Quality Ingredients Matter If you ask me, the quality of ingredients really matters when making a great summer basil pesto. Why? Because each ingredient contributes to the flavor you experience when you roll it around in your mouth and over your tongue. Let's look one-by-one at the ingredients in a super tasty basil pesto made in the summertime. If you need a recipe, here's my recipe for summer basil pesto. Fresh Basil: The very best basil for pesto is what you grow yourself. It's really fun to grow fresh herbs - and easy, too. Basically, you need to find a sunny spot in your … [Read more...] about Summer Basil Pesto – It’s All About the Ingredients!
Kids & Desserts
Kids and Desserts - Memories I still remember being a kid and asking for a sweet dessert after dinner - every night. But, that was not what happened in my family. Mom treated us once a week with a sweet dessert, usually a small scoop of vanilla ice cream in a small 7-Up Float. Yep, it was super sweet, but small, and I'm grateful now for my mom's wisdom and follow-through with managing desserts for her kids. Kids and Desserts - The Downside Giving kids a lot of sugary desserts has definite downsides - for example: too many dental visits with big bills too scrawny appetites for … [Read more...] about Kids & Desserts
How to Eat More Vegetables
The Why? There are probably more than 100 reasons why to eat more vegetables. I don't want to get boring or teachy-preachy, though. So, I'm going to boil it down to 10 quick reasons why: 1.Colors 2. Flavors 3. Crunch 4. Creamy 5. Sweet 6. Delicious 7. Filling 8. Fun shapes 9. Inexpensive 10. Nutritious The How? There are at least 50 ways to eat more vegetables. Here are 10 of my favorites: 1. Add some sliced cucumbers to your breakfast. 2. Pack a big handful of carrots, radishes, celery into your lunch. 3. Keep a couple cans of tomato juice or V8 in … [Read more...] about How to Eat More Vegetables
10 Ways to Enjoy the Holidays with Less Sugar
Holiday Mindset What's your mindset going into holiday season? If you make your mind up to indulge less and pay attention more to what you eat and drink, then you may be pleasantly surprised. Getting to a New Year with healthier habits in place is a feeling of confidence and victory - and who doesn't like that?! May I suggest you pre-think the sugary foods you normally eat or drink from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day? Then, try your best to eat less, fewer, smaller. Or, sub in something less sugary that you feel good about. 10 Ways to Enjoy the … [Read more...] about 10 Ways to Enjoy the Holidays with Less Sugar
A Grocery Cart of On-Budget, Smart Nutrition
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
A Loaded Baked Potato & Other Nutritious Substitutions
I grew up eating a lot of baked potatoes. It was one of my mother's go-to dinner starches that was easy to make for our family of 5. Nothing fancy, just a little butter and once-in-a-while, a bit of sour cream. Then, about 10 years ago, baked potatoes and baked potato skins rocketed themselves onto every restaurant menu. The big difference is that modern baked potatoes and skins are all about the decadent toppings, right? There's butter, sour cream, and lots of melted cheese. And, don't forget the bacon. A Modern, Loaded & Nutritious Baked Potato Yes, it's easy to put together a … [Read more...] about A Loaded Baked Potato & Other Nutritious Substitutions