The Best Homemade Toothpaste!

I have made toothpaste only a couple of times recently and found/created a wonderful blend this morning.  

Okay, your thinking 'homemade toothpaste?', Come On!  But, do you realize how many harmful chemicals are in standardized toothpaste?  Some of these horrible chemicals are Sodium Lauryl Sulphate(SLS), Triclosan, diethanolomine and Isopropyl Alcohol.  Did you know Flouride can be fatal for children when consumed in high dosages?

Want more info?  Heres a great easy list from the Chicago Tribune.

Okay, there are some safe ones out there but be careful, even the standard toothpaste by Toms of Maine has SLS in it.  We have been using one called Xyliwhite and love it, but its pretty expensive in my mind at 3.75 a tube PLUS shipping.

Here is my version, give it a shot, we really think its wonderful!

Erins Yummy Toothpaste

Ingredients;

baking soda appx 1/4 cup

xylitol appx 1+ Tbs

salt appx 1/2 tsp

liquid glycerine appx less than 1/4 cup

essential oil 1-2 ml (maybe 1/4 tsp?)

(these are all very approximate as I dont write my toothpaste recipes down, really I just go by taste and feel.  Its not a science, trust me!)

Directions; 

Pour baking soda in a bowl, add salt and xylitol(I ground up the xylitol with my pestle and mortar as the first batch this morning was too grainy).  

Drizzle in the glycerine till you get a toothpaste like consistency.  

Add essential oils to taste.  

I made a cinnamon version earlier today that was so cinnamon-y it made my tongue numb so be careful, that was also due to a lot of testing!  My second batch, the white one, turned out perfect!  Crushing the xylitol was really key to a perfect product, and so was lots of peppermint oil!  If it was in a tube nobody would even know it was homemade!  

Oh, except it doesn't foam.  I have been using natural toothpaste so long I forgot that companies use the SLS and other foaming agents in theirs.  So, yes, you may miss the messy foaming over sensation and huge mess in the sink.  Your welcome.

I store mine in baby food jars and we just dip our dry toothbrush into it before each use.  If you are concerned about the cleanliness of this just keep half a popsicle stick in the jar for sanitary spreading, or make each family member their own jar.

I have not calculated the cost of this but I can assure you it is minimum.  The initial cost of some of these supplies is certainly a factor but once you have them they should last for many, many years.  I purchase my essential oils and glycerine from a local to me and wonderful company called Brambleberry.  I highly recommend them as they always have the very best prices (I know as I compare often always trying to get the best deal), they ship super fast plus the business is run by a regular women, just like me and you.

I got my xylitol from my mother who probably ordered it from iHerb where she gets all of her natural supplements and products, at least the ones I don't make for her!  Im sure any health food store or many grocers would carry this as well.  Check in the natural baking section by the sugars.

The xylitol is a very important ingredient in this product as it has been shown to fight cavities better than fluoride and even has REVERSED cavity deterioration in many studies.  Actually, my mother is an example so I am a true believer.  

Go now,  make some toothpaste and impress your family!  Go on!

convenience (for me!) food

While my husband is away for a few days I have decided in order to make survival of raising a toddler w/ molars coming in and sleep issues without any help, I need to make things easier on myself. I wont be cooking while he is away. I feel this will allow more time playing with our baby and keeping her happy while maintaining my sanity! (aka; not having a huge mess in the kitchen to clean up 3x per day)

While this may seem like no big deal to many of you, keep in mind that we are vegetarian and I keep my daughter on a vegan diet as well. And, we are on a budget and I generally eat really healthy. Fast food is out, 'prepared' frozen meals are out and Im not about to spend big money on gormet veggie take out.

Instead I have prepared a few things for us to enjoy while we are having some quality girl time together.

First, I made a big batch of peanut butter oatmeal muffins that we can have for breakfasts and snacks. They were a little dry so I wont share the recipe!


Second, I made a HUGE salad. I chopped up any vegetable we had, some peas and even a green apple and threw it together. I plan many things for this salad, and have enjoyed a few already!

1: Taco Salad; throw on a can of pinto beans, chips, thousand island

2: Boca Wrap; microwave boca throw in tortilla w/ salad mix and tofu ranch!

3: Soup and Salad; heat up a can of soup, pour balsamic on salad

4: Burrito; heat up a frozen burrito, throw it on salad and pour on salsa

This will keep up happy and healthy while not tempting me to eat chips for dinner or to create a big mess in the kitchen!

(of course I am posting this after he returns home as to not advertise being alone!)

I love winning natural products!

Last week I found out I won this wonderful Zarbees natural cough syrup from Jane at All Together Beautiful.  

So many conventional products used these days are so horribly harmful to our bodies.  That is why I am converting our family slowly to living on 100% natural products.  

My daughter is first, of course!  She has never had any drugs in her little precious body.  I never even took a tylenol during pregnancy!  This cough syrup is something that we will use and continue to buy more of!

As Zarbees is completely natural and loaded with honey, your kids will love it, no horrible drug or alcohol taste!   It is packed with Vitamin C and Zinc, well known for kicking colds and boosting the immune system. 

Harmons stores in Utah seem to carry it, and Im sure others will soon!  The rest of us will have to buy it on-line from the Zarbees site, but shipping is free!

Thank you so much Jane, and thank you Zarbees!

why I don't do 'diet'

Okay, now Im going to bore you with some of my healthy propaganda...

From ABC News: (whole article here)

A Purdue University study released Sunday in the journal Behavioral Neuroscience reported that rats on diets containing the artificial sweetener saccharin gained more weight than rats given sugary food, casting doubt on the benefits of low-calorie sweeteners.

"There's something about diet foods that changes your metabolic limit, your brain chemistry," said ABC News' medical contributor Dr. Marie Savard.
Though Savard said more research needs to be done to uncover more information, the study does hint at the idea that the sweeteners alter a person's metabolism.
Savard said another recent study, which included more than 18,000 people, found healthy adults who consumed at least one diet drink a day could increase their chance for 

weight gain.

THE LETHAL SCIENCE OF SPLENDA,
A POISONOUS CHLOROCARBON
By James Bowen, M.D.

"Splenda/sucralose is simply chlorinated sugar; a chlorocarbon. Common chlorocarbons include carbon tetrachloride, trichlorethelene and methylene chloride, all deadly. Chlorine is nature's Doberman attack dog, a highly excitable, ferocious atomic element employed as a biocide in bleach, disinfectants, insecticide, WWI poison gas and hydrochloric acid.

"Sucralose is a molecule of sugar chemically manipulated to surrender three hydroxyl

 groups (hydrogen + oxygen) and replace them with three chlorine atoms. Natural sugar is a hydrocarbon built around 12 carbon atoms. When turned into Splenda it becomes a chlorocarbon, in the family of Chlorodane, Lindane and DDT.

Dr. Bowen continues: "Just like aspartame, which achieved marketplace approval by the Food and Drug Administration when animal studies clearly demonstrated its toxicity, sucralose also failed in clinical trials with animals. Aspartame created brain tumors in rats. Sucralose has been found to shrink thymus glands (the biological seat of immunity) and produce liver inflammation in rats and mice.
"In the coming months we can expect to see a river of media hype expounding the virtues of Splenda/sucralose. We should not be fooled again into accepting the safety of a toxic chemical on the blessing of the FDA and saturation advertising. In terms of potential long-term human toxicity we should regard sucralose with its chemical cousin DDT, the insecticide now outlawed because of its horrendous long term toxicities at even minute trace levels in human, avian, and mammalian tissues.

"Synthetic chemical sweeteners are generally unsafe for human consumption. This toxin was given the chemical name "sucralose" which is a play on the technical name of natural sugar, sucrose. One is not the other. One is food, the other is toxic; don't be deceived.

Aspartame: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You (from Mercola.com -whole article here)
Aspartame is, by far, the most dangerous substance on the market that is added to foods.

Aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA. Many of these reactions are very serious including seizures and death.(1) A few of the 90 different documented symptoms listed in the report as being caused by aspartame include: Headaches/migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia, vision problems, hearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, loss of taste, tinnitus, vertigo, memory loss, and joint pain.

According to researchers and physicians studying the adverse effects of aspartame, the following chronic illnesses can be triggered or worsened by ingesting of aspartame:(2) Brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, parkinson's disease, alzheimer's, mental retardation, lymphoma, birth defects, fibromyalgia, and diabetes.

Aspartame is made up of three chemicals: aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol. The book "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," by James and Phyllis Balch, lists aspartame under the category of "chemical poison." As you shall see, that is exactly what it is.

There are so many alternatives out there!  Stay away from the poison!

keeping those goals in sight...

Its that time of year again where most of us want to shed those extra holiday pounds we have packed on.  Or that baby weight, or those pounds that creep up on us as we sit in front of a computer all day....

Most of us are simply not realistic when it comes to how much we can loose and how we are going to do it.  I just read a wonderful simple set of rules on one of my new favorite inspirational blogs Frugal Weightloss.  Amy really has things layed out in such a simple and effective manner.  She makes it fun and easy!

Check it out!

Eating Healthy in 2009

So many of us have resolutions to loose weight this year.  

Last year my resolution was to loose all of my baby weight and get back to a healthier size.  I was able to accomplish that, and I am so proud of all the hard work I did.  Working for so many years as a medical secretary was not good for my body.  Sitting all day on the computer really helped me 'beef up' my back side, along with a little help from cookies and unhealthy foods, that is!

Being raised in a very healthy family on a mostly vegetarian and whole foods diet I have been given the gift of knowledge-of-health.  I thank both of my parents for these teachings.  It was so easy for me to regain my trim figure as I know how to do it quite simply: 

1)  I know what to eat and I know what not to eat. 

2)  I also know that you don't burn calories sitting down!  Funny, I actually do most of my blogging standing up in the kitchen, I didn't even realize that till now!

I have been inspired by a very good friend to help encourage her to loose some of the weight that has crept up on her over the past few years.  This is encouraging to me as I want to firm up what is left of my mid-section surplus.  I think we can be inspiration to each other and maybe to you, too.

I will leave a link today to Dr McDougalls site.  Years ago when we lived in CT I tried his 'diet plan in a box' out with a friend.  His beliefs are equal to mine and I found enjoyment in purifying my body through his easy "Health Kits".    I totally recommend all of his stuff!

I will be back with more health tips!  I just love talking 'healthy'!

Day 15; Healthy Vegan Diet

Two week check up;

Well, we are half way through our month of a healthy vegan diet.  I am feeling pretty good.  My body is really happy and feeling lighter.  No more sugar and fat highs and lows.  I am glad to be waking up feeling good every morning, no more 'heavy meal hangovers' (that friday night pizza!).

Now, this diet really isn't much different than how I really eat on a normal basis.  To my surprise, I don't miss the cheese on my pizza one bit.  I do have silly little cravings for it now and then, though.  I do have some soy cheese and that seems to cease those needs a little, plus, I still do need a treat now and then.

I have also re-discovered packaged bread crumbs.  What a wonderful (and cheaper than soy) alternative to parmesan cheese!  I am putting it on all my pastas, yum!

I have been checking my weight periodically and discovered (before Thanksgiving!!) that I had lost a pound so far this month.  That is pretty impressive since I don't have a ton of excess to loose!

I then weighed myself after Thanksgiving and noticed that my pound had creeped back.  Well, maybe it wasn't a good idea to weigh myself so soon after a big feast.  I will check again later this week. (as soon as all that leftover pie is gone!!)  Maybe November and December are the worst months to try to loose weight and get healthier.  

Oh, well.  Maybe in January I will try this again and be stricter.  Holiday treats have been just a little to tempting this season.

For the rest of this month I will keep a food diary.  I know this will help me limit my 'holiday treats' (low sugar vegan cookies, breads and wine!)  I also have not been eating enough fruit, this new food diary will help me monitor that as well.  And, I need to be better about doing my yoga EVERY DAY.

Can't wait to see where I am at next week!

Really healthy Friday night dinner.

Day 7 of our Healthy, Healthy Vegan Month;



What a great dinner we had last night. The vegan pizza turned out really well, and I am a little surprised after the bread dough incident.

I made this great whole wheat pizza dough recipe for the first time in my bread machine. When the dough was done it looked bad. Very runny and had sunk a ton after rising. I took it out, and after some advice from my mother, kneaded some white flour back into it. Well, it was a little hard to work with, kept falling apart, but I'd say it was still a success as we loved it. I am not sure if I made a mistake or the recipe was not designed for a bread machine and thats what caused it. If I try it again I will let you all know!!

What did turn out wonderful was the pizza sauce I made. I figured since we were going to be cheese-less, then the sauce better be darn good. Hunts Pasta Sauce in a can just wasn't going to cut it. I did double the oregano and the garlic in the recipe and we felt that was a very wise choice, it was to die for. I am planning to make this again and freeze a bunch.

We snacked on a fresh veggie tray and water while we cooked. My husband even put some peanut butter down some of the celery for a special treat. Mmmmmmm...

Next were the cookies. I have been searching for a good vegan, sugar free, fat free, whole wheat cookie. Oh, and I wont use artificial sugar 'substitutes' either, not even Splenda (NOT natural, by the way). Of course I could not find what I wanted on the web, so I adapted a recipe and came up with some pretty wonderful Oatmeal Cookies. Half the batch had raisins, half did not. We preferred the raisin batch. My daughter loved them both the same (she is one). I did put a little sugar in them, 1/4 cup, but that is not terrible dispersed out between a couple dozen big cookies.

Here is my recipe. (or scroll down to previous post) Try them, they are so very quick and easy to make. I was done with the dough before the oven was even warmed up!!

30 day Vegans

We have decided to stick to a 100% healthy vegan diet for the next 30 days.

Well, actually we've already started Saturday, just planning to go through the weekend, but thought it best to do this for a whole month.

Usually we eat 'almost vegan'.  I cook primarily vegan with the exception of parmesan cheese and light sour cream, my two favorites.  We also do have cheese on our pizza on fridays, sometimes ice cream and other treats containing dairy on occasion.  I don't touch meat, and due to mercury/breastfeeding concerns no seafood for me as well. (don't worry, I do take a hight quality fish oil supplement) 

My husband does have some meat and dairy when he buys lunch during his workdays when I don't get time to make him a healthy sack lunch.  We also have been eating a large amount of treats lately.  Be it Halloween candy, goodies when guests are in town, lots of birthday cakes and other yummy indulgences as well.

We are going to swear off all dairy (99%, I won't worry about milk powder in prepared breads and the like), stay away from sugar and desserts, and keep excess fat out of our diets.  All this for 30 days.  We are both excited to see the results.  

I have a few more pounds I want to shed to make some of my pre-baby (and pre-secretary jobs!) clothes fit better.  I am so excited that I can once again fit into some really nice pairs of pants I bought just 6 years ago and just 2-3 pounds more and they will actually look right!!  Thus feeds my desire to lean down a bit.

My husband will continue working out 2-3 times per week after work, as he has started to do a few weeks ago.  I have started to do yoga in my living room (with daughter laughing at my feet) last week.

Wish us luck and I will share our progress and some really, REALLY healthy recipes.

A Vegetarian Thanksgiving.

I have been asked maybe a million times what I eat for Thanksgiving. Gee, most foods served at the table are vegetarian and all can even be made vegan using margarine instead of butter and soy instead of milk, ect. Potatoes, stuffing, green beans, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, mmmmm....

Except that darn turkey. There is just no substitute for a dead.... okay, I'll be nice. There is no substitute for genuine poultry , unless you try Tofurkey. Tofurkey is an awesome vegan turkey substitute for people stuck in the old fashioned tradition of having to have a cooked animal on display for the holiday gatherings. We love it!

I have eaten my fair share of Tofurkeys and particularly love the package meal-deal that comes with everything from the 'bird', to the stuffing, and cranberries. They also come in just the roast, which is more affordable.

I buy mine at my local Central Market but Im sure most natural grocers sell them as well. Print off your $1.50 coupon here and see how your family likes it this year!

Healthier Food on a Dime

Since jumping into the Coupon World I have started to purchase so many foods I have never even thought of eating in the past.  Many of these foods are not very healthy, but a good couponer just cannot turn down a great deal, especially when an item is just pennies or even free!!

I have discovered that some of these prepared meals can be quite handy and made healthier while saving lots of precious time during those nights you need it the most.  Here are my tips to creating those packaged dinners into healthier meals.

Box Dinners

Macaroni Grill meals; instead of chicken I use broccoli and a little fresh garlic,  also throw in a handful of whole wheat noodles when you cook the pasta

Macaroni and Cheese; use just a dab of margarine or butter, substitute soy milk, add steamed broccoli and a can of drained italian diced tomatoes

Hamburger Helper; try beans instead of meat, also add fresh or canned tomatoes and frozen spinach, fresh or dry oregano and italian herbs, it will make it more 'lasagna like' anyway

Waichi Ferry Chinese; we used tofu instead of chicken and it was fantastic, also added fresh garlic and broccoli, plus threw in some brown rice with the white it came with and cooked together

Pantry Items

Instant Potatoes; I make mine with a lowfat unsweetened soymilk, also look for other ways to use them, potato soups can be very healthy

Knorr Sides and other noodle/rice side dishes;  make them using very little oil or butter and add lots of vegetables.  Look on the back of the package at the ingredients for ideas on what to add.  If it contains carrots and basil, add more carrots and basil!

Dairy Items

Yogurts; contain a lot of sugar so mix with a bunch of fresh fruit to create a fruit salad.

Cheeses; save these for dishes that really need them= pizza

Frozen Dinners

Dipping foods (chicken nuggets, pizza rolls, hot pockets); serve with fresh cut up veggies to dip as well

Lean Cuisine type meals; if you are eating these you must be in a hurry so also throw some frozen veggies in the microwave and mix them in!

Large Prepared Frozen Meals (like Bertolli) add other frozen vegetables and cook together, also spice it up a little with some seasonings

Box Desserts

Brownie Mix; substitute applesauce instead of oil, add some chopped nuts and dust with powdered sugar instead of frosting

Box cakes; substitute half of the oil for applesauce, add a few tablespoons of whole wheat flour or ground flaxseed, add fruit if it would be appropriate (raisins in a spice or carrot cake, strawberries in a berry or lemon cake) dust with powdered sugar instead of frosting.

Muffin Mix; add a few spoonfuls of oatmeal to the mix, add frozen berries, cut half the oil with applesauce

Cookies; add a few Tbs of oatmeal or ground flax, add raisins and nuts

Also beware of harmful chemicals in these foods.  MSG, chemicals, and added coloring are not good for our growing childrens bodies.  I do not feed these foods to my daughter and encourage you to find other options for you little ones as well.

Do you have any great healthy alterations you make to food?

Help for Arthritis

Do you or a loved one have Rhumatoid Arthritis?  Suffering from a painful condition can be bad enough let alone trying to cover medical costs.  HelpPayRA.com is a company dedicated to helping you or loved ones get educated about financial services and help.  Register here for this completely free tool that I feel will enrich anyones road to knowledge about RA.  

Cloth Pads, thats right, Menstrual Pads!

Well, my husband thinks I am crazy. First for trying these, second for 'telling the world' (his words!). If you have read my blog before you know that I am a huge cloth fan. I use cloth towels in the kitchen instead of paper towels, cloth diapers and wipes on the babe, cloth grocery bags... so why not on myself?

I have read so much about how much other women really love cloth, it is softer, lack of chemicals results i n a shorter and lighter period, and they are cheaper (or free if you have fabric on hand!). Not even to start with the whole environmental aspect.

If you can get over the gross factor (it took me about 6 months of considering to do so) and just realize we have to deal with this whole period issue no matter what. It is really not going to be much different. I wash diapers anyway so it wont create any extra tasks or even waste any extra water. And I just cannot wait to see how comfortable they really are, all I read is how much women just love them!!

I have done a lot of research and used some really wonderful and easy patterns off this website here , do check it out, at least see how pretty they are! I also was inspired by this great blog To Love Honor and Vacuum, she was less formal on making hers and it just seemed so easy and fun I really had a great time making them! This site here was especially helpful in choosing my fabrics, she also has a lot of great information to share. A great help so I was able to use materials I had on hand. I will have to purchase some snaps to add later as I have read that velcro can be scratchy!

I was hoping to get the chance to use these by today so I could report on how they worked and how comfortable they are but it might be a few days yet! I will be sure to let everyone know how much I love/hate them just as soon as I get that chance!

My lesson: stock up for the flu.

I am the kind of person who likes to have a full pantry, freezer and shelves. Bu,t I guess who doesn't.  I generally keep 'sick' foods on hand such as juice, saltines, applesauce and some mild noodle soups.  When we got hit with the flu last week I was happy to have a large jar of applesauce and crackers on hand.  As I have been otherwise busy(and we have an extra adult living with us right now) our food supply was pretty low, we were out of a few things.

It would have been nice if I hadn't had to send my mother to the grocery store for more items.  She doesn't use coupons but did purchase mostly store brand, thank goodness!  In the future I plan to set aside these mild foods and even write on them to be sure we have plenty the next time the flu hits my house.

When I am able to hit up any of these grocery items at a great deal I will be sure to grab extras for my 'sick' stock.  I encourage you to do the same.  Remember to change out the supply a couple times a year if it doesn't get used!

My 'sick' list;

saltines

veggie noodle soup

apple juice

sprite/7up

ginger ale

apple sauce (a really huge jar)

Weigh-In Friday

Well, its another weigh-in Friday for me.  Since I had my daughter last November I have been trying (and sometimes not trying at all!) to loose all the 'baby' weight, as well as any extra weight I had gained prior.  To date I have 10.8 pounds to go to reach my goal.  With inspiration from Andreas Fat Burning Friday blogs, I will share my success and failures with you all.  Plus, it will give me that extra push I need to rid those 'last few', which as we know, are the HARDEST to loose.

I ate really healthy this week, with the exception of a few (yes, a few!!!) glasses of wine and even a small ice cream cone last night.  I did not work out one single time.  As I was on vacation last week and didnt weigh myself.  I was a little disappointed to see that I have a weight gain of 0.4 pounds from the past 2 weeks (including vacation of course).  Bad me.  I will work extra hard this week.  No wine and NO ice cream!

10.8 pounds to go

(oh, and if you really wanted to know, I have lost a total of 49.2 pounds so far.  Keep in mind I am 5'10'')

If you would like to share your healthy tips, weight loss updates or any inspiration Im sure both me and my readers would love to hear it!

Vinegar Update!!

Well, last night I decided to go out and purchase some Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, we were going out for Subway anyway- may as well make use of the gas!  I went to our local Maxx Nutrition (love them) and they had Bragg Organic ACV (as all those pro-vinegar sites refer to it)!!  The cheapskate in me was very happy to see that it was only 2.79 for a 16 oz bottle.  I read the label on the way home, quite interesting, though not as bad as Dr Bronners, and decided to try it in water, hoping for a better experience this time.  The bottle suggests mixing 1-2 tsp w/ 8oz water and a sweetner of your choice, listing honey, maple syrup, molasses and stevia as options.  Okay, Stevia?  My favorite, I'll give it a shot.  So I get home and make up a glass using 4 drops of stevia.  Maybe it was because my nose was stuffy from the allergies, but it tasted like apple juice, soooo good!!  I actually had 2 glasses.

Now I am excited to try this, just had my morning glass, can't wait for my next!!

Frugal Friday, Apple Cider Vinegar

There are so many claims for Apple Cider Vinegar uses.  I have recently done some research on seasonal allergies and Vinegar.  The claim is that the vinegar balances the acidity in the body and helps, or even ceases, allergies.  Huh.  Its worth a shot I thought.  As I am breastfeeding I refuse to take any drugs for my horrible hay fever, no matter how bad it gets. 

How to take the vinegar?  I have read that some people like to pour the dosage in a glass of water to drink and some prefer 'shots' and some even make a honey lemon tea with it.  I imagined drinking it in water to be the least offensive.  Now for the amount, anywhere from 2 tsp to 2 Tbs seems to be the most popular.  I will use 1 Tbs of my Heinz Apple cider vinegar.  It seems many prefer Organic or even the Braggs but I dont have any of those on hand but will purchase some soon as my vinegar may not be 'real'.

So I pour the vinegar in a glass of water and proceed to drink.  What a horrible mistake.  It takes me a good few minutes to get the stuff down and I seem to have gotten a bit of a stomach ache.  Yuk.  For my next dosage (I will do 2 per day) I decide to take a 'shot'.  This is actually much better and I barely even taste the stuff after 'chasing' it with water.  Not bad, I can do this.

Well, it has been a few days of these treatments and my allergies seem to be a little better.  I think I will get some organic vinegar and mine may not be true apple cider vinegar since it is generic.  I will see if I have better success with that and report back next week!!

The best buys at the grocery store, as I see it.

I am often asked how I get my groceries so cheap.  Well, of course I use tons of coupons, but I also shop smart.  I don't buy something just because it is a good deal, sometimes good deals just aren't good enough.  Maybe chips or crackers are only $1.50 after sale and coupon, but we don't need to eat them, so I would be better off spending the money elsewhere.

Stock up on;

1. dried beans- if you have a crockpot soak them overnight and divide them into ziplock baggies then freeze.  You can get about 6 bags of beans for the price of one can!

2. pasta sauce in a can-  Don't buy jarred when the cans down on the bottom shelf are about a buck and just as good.

3. dried pasta- Always good and a cheap staple, try the store brand!

4. canned tomatoes- buy the cheapest, they are always good.

5. frozen spinach- cheap and packed with nutrients. Throw it in everything.

6. frozen peas- high in protein, great side dish with meat free spaghetti

7. onions- always cheap, buy in big bags to save

8. carrots- buy whole unpeeled, I just scrub and cut up for snacks, easy.

9. potatoes- also very cheap; bake your own fries

10. in season only produce- dont pay more than $1 per pound, and make yourself eat it, you'll learn to love it, I promise!!

11. oatmeal- whole rolled oats make a super filling and cheap breakfast

Stay away from;

a. juice; its expensive and even children don't need the extra sugar or calories

b. pop, soda; also very expensive. My husband only gets it with a super good sale and coupon.

c. convenience foods, pre packaged will leave you hungry and broke

d. impulse buys; take a list and STICK TO IT (dont shop hungry)

e. meat; EXPENSIVE, worried about protein?  start reading labels (an adult female needs 40g per day)

f. dairy, milk and cheese; expensive as well, worried about calcium? See this chart for info. Women need about 1200mg.

g. candy, cookies and deserts; really?

Be willing to substitute;

a. beans (or lentils!) will work for beef in most meals

b. canned tomatoes sub for fresh in recipes

c. don't buy specialty items for a recipe, see what you can sub instead

d. add veggies to your dishes or casseroles as fillers

Menu plans help many people stick to their grocery budget.  I don't follow one, but I never really have a problem pulling together an inexpensive, wholesome and healthy dinner.  I was just raised that way.  For really great menu ideas check out BeCentsAble, the girls post their menus on mondays.

I hope these ideas help you stick to your budget as well as feel good about eating such wholesome foods.  Let me know if you have any tricks or secrets!

sorry, more bad news....

I found my Gerber Organic baby food is also packaged in #7 plastic. What a frightening find. Lucky for us, I have only been feeding her solids for 2 weeks. I was very upset and wrote a letter to Gerber but have not heard back from them yet.
I have since purchased only Earths Best and plan to use my new baby food mill as well. I encourage you all to check your plastic packaging and inform these companies that we will not purchase their goods packaged in toxic plastics.

What plastic items have you found around your house that we should be aware of??

Throw away your Nalgene bottles

 

I have a large stylish pink Nalgene bottle that I am very attached to.  I flipped it over this morning to discover that it is made with plastic #7.  This is a very harmful plastic, Nalgene uses it because it is unbreakable.  The chemicals  bisphenol A and phthalates can cause cancer, neural and behavioral problems, reproductive dysfunction, and other neurological problems.  My mother has been warning me of this for years but I did not really listen until recently, when I became a mother myself.  I hope to God I have not consumed too many of these chemicals during pregnancy, I could not bear it if I have hurt my daughter.  Please check all your plastics and throw away what we know to be extremely harmful.

Throw out #3, #6 and #7

Studies show #1, #2 and #5 to be safe.  (but are they really?)

Some good links on this info are:

The Daily Green

Trusted MD

Time (article on baby bottles)

Science Daily

Sorry to be such a Debbie Downer on this topic but it is very important to me.  It should be very important

 to you as well.  Protect your children and loved ones please.

On a lighter note, I did just order 2 Klean Kanteens which are 100% safe stainless steel.  My mother has a few and they are quite lovely to drink out of, I had not realized how water really takes on the flavor of what surrounds it. Originally I wanted to order the ever popular SIGG metal water bottle because they are so pretty, but upon further research I discovered that they have a PLASTIC LINING.  Quite absurd, I guess they too only care about the environment and not our bodies.  Oh well, Klean Kanteen it is then.