Blog
Turning “Mixed” Eggs into a Meal
School’s out, and the transition to summer break is underway! Using snack foods as a meal is one way my family eases into summer. Over the past few weeks our team has been sharing their favorite snack foods that can double as meals. Any meal that is quick, filling and low effort to allow us more outside time is a win!
What an Egg-cellent Idea!
This month I’m sharing with you a recipe that is a bit unique. It’s our recipe for Hard-Cooked Eggs. Most people call them hard boiled eggs, but when I started working with Spend Smart. Eat Smart. I learned about this recipe and that eggs shouldn’t be hard boiled. To hard-cook eggs, the water comes to a full boil, but then the pan is removed from the heat and the lid kept on. The eggs continue to cook gently in the hot water. This method produces tender eggs. It also reduces cracking and the green color that can form around yolks when eggs are hard boiled.
What are Functional Beverages? – Part 2
Last week, Jody shared with us about functional beverages and some of the newer sodas that have added fiber. This week, we will look at some functional beverages that have been around for a while but are surging in popularity – protein shakes. You can purchase pre-made protein shakes at the store, or you can buy protein powder and add it to water, milk, or a smoothie.
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.
How Much Protein Do I Need?
I hear and read a lot about eating protein foods, but I often end up confused. Am I not eating enough protein? Am I eating too much? This week and next week on the blog, Jody and I are digging deeper into protein needs to help us all better understand this topic.
Slow Cooker Pork Roast
It’s finally my favorite time of year for cooking! In my opinion, you just can’t beat cooking fall dishes. Our recipe of the month is Slow Cooker Pork Roast and it is a winner!
Protein Snack Boxes – Convenient or Costly?
From work or school to sports practices, events and everything in between, finding time to eat during the day can be difficult! It seems like grabbing a quick snack at the grocery store is a perfect solution…until you compare the cost to individual servings of protein foods. Yes, I will admit that I am guilty of buying these little convenient protein packs to stash in my lunch for a quick afternoon snack before I head out the door to my next event. However, I might rethink how much I’m spending on this packs.
Homemade Protein Snacks
Last week I shared the cost and nutrition of three different brands of protein packs. However, when comparing the price of an individual pack to building my own at home, the results can’t be beat. I saved money, used a reusable container to avoid waste, and got more protein than I would have with the store-bought snack packs.
Spice up Your Protein!
During the summer months the grill on our deck gets a lot of use. My family spends a lot of time outside in the afternoons and evenings. Using the grill gives us the chance to enjoy playing outside without having to do a lot of actual cooking. With the days getting significantly warmer, I jump at any recipe that doesn’t require me to preheat my oven!
Meat Alternatives: How Do They Stack Up?
Last week I wrote about milk alternatives and how they compare to cow’s milk. This week, we will look at meat alternatives. There are lots of meat alternatives available but how do these meat alternatives stack up nutritionally? And what about cost? Let’s take a look. We have chosen ground beef as a comparison since it is a very commonly chosen animal protein.
Switching out Protein Sources in Recipes
In August, I wrote a blog on ‘Meal Planning Tips for Easy and Healthy Meals’. In the blog I mentioned that the ‘themes’ I use when meal planning are to include a different protein food each night. I use beef, pork, chicken, fish and then have one night that is vegetarian. By doing this I am helping my family vary the kinds of protein foods we eat.
