Photo and apple turkey tutorial from I Heart Crafty Things
Cheap and Simple Meal Ideas
One of the first things you learn when you move out on your own is how ~expensive~ food can be. If you’re used to dining out a few times a week, and always buying brand name groceries, that first grocery receipt can be quite a shock. Of course, you can always save money by buying cheap staple foods (like rice, pasta, chicken broth, and beans) in bulk, using coupons, and buying store brand. I only have one exception- I only buy brand name American cheese (not store brand “cheese product”), and brand name ravioli- only because of bad experiences I’ve had, haha. That being said, if you are trying to cut back on your food budget a bit, read this post by Missy at Graceful Little Honey Bee for a list of frugal meal ideas:
-Spaghetti & Tomato Sauce w/Homemade Bread
–Chicken Noodle Soup & Homemade Bread
-Scrambled eggs with hashbrowns
-Pancakes
–Homemade Bean & Cheese Burritos
Photo Credit: Luca Nebuloni
Friday Fun Video: Clear Cake???
I’ve seen these “raindrop cakes” on Facebook- they are totally crazy! Here’s a recipe for how to make them yourself, though it still looks like sorcery to me.
Shut Down Picky Eating
I just straight up don’t like most vegetables. And it made my parents’ lives extremely hard when I was younger. I hate lettuce, asparagus, peas, onions, brussel sprouts, carrots- the list goes on- and I always have. For parents who want to raise healthy kids with good eating habits, picky eaters can be a nightmare and cause the dinner table to become a war zone. If you are struggling with a child who picks at his food, read this post by Sarah and Jessica at Pretty Providence for tips on making mealtime more fun:
-Muffin tray lunches- put every part of the meal in a different tray- it’s super fun and will make your child want to finish every part
-Make mini everything- mini hotdogs, mini pancakes, mini oranges, mini corn- it’s way more appealing to kids
-Get some fun toothpicks or cookie cutters and change up the shapes
While I think these are great ideas for younger kids, sticking a toothpick in an onion is not going to make a teenager who hates onions want to eat it. My advice? Try to compromise- and keep looking for options. Sure, I hate many vegetables, but I LOVE tomatoes, potatoes, olives, spinach, chickpeas, beans, most fruits, and mushrooms, and am able to eat healthily now.
Another thing that helped me eat more veggies was when my parents attempted to make them more appetizing. For example, putting cheese on broccoli, or giving me ranch sauce to dip baby carrots in. Or, by cooking them in a different way. Steamed vegetables are gross, but if you bake them and add seasoning, they taste much better to me.
Give your child a chance to try many different things- they will find something they like!
Best Foods For Breastfeeding Mommies
Being a new mom is one of the most draining things in the world. Recovering from childbirth, taking care of a newborn, lack of sleep, and still maintaining activities of daily life can seem impossible. If you are also breastfeeding, the stress can negatively affect your milk supply. It’s important to maintain your own health, so your child can also be healthy and grow up strong! Check out this list by Devany Ledrew at Breastfeeding Place for the best foods for breastfeeding moms to eat. These foods will provide you and your baby with tons of vitamins and nutrients:
-Oatmeal
-Eggs
-Leafy Greens
-Berries
-Fish
-Fruit Salad
-Avocados
-Almonds
-Yogurt
Don’t Throw Out Those Brown Bananas!
I am so tired of wasting money on produce that ends up going bad before I can eat it. Especially bananas. Seriously, those things are only good for like two days! But I love bananas, so I keep buying them. It just sucks to have to throw one or two of them away because they’re brown before I get to them. However, while brown bananas are not that appealing to eat by themselves, they are still not rotten and are great for cooking- just throw them in the freezer when they get overripe. I was super excited when I found this post by Stacie at Simply Stacie! Here are some of her recipes for brown bananas:
One-ingredient Banana Ice Cream
Wordless Wednesday: Baby Shower Fruit Tree
Happy President’s Day!
Foods For Teething Babies
When my nephew was younger (and had no teeth), he was a challenge to feed. He would SOMETIMES eat mushy baby food, but not often. He was much more interested in whatever I had (which was usually something that he couldn’t eat). If you have an infant who still has no teeth or is teething, and would like to start giving them safe solid foods, this list by Kate Williams at Crafts on Sea is a lifesaver:
-Fruits like bananas, strawberries, halved grapes, and blueberries
-Fish like cod and haddock
-Pasta, bread, rice
-Cheese, broccoli, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs
Healthy Fruit Snacks Recipe
I have a confession- I steal my nephew’s fruit snacks all the time. They’re just so good, even though they are basically candy. I’ve been looking online for healthier alternatives that I can make for the both of us, and I found this amazing post by Tara Lynn McNitt at Simplytaralynn. Here’s the ingredients for all natural fruit snacks with no added sugar (and the best thing is, you can customize the flavor based on which fruits you pick!):
-Organic Lemon Juice (or freshly squeezed)
-Organic Lime Juice (or freshly squeezed)
-Original Gelatin (Unflavored)
-Organic Mangosteen Liquid Dietary Supplement (other flavors optional)
-Stevia in the Raw
-1 Orange
-2 Cups Strawberries