Blog
Schools Back in Session
Here in Iowa, schools are back in session. For some families this means packing lunches, although the cost of school lunches is hard to beat, and packed lunches are not automatically healthier than school lunch.
Healthy Homemade Gift
Are you searching for a healthy gift for a senior, camper, traveler, college student? Consider Crispy Granola, our featured recipe this month. It’s a good snack or breakfast cereal, and makes a great topping for fruit, yogurt, or ice cream.
Trim Your Waistline and Your Budget – Three Simple Steps!
With the holidays behind us its time to find ways to trim some of those extra pounds and pay off some bills. It’s possible to eat healthier and stick to a budget. Here are three ways to trim your food spending without sacrificing good nutrition.
Just Add One Campaign
The Canned Food Alliance has a campaign called “Just Add One” which is short for just add one ingredient to make a recipe healthier. And the one ingredient is usually—you guessed it …. a canned fruit or vegetable.
Time for a Picnic, Try Pita Pockets
This month’s featured recipe is Peanut Butter Pita Pockets.
Fruit or Juice –Which is Smarter?
Children and adults need 1.5 – 2 cups of fruit a day. It is definitely smarter to buy fruit than juice if you are thinking only about nutrition. Check out my list below of the top 5 reasons why fruit is better. If you are thinking about cost and nutrition, the answer is more complicated.
Holiday Fruit Salad
This month we are featuring the Holiday Fruit Salad recipe. This salad is great anytime, and looks so good and tastes so fresh it is perfect for special meals.
Energy Bars- are they worth it?
A food that seems to be gaining popularity is “energy bars.” I think of them as candy bars with good marketing. Is my bias showing?
Storing Fruits and Vegetables
Most of us are buying more fruits and vegetables. That is a good first step. But should you wash them before you put them away or just before you serve them? Should you store them in the refrigerator or on the counter? Will they continue ripening at home? The answer to these questions is…it depends!
It’s Not Just a Piece of Candy
As a mother of a 2 and 4 year-old, I am quickly learning about how snacks are an integral part of growing up. It seems that snacks are not only available to children for nutrition, but are a necessity for social gatherings and fun.
Frozen Fruit Cups
One of these days the weather is going to turn warm and sunny and we are all going to be busting out of the house to enjoy gardening, walking, biking, soccer, picnics, and much more. When that time comes, I won’t want to spend time in the kitchen. I’m prepared with plans for some 15 minute meals plus meals in the freezer I can just thaw and serve.
Berry Buying and Storing
Blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries not only are delicious, but they are also top in antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins. (Antioxidants may help increase our immune function and protect against cancer and heart disease.) Purchasing Berries