Blog
Boost Your Produce Confidence
Have you ever skipped a recipe or passed on fresh fruits and vegetables because you weren’t sure how to choose or prepare them? You’re not alone! Fresh produce can feel intimidating if you’re unfamiliar with how to prepare it. When I first met my husband, I noticed he often had pre-cut fruits and vegetables in the fridge. While convenient, those pre-packaged items were expensive. I soon learned he was buying them simply because he didn’t know how to prep some of his favorite produce himself. With a little bit of guidance and practice, he was able to prep those produce items in his kitchen, saving quite a bit of money in his food budget. If you’re looking to try new fruits and vegetables while reducing food waste, check out the Food Preparation videos on Spend Smart. Eat Smart. There are several produce videos, and the ones we have found most helpful in our house are how to prepare a melon (my husband’s favorite!) and how to prepare asparagus.
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.
Meal Planning for One
So far in our meal planning series we have heard a lot about how to engage our families in the process to make it easier and suit everyone’s preferences. That might leave you thinking that if you live on your own, meal planning will be a breeze – no arguments over dinner! I can share that I do not have to worry about others’ preferences, but for me meal planning is a must-do if I am going to eat well.
Embracing Fall Flavors! The Underrated Delight of Brussels Sprouts
I love fall produce! There is something so comforting about roasting root vegetables and baking apples as the weather begins to shift. Starting in November, I find myself adding Brussels sprouts to my grocery list at least every other week, sometimes weekly, depending on my meal plan! Brussels sprouts are high in Vitamins A and C which are known to help your immune system. With two young kids at home, I am always looking for foods that will help me build my immune system to fight off those fall and winter viruses!
Fresh Fall Finds
The fall produce is here! Even though it means letting go of tomatoes fresh from the farm or garden, I enjoy switching up my meals to feature what’s in season. Here in Iowa the fall produce is coming in and some people even have it in their gardens. We’ll see dark greens, winter squash, and root vegetables like parsnips and sweet potatoes showing up at farmers markets.
Try Something New
I do not eat a lot of dried fruit besides dried cranberries mixed into recipes or stirred into oatmeal. It has never been a food I am interested in eating. I think the problem is that I do not like raisins and so I have told myself I do not like other dried fruit. It might be time for me to branch out and try something new.
