Spend Smart. Eat Smart.

Blog

farmers market produce

Double Up Food Bucks

One of the best things about summer in Iowa is the wonderful fruits and vegetables that come into season. Sweet corn, summer tomatoes, and fresh green beans are high on my list. In Iowa, we are lucky to have a program that helps Iowans who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eat more fruits and vegetables while sticking to their grocery budget.

eggs in a carton

Baking Without Eggs

Egg prices are tough for everyone right now. We usually make breakfast food for supper on Wednesday nights. My children’s favorite is when we make smoothies, scrambled eggs, and toast. They each like to help with making one of the foods. They have to take turns making the smoothies because they all want to run the blender. Since egg prices have started going up, we have stopped making this family favorite meal, which is a bummer for everyone.

seed oils

The Truth About Seed Oils: Friend or Foe?

Seed oils have become a hot topic in the world of nutrition, with opinions ranging from them being a dietary villain to a misunderstood hero. Let’s dive into what seed oils are, their health effects, and how to make informed choices about consuming them.

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Pancakes

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.

grocery store aisle

Meals from a Dollar Store

In my home state of Iowa, there are a lot of us who have a significant drive to get to a big grocery store with a wide variety of food. Trips into larger cities take time and money for transportation. In small towns and certain areas of larger cities, we are more likely to find a dollar store that sells a variety of items including some food. Most dollar stores have shelf-stable foods and some have refrigerated or frozen foods too. I gave some thought to what I could make with the shelf-stable foods my local dollar store carries. Here are some of the products that stood out to me as particularly useful and how I would make them into a meal.