Showing posts with label healthy kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label healthy kids. Show all posts

Monday, August 24, 2015

Healthy and Hydrated, keys to a great start to a school year. Why is hydration so important?

Staying hydrated is an important part to staying healthy during the school year. Although children may not be in the hot sun as much they will still work up a thirst in the classroom as their biggest muscle organ (their brains) start exerting themselves in scholastic exercise.  

How much does a child need to drink? 
A child needs 6-8 cups of fluid per day. 
One cup is equivalent to 240 milliliters which is equal to 8 ounces. 

What counts as fluid? 
-Water (the best hydrating liquid around)
-Milk (low fat and skim milk)
-100% juice (limited amounts due to the high amount of sugar and extra empty calories)
-Anything that is a liquid at room temperature (soup, Popsicle, smoothies, pudding etc.)


What are the signs of dehydration? 
Headache
Fatigue or tiredness
Lethargy or sleepiness/less active
Vomiting or nausea
Dry skin
Dizziness
Constipation
Dry or sticky mouth
And often times hunger




Thumbs up to low fat milk, water and 100% juice.

Thumbs down to sports drinks, energy drinks, sodas and non-100% juice drinks.

Stay hydrated and have a great school year! 

www.ABCDEatRight.com
Facebook: ABCD Eat Right 


Brandi@Abcdeatright.com 

Friday, August 14, 2015

Welcome your classmates and students back to school with these fun fruit masks!


The first week of school is a great time to remind students about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. 

Here are the 4 messages that the 
Back to School fruit mask discusses: 

1. Eat Breakfast everyday.
2. Stay hydrated by drinking at least 6 cups of water per day. 
3. Eat healthy by incorporating fruits and vegetables. 
4. Subtract sugary and processed foods and drinks. 

To download your free Back to School Mask click here

Have a great school year and don't forget to "like" our Facebook page: ABCD Eat Right or visit our Teachers Pay Teachers site



Thursday, January 8, 2015

Do you Drop? A new scale and app from Apple that makes cooking a cinch!

I have never been a perfectionist, but I love to cook. Recipes sometimes seemed too binding and having an innate desire to make foods healthier, that is the Dietitian in me, I often end up substituting ingredients. Making precise measurements always seemed a little bit too much for me and I prefer to wing it at times. If you are like me, or if you have young kids who are learning how to cook, you are going to LOVE this new creation by Apple called Drop Kitchen

How do you get started? 
First you purchase the scale, which costs about $100. Then you download the "Get Drop" app to your iPad. Once the app is downloaded it will sync with the scale. Then you are able to browse the recipes, which are amazing. The layout is similar to Pinterest which entices you with beautiful pictures of the food you can create. Once you have chosen the recipe, you gather the ingredients then get started. 

Who can use it?
Our five year old daughter was able to use it and loved it. I loved it because I no longer needed measuring cups or spoons, which always add to the dish washing load. 

Cooking gadgets are always pure joy to me and my husband did an awesome job when he surprised me by purchasing Drop for my Christmas present. I see cooking almost like therapy. I recommend this app and scale, especially when baking with kids. Enjoy!


Keep up with Americas Dietitian at:
www.ABCDEatRight.com
@ABCDEatRight1
Facebook: ABCD Eat Right

Monday, December 8, 2014

Are you planning on a healthy new year? Menu planning boxes are here!

Do you feel overwhelmed when deemed with the task of meal planning? Many of my clients did and quite honestly so do I at times. That is the reason I created "Take Out Recipes". I wanted an easy system that would help me plan, shop and prepare quick and healthy meals for my family and  my clients families. 


Here is how it works:
1. Pick 7 dinner cards to display in the clip magnets. 
2. Post the magnets on a magnetic board or refrigerator. 
3. Take the cards with you when shopping. 
4. Use the recipe cards, front and back to help prepare the quick meals. 
 


Encourage the family to help pick out new recipes. Some cards include: Eating out, steak night, pizza night and favorite family recipe night in order to make the cards more personalized. There are 7 breakfast ideas and 7 lunch box ideas to include in the system for a total for 30 cards!

Here is what you get: 7 clip magnets, 30 recipe cards, 1 display pocket magnet, a coupon for your next order and a Take Out Recipes, recipe box holder. 


Take Out Recipes have been around for over 10 years. This new design modernizes the recipe system as well as adds a colorful and easy display for the entire family to enjoy. 

Order yours today for only $35 + $5 shipping. More recipe cards will be out in February for an additional $20 per 30 cards. 

To order the extremely helpful Take Out Recipe box click here.

Join us on Facebook: ABCD Eat Right
Follow us on Twitter: @ABCDEatRight1
Visit our website: www.ABCDEatRight.com
Brandi@abcdeatright.com

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Will you be giving thanks to the potato this Thanksgiving?


Potatoes are the subtle, understated root vegetable that quietly grace the table during Thanksgiving. Whether its one of the orange, white, brown, yellow, red, purple or blue variety they all offer a source of complex carbohydrate that are rich in Potassium, containing even more than a banana, and Vitamin C, about half as much as an orange. Potatoes range in size and sometimes shape but still offer a small amount of protein, containing about as much as a cup of milk, which provides 8 grams of protein as well as range of antioxidants, depending on the color. 

Growing up I never appreciated the potato. We ate them twice baked in the microwave ( an 80's delight), scalloped, mashed and fried and every year for Thanksgiving we had a potato sausage stuffing. 

So no matter which variety is your families favorite, of the hundreds of potato varieties there are, we wanted to share some of our favorite potato recipes. 

Grandma-Tini's Potato, Sage and Sausage Stuffing. A tradition passed on for generations in our family. I remember peeling and dicing the potatoes, an easy task and great way to get the kids involved in Thanksgiving prep! 


Sweet potato quinoa and kale fritters For my friends that are in love with the kale and quinoa craze I thought that this recipe is a beautiful combination of several super foods. All I can say is delish! 

Honey roasted sweet potatoes with honey cinnamon dip. This one deserves high accolades for turning the potato into a dessert side! Although I did not create the recipe, when I first read the recipe I fell immediately in love. 



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Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Classroom Halloween Party ideas. What is a fruit mask?


From the very first day that I brought our son home I have worried about the nutritional health of our children. When they were infants I worried if breast milk was enough, when they were toddlers I worried about fortified finger foods and when they started school I stressed about simple snack time offerings. Schools made it a rule that homemade goodies were not allowed and parents, like myself, were left to choose only what the grocery stores have to offer which are refined, quick and for the most part sugar laden and unhealthy choices. I decided to make a list of unrefined snack ideas that can spruce up the Holiday party. I started with Halloween and came up with a list of seven unrefined, healthy Halloween classroom party ideas.

These seven tantalizing treats can be made by the children in a classroom setting with minimal mess or prep time. They are filled with vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein and calcium that are sure to keep the festivities going in a healthy and unrefined way.


Apple Costumes
Is that a bat in the classroom? No it’s an apple with a funny mask! This Vitamin C and fiber packed treat will keep those choppers chewing. Printout the free printable and wrap those washed red or green apples. These masks will make the whole fruit mysterious and appealing! To print out the apple masks click here to takeyou to the down loadable sheets.

Banana Ghost Pops
Where does a ghost go to take a swim? Well vanilla yogurt of course! Take half of a peeled banana and place the cut end on a Popsicle stick. Press the pointy side of two small chocolate chips into the banana to make the eyes. Frozen bananas with chocolate chips make this treat especially chilling. Using the Popsicle stick dip the banana ghost into a serving of low-fat vanilla yogurt. These potassium rich ghosts swimming in a sea of calcium and protein make a super hero snack. Click here to see them on our Pinterest page! 

Swamp Water and Bugs on a Raft
Nothing says swampy like green or brown juice! Mix 100% grape juice with 100% orange juice or purchase Green Machine juice by Naked brand for an authentic swampy effect. Maneuver the swamp on a rickety raft made of apple slices with a layer of nut butter and topped with raisins and/or chocolate chips. Serve raft and water separately.

Sangre Salsa Dip
Little vampires can’t resist the temptation to dip precut carrots, celery, baked blue corn chips or pretzel sticks into Vitamin C rich tomato salsa.

Mummy Unwrapped
Some mummies just don’t have it together. Take string cheese and peel the strands off and layer them in a whole wheat tortilla. Garnish with a tablespoon of hummus and matchstick carrots. Roll together all of the ingredients in the tortilla and enjoy this protein rich and whole grain ancient inspired spooky snack.  

Witch Mix
Bring out the cauldron to mix together these fall favorites including Pumpkin seeds, chocolate chips, dried edamame or dried peas, nuts, raisins, dried cranberries or apricots. This good witch mix will serve up vitamins, minerals and protein in a healthy blend.

Clementine Pumpkins
Small oranges, like Clementine’s or Cuties, can be eaten with ease by little hands. Peel the pumpkins and stick a 2 inch celery stick down the center of the pumpkin.
 

When it comes down to it, children like to play with their food, maybe even more than they like the bright colored, sugar filled character dressed candies, cakes and cookies. This year say goodbye to the wicked witch that brings in the artificial colors, chemicals and supped up sugar foods and say hello to the nutrition fairy that wants only healthy alternatives to ease the crazy holiday season.

R.I.P unhealthy classroom snacks.


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Check out our website: WWW.ABCDEatRight.com 



Monday, September 15, 2014

Recipes: Tour guides or the Law what do you think?


 vs. 

Do you ever follow a recipe? My clients are often asking me what I eat and what I cook for my family. I go back and forth and usually end up somewhere between following a recipe and branching off to substitute ingredients I don't have or know that my family won't eat. 

In the book Cooked: A natural history of transformation, Michael Pollan writes " the recipe is never the recipe". He continues with "a recipe is merely a sketch or notes". 

Maybe you know that, maybe you never follow a recipe and live on the edge when it comes to dinner time and you are able to throw together a meal without any qualms. But to some, recipes are the law, whatever the small font says, its followed to the utmost detail.  

Why does it matter if you follow a recipe or make up your own? 

Well...it really doesn't if you are an experienced cook. If you know how to balance meals and have your protein, vegetable, starch and dairy then you are good to go. 
But for those of us that are hindered and confused about the balance and just the anxiety of "what am I going to make every night" recipes can be key. 

Here is what I recommend...

1. Make it easy. Meal planning can be as easy as 1 + 2 + 3
Pick a flavor desired + pick a protein + side of carbohydrate and vegetables and fruits. Top off with making sure there is water or low fat milk to drink. 

2. Make it a task that is not hard and can be easily replicated

3. Use My Plate as a guide. 



Why is it important? 
1. Because planning meals are one of the best things that a family can do to stay healthy. 
2. Pre-planned meals help a family avoid fast food restaurants
3. Pre-planned meals help families stay within a budget. 


So you have burned a few pieces of toast or boiled plastic in with the pasta...things happen and there is always a new day and with each day a new idea and fabulous recipe. If you don't think cooking is fun, change your perspective. It doesn't have to be a chore, it can actually be a lab for experiments, a classroom for teaching and an area to grow and nourish your children. 

Good luck and if you need recipe ideas click here. Or if you want to check out a box full of recipes for only $40 with a menu planning system click here

**Image of child chopping vegetables by Hanna Mayo Photography. 

Twitter: @ABCD Eat Right1
www.ABCDEatRight.com
Brandi@ABCDEatright.com 


Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Breakfast...Why is it so important?



Do you eat breakfast? Do your kids eat breakfast? Studies have shown that children are more likely to eat breakfast when their parents eat breakfast. Sometimes parents are short on time and tend to skip breakfast as a habit. This habit leads to a day full of trying to catch up to achieve a better diet and higher energy level.
If we break down the logistics of breakfast we see that it has been roughly 8-12 hours overnight without food and now the day is about to begin. A long day of work or school is ahead, and it will be at least 3 hours until lunch. The body needs to refuel and get ready to face the day with a strong start. Breakfast provides the body with energy needed to sustain activity throughout the day. Without breakfast the brain and muscles may not have the energy that is needed to meet peak performance.
Research has shown that kids that do not eat breakfast have poor concentration and problem solving ability. Those that start the day with breakfast usually meet their protein, calorie and vitamin requirements throughout the day which leads to a more balanced diet. So start the day off right and remember...

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!

Here is a quick list of 15 Breakfast ideas:
1. Hard boiled, scrambled or fried eggs
2. Nut butter and banana sandwich
3. Yogurt and granola and/or fresh fruit
4.Cottage cheese and fruit
5. Milk and fruit smoothie
6. Frozen waffles with nut butter, fruit and honey 
7.Flavored milk (milk mixed with fresh fruit)
8. Trail mix ( dried fruit, whole grain cereal, nuts and seeds)
9. Cheese sandwich; Cereal with milk; Banana with nut butter; Pancakes made with bananas and flax seed; No cook muesli (see recipe below); Granola bars, nut bar or low sugar breakfast bars and milk; Oatmeal with raisins or frozen blueberries.

One or our favorite breakfast recipes: 


No Cook Muesli

1 cup plain nonfat or 2% yogurt
1 cup quick oats
1/2 cup slivered or chopped nuts
1 Tablespoon flaxseed
1 Tablespoon honey or syrup
1 cup fresh berries or a banana
In a blender combine the yogurt, oats, flaxseed and honey. Blend until the oats and nuts are in small pieces (about 30 seconds), then divide the muesli among 3 bowls and top with berries or bananas.
A quick and cool alternative to hot oatmeal.



Follow us on Facebook: ABCD Eat Right & Americas Dietitian
www.Americasdietitian.com
Brandi@abcdeatright.com

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Worst emails and uninspiring verbiage that got me mad and motivated

I recently received an email that was disappointing and discouraging at first. A message was left on my website that said "Why don't you clowns stay the hell out of school lunches and other peoples life. You and the clown first lady need to go find something to do". 


Really? I thought. Who would write something like that? Who would actually take time out of their day to write something so ridiculous and what would they have to gain from it? 

Many questions circulated my thoughts for the entire day after reading that message on a bright and sunny Sunday morning. Then  I thought that maybe I was making a difference in kids lives and that this person was not understanding the big picture. So where do I go from here? Well I am definitely not going to stop. I may be just one small dietitian, but I can make a difference!


August is Kids Eat Right month and I definitely have a lot of things to say about that! Kids Eat Right is an organization powered by Registered Dietitians, the nutrition experts, who provide resources solely for parents and teachers. For more information on the campaign visit: www.Kidseatright.org 

Another project I am excited about is FOOD DAY 2014! For the second year in a row FLIPANY ( an amazing non-profit in Broward County) was asked to organize the events and promotions for all of Florida. It's an honor and a huge task. This years focus is  "Justice throughout the food chain"- from farm workers to child consumers.  


I am also running a "Back to School" special event throughout August to help parents get back to school healthy and economically. Stay connected : ABCD Eat Right




Most children, globally, receive less than 4 hours of nutrition education PER YEAR. With that statistic alone I have been motivated to spread the word about healthy habits and increasing physical activity and YOU can help! Stay posted with our Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and webpages and help me spread the nutrition information that all parents, teachers and children need. You too can make a difference one post at a time. 

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Going out of town for a summertime trip? Five tips to eat right while you are on vacation!

Traveling is a great place to get in your refined foods. Theme parks, beaches and family reunions host a number of unhealthy eating choices. This is also a time of year where you may feel compelled to throw out your healthy eating habits and give in to the easy route of fast food and quick picks.

Here are five tips for circumventing the junk on your family vacay so that you don't go home feeling worse than you did before you left for your summer fun.


1. Research rocks-
A little pre-planning goes a long way. After you have picked your vacation city do a search for healthy fare in the area. Find out which restaurants have healthier choices. Here are a couple of websites I like to look at: www.vegdining.com and www.happycow.net

2. A little pre-shopping goes a long way-
Let's face it, no matter how hard we try there are very few "clean" options available at theme parks. The best that we did were salads but we ate at the best restaurant the theme park had. It's best to bring your own healthy snacks. When we went to the theme parks we loaded up on dried fruits (mangoes, raisins, cranberries), dried nuts, Kind bars, apples and oranges as well as bottled water.

3. Dine in-
When choosing a place to stay, consider a condo or renting a house. The ability to have a kitchen is by far a life saver when trying to avoid unrefined foods. Double check to see if you have access to a grill. This is a great way to spend time with the family in the great outdoors and an easy way to cook vegetables and lean meats.

4. Hydrate the right way
Don't forget about the importance of hydration. Sometimes being dehydrated gets in the way of eating healthy. Your efforts to take in extra fluids can lead to your intake of easy refined foods that are quick to grab when grabbing a drink. Bring your own water bottle full of water, fresh juice blends or smoothies.

5. Adventure hunt - Seek out local produce or farmers markets in the area where you are vacationing.When we were headed down to the Florida Keys we stopped at an amazing local fruit stand called Robert is Here. Our kids experienced amazing local tropical fruit and we bought enough local produce to last us the 4 days we were in Key Largo. To find local farmers markets in your area of vacationing visit:  http://www.localharvest.org/



Remember not to stress! Relax...you are on vacation.

Don't miss our BACK TO SCHOOL Series starting August 1st!
Brandi@ABCDEatRight.com

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Fireworks with Party Food for Fourth of July (Menu and recipes included)

I love the patriotic colors of the holiday and like to include red, white and blue in the festivity snacks although I prefer to not invite red dye #40 and blue dye #1 to the festivities. This holiday I have included a menu of delicious patriotic treats that can be included in your day of patriotic fun. 

Since breakfast is the most important meal of the day consider these strawberry waffles. The secret ingredient is white beans included for extra protein and fiber to fill the bellies and last them through the early morning sandcastle building or swimming. Click here for the delicious special release of my families test kitchen waffle.


 


Lunch:  Cream cheese, peanut butter and grape jelly wrapped in a whole wheat wrap served with a side of Hummus with red pepper, cauliflower, and purple carrots (can also be served in a wrap or pita bread) if PBC& J not a favored lunchtime item.

Snack: Firecracker/ eagles nest trail mix: popcorn, yogurt covered raisins, dried strawberries and pretzel sticks.


Dinner: Grilled chicken breast served with Watermelon, feta, blueberry and mint salad



Dessert: A fun frozen dessert or fruity cupcakes for the firework festivities. Frozen yogurt, blueberry and strawberry pops or Watermelon cupcakes.

 
Have a great Fourth of July!
Facebook: Americas Dietitian & ABCD Eat Right
@ABCDEatRight1

Monday, March 31, 2014

Wrapping up #NationalNutritionMonth2014

Today is the last day of March and hopefully you have picked up a few tips that were beneficial to your families overall health and well being. This years theme "Enjoy the taste of eating right" has many different messages. First, healthy food can taste good and second, eating healthy can be an enjoyable event. Just because you don't like cooked broccoli doesn't mean you won't like it raw dipped in hummus. 

Here are 5 key messages to take away from 
National Nutrition Month: 

1. Eat from the proportions recommended by the My Plate. 

2. Avoid Fast food restaurants as much as possible. Remember fruit is the original fast food. 

3. Learn to cook, share it with your kids and make your kitchen a family friendly place.


4. Make sure to brake for breakfast. Breakfast is a great way to start off the day. Choose protein, whole grains and fresh fruit to start the day in a healthy way. 

5. When you need the most accurate and up to date advice seek out a true nutrition expert, a Registered Dietitian. 

Stay connected throughout the year:
Facebook: ABCD Eat Right and America's Dietitian
Twitter: @AbcdEatRight1
Website: www.ABCDEatRight.com
Email: Brandi@Abcdeatright.com

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Delicious dairy and perfect protein



Did you know that after the age of 2 years old, children no longer need whole milk dairy products? They still receive the protein, calcium and vitamin D that whole fat milk provides, just with fewer calories and fat, when choosing skim milk and low fat milk. Children should consume 2-3 servings of dairy a day. A serving includes: 1 cup milk, 1 cup yogurt, 1 ½ ounces cheese. 

Protein is one of the most important food groups to include in the diet. Without protein a person will not feel full and miss out on many of the essential amino acids that can only be found in protein containing foods. Protein can be found in beef, chicken, fish, pork, eggs, beans, seeds, soy, dairy, nut and to a lesser degree green leafy vegetables and whole grain products. Roughly a 1/4 of kids meals should consist of a protein containing food. Protein should be chosen from lean meats, low-fat or skim dairy products and should be baked or broiled as much as possible. Frying foods adds unnecessary calories and fats to foods. For healthy and fun ways to include protein in your families diet check out the My Plate Recipes Pinterest board for great recipes!

Even though National Nutrition Month is almost over, dairy and protein 
should be included in a healthy diet throughout the year. 

Keep up with the latest nutrition tips and advice by a Nutrition expert:
Facebook: ABCD Eat Right or Americas Dietitian
Twitter: @ABCDeatRight1
www.ABCDEatright.com 
Brandi@ABCDEatRight.com 

Thursday, February 6, 2014

A food review...written by kids...for kids...will it work?

In my constant quest to encourage kids to try new foods it brought me to an interesting idea. Why not have the kids become food critics? Now I'm not talking about the whiny, grouchy, pouty "That looks yucky" sort of critique that might be common when trying new foods. I am talking about turning the tables and have them WANT to try a new food. This technique does not involve sneaking in pureed vegetables but it does call for a little bit of persuasive conversation.

If a child thinks that it is a game or that they are somehow in control they are much more apt to trying new foods. It starts at the grocery store. Have them pick out a new vegetable, fruit or new food. Have them help determine how to cook or prepare it (guided by you of course or an easy recipe). Once the food is cooked hand them a magnificent food review and let them fill in all of the questions. Discuss the food and how it tastes, looks, and how it could be improved. Make this a weekly routine,  and odds are they will love it!

Now I know what you are thinking, what if this backfires, they write a review and still loath green peas.  A food review is a way of looking at green peas in a whole new light. First they picked them out, then they saw them or helped include them in a recipe and then they got to explore the food. You didn't argue with them, you didn't force them or bribe them and they get an opportunity to help change the food to a way they might like it.

Sometimes traveling down the road of trying new foods can be a bumpy and uncomfortable one. On one hand you want to expose your child to new foods and on the other hand the arguing just doesn't feel like worth the battle when it has been a long day. It is sometimes tempting to take the easy way out and just make the mac and cheese because you know they will have a full belly before bedtime. The best thing is that as they review, they taste and explore new foods! Add the element of a food review to your weekly routine and watch the kids as they broaden their food choices and practice a little descriptive writing.

For a food review template click here. There are Four versions of the food review so choose the printable template that you feel is most appropriate for the age of your child.

 
Here is a sample of two food reviews done during the Super Bowl game. My son and a neighbor chose raspberries to review. Our neighbor had never tried a raspberry before. My intention was for them to try the buffalo hummus or the pink cauliflower but I wasn't quick enough in my explanation :)

For future recipe ideas and help with menu planning purchase Take Out Recipes which provides 7 breakfast, 7 lunch and 24 dinner recipes/ideas that can be displayed in slip pocket magnets. Order yours today!

Facebook: ABCD Eat Right
Twitter: ABCDeatRight1

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Do you "Bust or Boom" on a food budget?


I don't mind staying within a budget, it is the pre-planning for the budget that is tough to get me to do. Deciding how much to spend and writing out menus for the week is an ominous task, likely because that is what I do for many of my clients. It's easier for me to plan other people's meals and food budgets and harder for me to set my mind to my own families. The realization that I really needed to work on my own families food budget came to fruition after I reflected on the vastly different food shopping experiences I had over the weekend.
 
Friday
I had a general idea of what I wanted to make for dinner. Friday's we usually grill and so I knew I wanted to get steaks and vegetables. Having recently gone back to eating meat, over the past year, I only like to purchase beef, chicken and fish that are grass fed, without hormones and not farmed respectively. That being said, I know up front that I will have to pay more. I decided to go to my local "healthier" (aka more expensive) grocery store and ended up purchasing steaks, vegetables, crackers, mozzarella cheese, sea salt and wine. My end food related grocery bill was $65. After a slight heart attack I decided that maybe premium steaks were not really that much better than Herford steaks which is the question that the butcher asked me. I had no idea but decided that that was the price that I would pay (about $8 difference for premium over Herford) for not researching what I was buying and of course pre-planning my menu.
I purchased artichoke hearts, an avocado, a tomato and pre-made veggie kabobs. We grilled steaks, veggie kabobs and steamed the artichoke hearts. I also made a Caprese salad with the tomato, mozzarella cheese and fresh basil from my garden. It was delicious but in the end, I think I could have done a lot better with my food budget.
 
Saturday
I went to a Community garden and spent $7 on the fruits and vegetables that are pictured below. I will be able to turn this purchase into 2-3 different meals. I will still have to purchase chicken and fish but expect that to not cost more than $15. A much better deal.
 
After reflecting on why I spend too much money on food I came to a realization that I view grocery shopping as an adventure and love to find new foods and recipes on a whim. I don't think this is a bad trait to have but I think that in the future it will be beneficial to become more of a frugal shopper.

Here are 5 things I could work on to improve my food budget:
 
1. I did not pre-plan very well.
2. I purchased conveniently cut up vegetables which cost a little more.
3. I purchased some vegetables (mainly artichokes) that were not necessarily in season.
4. I did not use any coupons (sometimes I get produce coupons for Super Target, which can really add up).
5. I did not buy anything in bulk, which in some things like carrots and potatoes can save money.
 
 I may have some work to do in the area of food budgeting but I know that it is always a work in progress and always room for improvement! How do  you do with your families meal planning and food budget? If you need a little help email me or Facebook message me for more information.
 
Facebook: ABCD Eat Right & 
The Dietitians Husband Unrefined