Are you ever surprised at your grocery tab at checkout? I've been surprised many times at how high my tab is because, well, good food is not cheap. But, this time, I was surprised that I got in-and-out of the store for less than $20! You can see my entire cart in the picture and I'll admit it wasn't a full week's worth of food. Still, I was feeling super proud of my smart shopping skills and staying on-budget as I headed home from this mid-week grocery run. If you're interested in some insights on a nutritious grocery cart fill-up, then take a look at my earlier blog here. On-Budget Smart … [Read more...] about A Grocery Cart of On-Budget, Smart Nutrition
Healthy Car Snacks for Vacation or Not
Car Trips and Snacking My friends usually laugh at me when I pull out a 'pocket snack' while on the road. Actually, I'm one of those people who carries a snack just about everywhere I go. Yes, maybe I'm driving 4 hours or 8, or maybe I'm just headed to the other side of town. When you pack up your car for vacation, or a much shorter drive, do you include healthy snacks? Why Bring Along Healthy Car Snacks? My 3 favorite reasons to be smart with snacking in the car boil down to adding a burst of physical & mental energy, saving money, and cashing in on an opportunity to eat a fruit … [Read more...] about Healthy Car Snacks for Vacation or Not
What’s in Your Grocery Bag for the New Year?
What's in Your Grocery Bag for the New Year? This is a question I like to ask when I offer fun nutrition programs to people around my community. After a pause, I usually hear confident answers like fruits and vegetables! OK, that's a great start for everyone's grocery bag. But, don't stop there. Take some time to think about how your bag reflects balance, variety and moderation. These are smart things to ponder, too. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, lean meat, poultry, fish, nuts, seeds. It all adds up to a top-notch grocery bag for energizing your personal nutrition! What's in … [Read more...] about What’s in Your Grocery Bag for the New Year?
What is a Grocery Store Tour?
What is A Grocery Store Tour? Are you: Overwhelmed by all the varieties in the grocery store? Confused by food labels and stressed out by rising food costs? Worried about the choices in your grocery cart? On a grocery store tour, you will: Walk through the store with Cindy, a registered dietitian with 17 years in the grocery industry Target specific aisles to explore for healthy choices Learn to shop for easy meal solutions that meet your needs Become more confident looking for good nutrition at an affordable price Feel free to ask questions and know you can … [Read more...] about What is a Grocery Store Tour?
Go Green with Greens for Good Nutrition this Fall!
Eating Seasonally! When fall is in the air, like today, I cook leafy greens. It's not that I grew up eating a lot of greens because I didn't. The only green my sister, brother and I found on our dinner plate was spinach and I wasn't too excited about it back then. When I moved south of the Mason-Dixon Line, first to Virginia and later to North Carolina, I began appreciating the special foods of the Southeast - like greens. When I got hooked on Farmer's Markets, I began craving greens of all kinds! Kinds of Greens! I especially love Swiss Chard and you can see it in the photo at the … [Read more...] about Go Green with Greens for Good Nutrition this Fall!
Back-to-School with a Healthier and Cheaper Sandwich!
Are you tired of sandwiches? After the first week of kindergarten, my son came home and said to me, "Mom, I'm tired of sandwiches." Oh boy, I thought, what else can I use as the anchor to his healthy bag lunch? I pulled out all my most creative thoughts and came up with things like whole grain crackers with cheese, bread sticks with peanut butter and honey to dip, and a rolled sandwich on a tortilla. Are you tired of the same old sandwich? Unlike my son, I have always been more-or-less a sandwich lover. But I get tired of the same old sandwich. I vary it between tuna salad, hummus and … [Read more...] about Back-to-School with a Healthier and Cheaper Sandwich!