Blog
Who Wants Pizza?
My favorite way to spend time in the kitchen is baking. I enjoy making different kinds of bread and muffins. So, this month I want to share with you our Whole Wheat Pizza Crust.
What are Functional Beverages? – Part 1
As we start the new year, many people set goals to change their eating habits. They may want to increase their fiber or protein intake or drink more water. There is no shortage of products on the market claiming to help with all the above. One product that has increased in popularity recently is functional beverages. What are they and what’s in them?
Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays from the Spend Smart. Eat Smart. team!
Five Foods to Eat for Brain Health
We often connect what we eat to our physical health. Eating to reduce our risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Or eating to keep our bones and muscles strong as we age so we can keep doing the activities we enjoy. What we eat can also affect our brain health. No single food can guarantee a sharp mind as we age, but following a healthy eating pattern that includes lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, plant proteins, fish, and healthy fats can help your brain function at its best. The good news is that the best foods for your brain are also the ones that are good for your heart and blood vessels. Good blood flow is important to a healthy brain.
Powerful Tools for Caregivers: A Lifeline You Didn’t Know You Needed
Let’s be real—being a caregiver is one of the most loving, selfless things you can do. But it’s also one of the hardest. Whether you’re caring for a parent, spouse, child, friend, or neighbor, the emotional and physical toll can sneak up on you. That’s where Powerful Tools for Caregivers comes in. And trust me, it’s not just another class—it’s a game-changer.
Air Fryer Adventures – Part 2
This week I get to share with you about my air fryer adventures. Check out Justine’s blog from last week to hear about her experience making roasted broccoli and fish in her air fryer.
Back to School Breakfast: Oatmeal Pancakes
My kids are starting their second week of school, so we are slowly getting back into a morning routine. It’s important to me that they start the day with a good breakfast to fuel them for learning and after-school activities. One of our go-to Spend Smart. Eat Smart recipes for breakfast is Oatmeal Pancakes. My kids, husband, and I all love these pancakes. They are made using a pancake mix that only requires the addition of water. It’s usually called ‘complete’ pancake mix. For this recipe, you will replace half of the pancake mix with uncooked oatmeal. The oatmeal adds a good source of fiber to the pancakes, which makes them filling and keeps my kids satisfied until lunch. I like to make these pancakes on the weekend and have leftovers for breakfast during the week. They also freeze well and can be reheated in the microwave or toaster when a quick breakfast is needed.
Recipe Round-Up: Flexible Ways to Use Produce
Vegetables here, vegetables there, vegetables everywhere! Gardens and farmers’ markets are bursting with produce. You may have some tried and true ways you like to use summer vegetables. If you’re looking for some new ideas, here is a round-up of some of our recipes that allow for flexibility in the vegetables that are used.
A Twist on Tacos
It’s been a month of food mashups here on the Spend Smart. Eat Smart. blog, and today I get to wrap up the series.
A Funny Story About Chicken Alfredo Pasta
Nine years ago, when my son was six and my daughter was two, my co-worker and friend Katy Moscoso came over to watch my kids. I made the Spend Smart. Eat Smart. Chicken Alfredo Pasta recipe ahead of time for them to have for supper. I had made the recipe before, and my daughter liked it. I knew it wasn’t Parker’s favorite, but I figured he might eat some of the pasta. Later that evening, when I returned, guess what Parker told me, “Mom, Katy made this really good pasta, and I loved it!” It turns out he had more than one helping of it. That little stinker didn’t know that I had made the pasta ahead of time, so he thought Katy had made it and therefore thought it was delicious!
Protein Needs at Different Stages of Life
In last week’s blog, Justine shared all about protein, including why we need it, how to determine how much we need, and what foods contain protein. Today I’m sharing a sample one-day meal plan for a 15-year-old male, a 40-year-old female, and a 65-year-old female who all get 30-60 minutes a day of physical activity. This meal plan is an outline of the protein and some of the other food groups people may need in a day.
Meal Plan Inspiration: How to Find Ideas When You’re Stuck
Does anyone else’s mind go blank when you start to make a meal plan, and you can’t think of anything to write down? Or is it just me? Some weeks the ideas just pop into my head. Other weeks I struggle with deciding what to make. Here are four things I do to help me think of ideas for my meal plan.
