Blog
Tracking My Family’s Food Expenses
Budgeting can be challenging, and it can take time before you find a system that works best for you. My husband handles finances as part of his job so at home I handle most of our day-to-day expenses to give him a break. After some trial and error, I have finally found a system that seems to work for us.
Moldy Veggies – Yucky and Disappointing
Guess what my son found in our refrigerator last week? Moldy celery. It was yucky and disappointing at the same time. We were working together to make chicken noodle soup for supper that night. He was disappointed because he wanted to chop the celery. His brother was disappointed because we ended up using frozen peas instead of the celery.
Where’s the Sugar?
As a dietitian, some people think I don’t eat candy or sweets, but I do! And on Valentine’s Day next week, I’ll enjoy the box of chocolates my husband and kids get me (and I’ll share some too!). Food and eating should be pleasurable so it’s okay to enjoy sugary foods and drinks once in a while. It’s just important to not eat or drink so many sugary foods and drinks that they take the place of healthier ones like fruits, vegetables, and water.
Enjoying Cooking for One
As a single person cooking for one, my goals are straightforward: eat healthy, maintain weight, take minimal time, and create little waste. Also, enjoy my food as I do love to eat! I travel frequently for work so planning is important. Each weekend I look at my calendar and determine which days I will be home for meals. Then I make a quick trip to the grocery store for fresh food items and any staples I need to replace in the pantry. I keep the menu simple with a rotation of fish, poultry, beef, pork, and soups. Seasonings are used instead of sauces; baking and roasting instead of frying; simple preparation instead of complex recipes. I always prepare enough for two meals – one to eat immediately and one for the fridge or freezer. I grew up knowing you never waste food so I keep an eye on the refrigerator contents to easily see what needs used up before it goes bad. Or, if I’m going to be gone for several days I spend five minutes transferring items to freezer containers or making a mishmash meal. A small bowl of fruit sprinkled with cinnamon or a vegetable omelet are easy solutions. Lastly, I set the table even if it is just for myself.
Muffin Tin Mania
Today I get to wrap up our series on our favorite kitchen tools and share with you all the ways I use a muffin tin. I love to bake and the thing I love to bake the most is muffins. They are easy to make, they make a great breakfast or snack, and it’s fun to try to different flavors.
Favorite Kitchen Tool: A Student’s Perspective
This month we have each taken a turn writing about our favorite kitchen tool. My favorite is my frying pan, I use it most days of the week to make eggs, grilled cheese sandwiches, pancakes, stir fry, beans and rice, or quesadillas. However, I thought it would be fun to ask our student staff member, Maggie, about her favorite kitchen tool because a favorite kitchen tool might change depending on our life stage. I know when I was a student my favorite kitchen tool was my toaster. Here is what Maggie shared:
