe Challenge.

NOTES:

• Each day prepare and consume at least one healthy recipe. More is better

• Speak with your doctor before beginning, and always follow his or her guidelines. You can change recipes to cater to your own needs.

• You do not have to use my recipes. You can use your own, or recipes from someone else.

• Read each days post whether you use the recipe for that day or not. Many, if not all, of the posts will provide you with nutritional information.

• If you want to live a truly healthy lifestyle, combine healthy eating with exercise.

• See my blog The Fitness Journal to follow my fitness journey. At my heaviest, I weighed 279 pounds. I have lost quite a bit thus far, and I have learned so much on this adventure.

• The recipes you use should also be as frugal as possible, in keeping in line with this blogs purpose.

Learn more about this challenge here. The link will not take you away from this blog, but to a new page that I have created here.

The first recipe will be one for breakfast, so check it out before eating in the morning!

Enjoy the challenge!

Shannon

http://thefitnessjournal.wordpress.com

Quick! Win a Featured Post on the Site & a FREE Copy of One of My eCookBooks

Image by pirate johnny via Flickr

So, what winter holiday leftover ideas did you come up with? Send them to me at shannonlbuck@gmail.com and you might win a featured post here on the blog and a free copy of one of my eCookBooks.

• 4 Winners will be chosen at random. Only legible, well typed entries will be eligible, so be sure to follow the requests below.
• Provide a photograph as a jpeg if one is available. It can be of the dish cooking, the finished product, or your family enjoying the recipe or preparing it.
• Provide a story about the recipe: How it is made. How it is frugal. Where it came from.
• Be sure it is YOUR recipe.
• Provide an ingredients list and numbered steps.
• Consider adding tips and serving suggestions. (See previous posts for how I do this.)
• Include a jpeg photo of yourself if you wish.
• Include a short bio about yourself.
• Include (at least) your first name, last initial, city and state.
• I will need your email address to contact you if you are a winner.
• Be sure the recipe can be made frugally, and explain how.

Deadline January 2nd, 2012.

Have fun and good luck!

Shannon

Related articles

• Getting Ready for Winter 101: Emergency Supplies on a Budget (livingthelowincomelife.wordpress.com)
• Getting Ready for Winter 101: Heating Considerations (livingthelowincomelife.wordpress.com)
• Getting Ready for Winter 101: Yard and Garden Cleanup (livingthelowincomelife.wordpress.com)
• How to Use Thanksgiving Leftovers (frugalrecipes.wordpress.com)

Happy Holidays!!!!!!!

Image via Wikipedia

I would like to wish everyone a happy holiday season, no matter which holiday you celebrate. For me it is Yule, which is today. I do not have a recipe, article or quick tip for you, but think about what you will be doing with all those holiday leftovers. Record your ideas, and come back on the 26th to find out what to do with them

Shannon

Best Chocolate Pudding Ever

NOTE: This is not exactly a cheap recipe, but can be made cheaper when purchasing the right ingredients.

Image By: joeb ay morguefile.com

One day last winter I mistakenly bought a box of cook ‘n serve pudding rather than instant, and this incredible recipe is what came from the experience.

Ingredients

cook ‘n serve chocolate pudding

2 cups silk chocolate soy milk

whipped topping

1. Our the soy milk into a pot and add the pudding mix.
2. Cook as directed on the box.
3. Let cool to desired consistency, keeping in mind that this is especially tasty when warm.
4. Spoon into small bowls and top with whipped topping.

Tip

• To save money, use store brand versions of the ingredients.

Enjoy the treat!

Shannon

Quick Tip: Buy Larger Quantities of Small Eggs

Image By: dieraecherin at morguefile.com

If you are looking to save money on eggs, consider purchasing small eggs in quantities of 2.5 dozen or more. The small eggs can be used in place of large eggs in most recipes. They will keep well in the refrigerator as well. If you you really want to go all out and purchase larger quantities while they are on sale, freeze the eggs for later use in omelets or baking.

Shannon

Quick Tip: Use Smaller Eggs

Even though (most) recipes call for large eggs, that size is not usually necessary. You can get away with using a medium or a small egg in place of a large one most of the time. EX: If a recipe calls for 3 large eggs, try using 3 small.

Image By: mzacha at morguefile.com

This can save you money on your weekly grocery bill. Purchase whatever size is on sale each week.

NOTE: There may be a few baking recipes that really do need large eggs. Experiment with your recipes to see what may need them.

Shannon

Lunchbox/Lunch Pack Food Ideas – Part 2

In part 1, I listed several ideas for food to put into your childrens’ lunch packs. Now I will give you one weeks worth of combinations for you to pack for them. Remember, these are only a few of the combinations that you could use. Your children will help you come up with more ideas if you sit down with them before school starts.

Monday:

• pasta and sauce, with meatballs (grain, fruit and protein)
• milk or alternative
• carrot sticks

Tuesday:

• fluffer nutter (grain and protein)
• berry mix
• water
• cherry tomatoes and broccoli
• yogurt

Wednesday:

• meatloaf
• grape tomatoes, carrot stick
• apple
• milk or alternative
• trail mix (grain, fruits)

Thursday:

• hot vegetable soup
• biscuit
• grapes
• yogurt
• cheese slices (protein)
• water

Friday:

• cold potato salad (vegetable)
• juice
• strawberries
• yogurt
• raw sugar snap peas in pods
• apple bread

Lunchbox/Lunch Pack Food Ideas – Part 1

Some lunchbox food ideas.

Hot/Cold Thermos Ideas:

• lasagna
• pasta and sauce, with meat balls
• oatmeal
• cold pasta salad
• meatloaf
• Shepherd’s pie
• mac and cheese
• soups and stews
• cold chicken
• cold potato salad
• cold fruit salad

Beverages:

• milk
• juice
• water

Sandwiches:

• fluffer nutter
• pb&j
• pb & bananas
• veggie
• grilled cheese

Fruits:

• dried fruits
• pineapple chunks
• apple
• banana
• orange
• mango
• papaya
• kiwi
• grapes
• raisins

Vegetables:

• celery sticks with peanut butter
• carrot sticks
• broccoli
• cauliflower
• cherry tomatoes
• grape tomatoes
• sugar snap peas in pods, uncooked
• beans in pods, uncooked
• cucumber slices

Berries:

• strawberries
• blueberries
• raspberries
• cranberries
• blackberries

Grains:

• pumpkin bread
• banana bread
• apple bread
• biscuits
• rolls
• plain popcorn
• sun chips

Others:

• homemade trail mix
• yogurt
• cheese slices

These are just some ideas to get you started. Be sure that children are only getting the serving sizes that they need, which is usually less than what we think. Overeating will lead to overweight children and many health problems.

You should also include the number of servings of each food group that you know your child will need.  This is what I pack for lunches:

1 or 2 servings grain

1 serving dairy/alternative

1 serving protein

2 servings vegetable

1 serving fruit

I do mix things up sometimes, like a vegetarian or mostly fruit based meal. Sometimes I will do something fun.

In my next post on this topic, we will look at combinations of the foods listed that will make good meals.

Quick Tip: The Art of Leftover Wizardry

By: jeltovski at morguefile.com

On page 133 of Amy Dycyzynz book The Complete Tightwad Gazette, she discusses the art of leftover wizardry. This is an important concept when trying to live frugally.

She mentions things like:

• Using leftovers for lunches.
• Keeping a soup container in the freezer.
• Pot luck nights.

When freezing leftovers, I tend to do three things:

1. Freeze leftover vegetables in 1 container.
2. Freeze leftover meats in another container.
3. Freeze vegetable, meat and pasta juice in another container.

With these three containers of food, I can make a variety of foods:

1. Casseroles
2. Sauces
3. Cat Stew (for our kitties)
4. Soups/stews
5. Mini meatloaf

What ideas can you come up with?

Shannon

Quick Tip: Save Money by Growing Your Own Herbs

By: hoodsie at morguefile.com

As a quick note, I want to point out that it is far cheaper to grow your own organic herbs than to purchase them.

Keep in mind that organic foods are healthier, and are not significantly more costly to grow than the alternative. Use organic soils, and organic seeds that have not been genetically modified. Growing these herbs can be done in a raised bed in the yard, in containers on the porch or in pots on a windowsill.

Do a little research to see how each herb is harvested and dried so that you can store them.

Shannon