Eating Well v2: Thankfully.

I could easily spend an entire paycheck at the store each week. Sometimes I make excuses to go to Whole Foods when I really don't need to. Luckily, Brett is quite good at knowing when we really do need to, and when I'm just having WF hallucinations. (That alone probably saves us close to $1000 each year).But now that new school bills are looming in the very near future But now that we're living on one income-and we're living in our first HOME, it's time to get serious. And since I couldn't find many $60 meal plans that were healthy, delicious and vegetarian, I decided that I would create my own. Armed with three $20 bills, we will eat. And we will eat well.

I'm thankful for the bright red cranberries in my fridge. I'm thankful for the dark green kale cooking on the stove. I'm thankful for those vanilla cupcake goldfish that have lasted over two weeks sitting atop my fridge. I'm thankful that I have GOOD food to eat. I'm even more thankful that my husband quit his second part time job so I have someone to share these foods with. But not the goldfish. Not those.

This week, for 59.66...we're eating:

Breakfasts:

-PB toast on homemade wheat bread, fruit

-smoothies

There is nothing like homemade bread. Nothing. He didn't know I snuck up on him with my camera. Whatta sport.

Lunches:

-leftovers with veggies, yogurts, and fruits

Suppers:

Sunday: quinoa with kale/mushrooms/butternut squash

Monday: chili with sour cream and rosemary olive oil bread

Tuesday: tomato/edamame grilled cheese on rosemary olive oil bread

Wednesday: vegetarian caesar salad with blackened tofu

Thursday: Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday: homemade pizza

     Saturday: Thanksgiving leftovers


Treats!
chocolate cake mini donuts with icing and sprinkles!

Living Well On Less: Emma's Dilemma With Coupons

Coupons...Oh, Coupons
Why I don't use them often. And other days, I do:


1) Rock on to the Shelf Clearing Coupon Queens (or Kings): I promise that I will never clear a shelf. There have been countless times when I am grocery shopping, see a killer bargain (with or without a coupon), and immediately grab 10 products and throw them into my cart as though there's a stampede behind me waiting to get in on the action. If you see me do this, take the time to watch me for the next five minutes (if you have the time). I can guarantee you that I will loop back into the aisle with the bargain and sheepishly replace the product. Probably because I've realized that I really don't need whatever it is. Most of the things I would want to clear the shelves over *like dried beans* rarely advertise coupons.  If you see one, send it to me. I'll send you some soaked beans in return.

2) I lose those flimsy things.


3) If I look at a coupon long enough, there's a good chance I'll begin to think that I need that product. Nine times out of ten, I don't. 


4) I don't get the newspaper. There are a few regular coupons out there that I like. The two that I ALWAYS see are for olivia's organics (however, olivia is getting sneaky)  and truvia. And I love both products, so I will use these coupons. But I print them out. From swagbucks:

A)

B)

C)

I like swagbucks. Each time you use a coupon that you print out, you get 10 swagbucks. Right now, I have enough for $25 to Amazon. That's pretty darn cool. Click the above link to sign up, it's free!

Like I've said before in different posts, my 'secret' to saving is cooking. That's really it. Sometimes it's a pain in the butt, and sometimes I really don't feel like it, but it really is worth it. And so when I do find coupons for yeast, truvia, or olivia's, I will use them. Other than that, I just watch for sales on canned diced tomatoes/tofu/nuts/coffee like a hawk. Ehh...hawk might not be the best description. Like a lucky hawk, rather.

So if I'm using a coupon, I probably printed it out. These sites are good, and I give them two thumbs up...so give 'em a try if you haven't already:

www.stonyfield.com

www.organicvalley.com

www.mambosprouts.com

www.swagbucks.com

Do you coupon? Or do you find that there's not a lot of coupon action out there for yourself? Raise your hand if you want a 50 cents off per pound of organic apples....those bad boys are pricey.

Any advice for a coupon novice like myself? I'd appreciate any and all help!

Eating Well v1: Rinse and Reuse

I could easily spend an entire paycheck at the store each week. Sometimes I make excuses to go to Whole Foods when I really don't need to. Luckily, Brett is quite good at knowing when we really do need to, and when I'm just having WF hallucinations. (That alone probably saves us close to $1000 each year).But now that new school bills are looming in the very near future But now that we're living on one income-and we're living in our first HOME, it's time to get serious. And since I couldn't find many $60 meal plans that were healthy, delicious and vegetarian, I decided that I would create my own. Armed with three $20 bills, we will eat. And we will eat well.

Can I just say...this whole school and eating right thing is a lot harder than it looks. This past week was particularly rough for other reasons, but I need to get back on track because hint o' lime chips aren't doing much for me...nutritionally speaking, that is.

Also, I'm restyling Eating Well. Rather than dates, it's versions. I have no solid reasoning other than I think that I like 'versions' better. Y'know, v1, v2. It just looks more technical and savvy, and that's really what I'm all about. Technical and savvy. That's me.

You know.

Anyway, like I said...this eating right/living at school/inthecar thing is difficult. It's definitely doable, but it's tricky. There's plenty of this:

''This'' is a lid to a pot that I used more than once. For rice...and..for...pasta? So, at least they're similar. It's not like I'm cooking raw meat one day and alfredo sauce the next. I did rinse the pot...I just...well. I'll be honest. I didn't want to wash it. So I didn't. And I'm still here, and I'm fine. So. I'll probably do it again.




Did I just gross anyone out? It sounds like I'm more worried about justifying it to myself. But  I think I'm cool with it.


Anyway, this is what we spent: 58.97


And this is what we're eating:


breakfasts: peanut butter toast and fruit or berry smoothies


lunches: leftovers or salads with tofurkey and fruit


suppers:
-pizza on homemade dough
-seitan cutlets, mashed potatoes, veggies and salad
-two bean chili with rustic bread
-tofu and broccoli over brown rice
-pasta with salad
-tomato basil burgers on rustic bread with veggies




Am I alone on this dish washing reduction method? Speak up!


Share your link if you post what you eat! I love new ideas!


Eat well! 


xoxo

Living Well on Less v2

 

Think of one skill your mother (or father/grandmother/father/guardian/aunt, etc) taught you that you are most thankful for. Go!

I'm most thankful that my momma taught me how to cook.

I did not know until the age of 18 that you could purchase garlic pre-chopped in a jar. Seriously. When I did find out, I was beyond baffled. No matter what anyone tells you, there is nothing like fresh garlic.

So when I say she taught me to cook, I mean really cook. Not only did she show us how to create healthy meals, but she also inadvertently taught us how to save a lot of money.

Many households have both parents working outside the home. It's now the norm. And as such, a lot of people are too darn tired to cook a healthy meal when they get home after a day at work. I get it. But if you're serious about saving money (and being healthy), learning to cook is pretty important.  Try prepping meals on the weekend and freezing them if you're short on time. If you have kids, you will be teaching them an invaluable lesson by showing them how to prepare their own healthy meals. They WILL thank you later on (maybe even via a blog post like this one!).

You do not need to be a chef to cook tasty meals. You don't need fancy equipment or expensive gadgets to get you through meal prep. Really, the extent of what I use in my kitchen is here:

 

two sets of measuring cups, measuring spoons, grater, ice cream scoop, and a yellow mud knife (stole from Brett) to scrape the counters after kneading dough

spatulas, french rolling pin, wooden spoons, olive oil ready to be poured, and a dish of sea salt

utensils, can openers, peelers, etc.

 cleaning supplies, bella blender (the poor girl's food processor!), a mini chopper, a hand mixer, and an ice cream maker

dish towels, dish cloths (for rising doughs), dish rags, pot holders, and a cool dark space for potatoes and such

A wood cutting board, a block of knives, a saute pan, a frying pan, a large pot for boiling water, pyrex, loaf pans, cookie sheets, a dutch oven, a pizza stone, a sink, a fridge, and a stove are not pictured...but are things that I use very frequently.

Most people will probably have quiet a few of the things I've mentioned, if you don't- check out thrift stores and yard sales to get a good deal.

I take it for granted that I know how to cook. I do. I often forget that not everyone knows how to make brown rice, or how to make a basic pasta sauce. If you're looking for resources on how to become a better cook, I would start with a cookbook. If while reading through a recipe you find yourself wondering what it means to roast, braise, saute, etc...call someone. Leave a message on my blog. I'll help! If you're shy, Google it. YouTube it. Take the time to learn. It will be well worth it. For healthy recipes and inexpensive menu ideas, check out my food posts!

Anyone out there with me on this? Let me know if you have time- saving tricks for meal prep, favorite make-ahead dishes, or if you want to share how much money you've saved since starting to cook.  I would REALLY love to hear from you guys on this one, because I think it's a big part of staying on budget. 

Eating Well on Sixty: 7/31-8/6

I could easily spend an entire paycheck at the store each week. Sometimes I make excuses to go to Whole Foods when I really don't need to. Luckily, Brett is quite good at knowing when we really do need to, and when I'm just having WF hallucinations. (That alone probably saves us close to $1000 each year).But now that new school bills are looming in the very near future, it's time to get serious. And since I couldn't find many $60 meal plans that were healthy, delicious and vegetarian, I decided that I would create my own. Armed with three $20 bills, we will eat. And we will eat well.

Before we begin! I would really appreciate anyone who stumbles across this blog regularly/not so regularly participating in my little poll at the top of the blog. It's on the left hand side, and it's asking readers/lurkers (if you lurk, please vote! And then come say hi!) to answer ''which DIY post would you most like to see?'' Thank you!

Kitchen Confessions:

• Sometimes, I'll cut a slice of bread and then I'll put the knife back into the block without washing it.
• If I pile dirty dishes into the sink neatly, I feel slightly better than if they were hanging around the counters/tables/bar top. 
• I lick the maple syrup bottle after I pour it.

Just sayin'. Any confessions? Anyone? Or is everyone neater/more sanitary than myself?

If you come over for breakfast, I will not serve you something that requires syrup (unless there's a fresh, unlicked bottle). I promise.

$_54.84___
 

This week:

Breakfast

-protein smoothies with frozen fruits
-toast with peanut butter and fruit

-banana pancakes

 

Lunch

Most days, leftovers from dinner will be eaten the next day as lunch. Other days, these are what I rotate in:

-veggie burger veggie wrap with veggies and slice of cheese

-baby green salad with green peppers, tofu

-brown rice, broccoli, spinach, and tofu

Dinner


Sunday

-Family gathering 

Monday

-Quesadillas with salad

Tuesday

-Pasta with roasted garden veggies and salad

I don't think there's anything quite as satisfying as eating vegetables out of your own garden.

Wednesday

-Black bean chili with baked potatoes 

 

 Thursday

-Tomato/basil/mozzarella grilled sandwiches on rustic with salad and raw veggies

Friday

-Pizza on homemade dough


Saturday

-Spaghetti squash linguine with creamy sauce

Snacks/Treats 

-mini smoothies with frozen fruit
-cheddar and apple melt
-chocolate chip banana bread

Last Week

Enjoy!

Living Well on Less

In preparation for the purchase of our first HOME (Eeeeee!), we've been making even more lists and keeping a close eye on our money.

Our list of expenses is pretty short, or at least I think so.

So after sitting down and looking at the 'extras', we've made some cuts.

• Smart Phone...........................................$29.99/month
• Gyms...................................................$34.99/month
• Netflix Downgrade.....................................$3.00/month
• Cable Box...............................................$8.00/month *

*I had mentioned in a previous post that we do not subscribe to our own cable plan. Because of the fact that we rent an in law apartment, we just paid for the cable box. While $8/month doesn't seem like a lot, we barely ever watch TV and we figured that since we won't have it at our new house, why not start now??!

Smart Phone: Yeah, it was cool. I'm not going to lie to you. Technology is great, but we decided that for our purposes, it wasn't totally necessary. I remembered how cool it was just having a cell phone (without a color screen!) and made the jump back to an average 'standard' phone. I sold them my blackberry and got a rebate. For $50, I got the LG Octane. I like it a lot, and I'm really happy that I made the switch back. I always used to feel a little awkward having my blackberry. But now, I feel right at home with my standard phone.

Gyms: I remember thinking that the gym was necessary. It's not. After getting certified as a trainer and becoming a dog-momma (relevant because I didn't like leaving her in her crate so early in the morning...barking and waking up the in-laws just didn't seem like a good way to start the day), I became pretty creative in designing workouts. While we are able to get some of the money back from our insurance company, we also save time/gas/miles on the car by working out at home.  I'll be sharing my updated workout schedule in a post at the end of the week! No gym required : ).

Netflix: We would not have downgraded if they hadn't switched their pricing around. We have the unlimited 2 disc plan and it costs us 11.99/month. I cannot remember the last time we went to a movie theatre...netflix is our treat and we love it!

Cable: I know I've already explained this, but give this a try if you're trying to save money. So many people look at us like we're INSANE when they find out we're CHOOSING to go sans cable once we move. It's become somewhat of a necessity in this society of ours, and it's a bit scary. I've heard of people taking out credit cards before they cut their cable/hbo/hd/fios.  If we wanted to afford cable, we could. But we choose to afford organic peanut butter (Seriously. It's probably around the same haha). Whatever floats your boat.

Savings?

$911.76/year

That's almost two years' worth of house insurance. Yes please.

That isn't all we've done to save, but I just wanted to share the things that are more common.


If you have any suggestions for me, please tell me! We really need to be super frugal for this upcoming year, and I would appreciate any tips and tricks.
Also, we're thinking about getting a chest freezer for our basement to store breads, beans, rice, meals, etc...does anyone have one? Is it worth it?
Thanks all!

Eating Well on Sixty: 7/24-7/30

I could easily spend an entire paycheck at the store each week. Sometimes I make excuses to go to Whole Foods when I really don't need to. Luckily, Brett is quite good at knowing when we really do need to, and when I'm just having WF hallucinations. (That alone probably saves us close to $1000 each year).But now that new school bills are looming in the very near future, it's time to get serious. And since I couldn't find many $60 meal plans that were healthy, delicious and vegetarian, I decided that I would create my own. Armed with three $20 bills, we will eat. And we will eat well.

Check in tomorrow for a living well bit. I'm going to share what we cut this month in order to save for our big move!

Every week, there are some staples that I buy. They are:

-yogurt

-cheese

-soymilk

-coffee

-diced tomatoes

-flour

-apples

-bananas

-lettuce (depending on what I have in the garden)

What do you buy for staples???

$__57_

 

This week:

Breakfast

-oatmeal with raisins, walnuts, and brown sugar
-toast with peanut butter and fruit

-banana pancakes

 

Lunch

Most days, leftovers from dinner will be eaten the next day as lunch. Other days, these are what I rotate in:

-veggie burger veggie wrap with veggies and slice of cheese

-baby green salad with green peppers, tofu

-brown rice, broccoli, spinach, and tofu

-tofurkey roll ups, veggie sticks, cheese

Dinner


Sunday

-Indian take-out treat!

Monday

-Gemelli/Penne with edamame pesto

Tuesday

-Chili with rustic bread and steamed veggies

Wednesday

-Tofu squash burgers with potato coins, raw veggies, and salad

 

 Thursday
-Quesadillas with raw veggies and melon 

Friday

-Pizza on homemade dough


Saturday

-Spaghetti squash linguine with creamy sauce

Snacks/Treats

-melon chunks
-mini smoothies with frozen fruit
-cheddar and apple melt

Last Week

Enjoy!

Eating Well Round Up!

I could easily spend an entire paycheck at the store each week. Sometimes I make excuses to go to Whole Foods when I really don't need to. Luckily, Brett is quite good at knowing when we really do need to, and when I'm just having WF hallucinations. (That alone probably saves us close to $1000 each year).But now that new school bills are looming in the very near future, it's time to get serious. And since I couldn't find many $60 meal plans that were healthy, delicious and vegetarian, I decided that I would create my own. Armed with three $20 bills, we will eat. And we will eat well.

$__46.35_

There will be no menu this week, just confetti.

Over the past FOUR weeks, we have spent $204.85 on our groceries, for an average of $51.21 weekly!

Here is what made this possible:

-Sunday cook-fests on the busy weeks
-Coupons for things like Olivia's organics (through swagbucks) and yeast
-Sale on a tank of olive oil
-Mindful eating (Incredibly important)

-tea instead of expensive coffee ( good mugs help )

-homemade frozen treats on the hot days

To see the menus and more healthy recipes, click!

I'll be back next week with a fresh menu and MUCH more. Rather than just our grocery bill, I'm going to take the transparency to a whole new level. I will be including a 'living well' bit, and everything but our housing expenses will be here for all to see.

Eating Well on Sixty: 7/10-7/16 Planning Ahead

I could easily spend an entire paycheck at the store each week. Sometimes I make excuses to go to Whole Foods when I really don't need to. Luckily, Brett is quite good at knowing when we really do need to, and when I'm just having WF hallucinations. (That alone probably saves us close to $1000 each year).But now that new school bills are looming in the very near future, it's time to get serious. And since I couldn't find many $60 meal plans that were healthy, delicious and vegetarian, I decided that I would create my own. Armed with three $20 bills, we will eat. And we will eat well.

$__55_

 

This weeks total? Not too shabby, eh? If I add up the past three weeks, I am right on target in keeping with a $240/month budget. I think I will be able to swing $200, though.

What I am most excited about is how well we planned ahead this week. With all of the house buying excitement (I reeallllyy hope this works out...everything is looking good), and with me rushing to complete my last summer course earlier than planned, it's a bit hectic around here. So what did we do? We were up at 5 on Sunday, and after a Roo walk, a run, some chocolate berry pancakes, some quiet time and reading, we were ready to get cookin'. Rather than post pictures of the meals, I'll share some snapshots of my freezer:

We prepared all of this amazing food by 10:40. Our kitchen is tiny, but we made it work. I'm kind of a kitchen queen, and I really don't like having help- but it was fun to cook together and it's definitely something we're going to be doing every week now that schedules are getting tighter. If you struggle to find time to cook healthy meals because of a packed work week, consider this. It's such a relief to be ready for the week ahead!

This week:

Breakfast

-oatmeal with apples and hazelnuts and brown sugar
-toast with peanut butter and fruit

-greek yogurt/granola/berry parfait

Lunch

Most days, leftovers from dinner will be eaten the next day as lunch. Other days, these are what I rotate in:

-veggie burger veggie wrap with veggies and slice of cheese

-baby green salad with green peppers, tofu

-brown rice, broccoli, spinach, and tofu

-tofurkey roll ups, veggie sticks, cheese

Dinner


Sunday

-Chipotle. : )

Monday

-Tofurkey on rustic bread, veggie mac n' cheese, and salad

Tuesday

-Mango bbq beans over brown rice with salad (from this cookbook...I stole it from my mumma)
 

Wednesday

-Gemelli with edamame pesto (!) and salad (from the same cookbook as above...this is a fantastic recipe for your wallet AND your fat intake. Edamame is most definitely cheaper and lower in fat than pine nuts or cheese!) Basil came straight from our garden. ..I love basil, Don't you?

 Thursday
-Aloo Chole (I. Can't. Wait.) with jasmine rice and freshly baked naan. (I'm obsessed with Indian food. I'm slowly building up my spice pantry and cannot wait to dive into a homemade dish of Aloo Palak as soon as I get some Asafoetida.)

 

Friday

-Pizza on homemade dough


Saturday

-Tofu squash burgers (not shown in freezer picture..but the burger mixture is there in a baggie!) with sweet potato fries and salad

Snacks/Treats

-popcorn with Parmesan cheese and spices
-chocolate chunk banana bread
-greek yogurt with grapes

-mini smoothies with frozen fruit

Last Week

Enjoy!

Eating Well on Sixty: 7/3-7-9 Competitive Spirit Savings Version

I could easily spend an entire paycheck at the store each week. Sometimes I make excuses to go to Whole Foods when I really don't need to. Luckily, Brett is quite good at knowing when we really do need to, and when I'm just having WF hallucinations. (That alone probably saves us close to $1000 each year).But now that new school bills are looming in the very near future, it's time to get serious. And since I couldn't find many $60 meal plans that were healthy, delicious and vegetarian, I decided that I would create my own. Armed with three $20 bills, we will eat. And we will eat well.

I haven't gone to the store yet. Because I'm trying to make meals around what we have, I know that we will spend very little this week. So I'll update with the grand total.

$__34.33__

^I'll put it RIGHT there^

An ole pal from way back in my high school days (ok, not way back) left a comment on my last Eating Well:

"Hey Emma D stumbled (literally, via facebook) upon this blog and I enjoy it. I live in a big co-op house in Brookline with 16 others, and we all pitch in for groceries, cook family dinners Sun-Thurs, and eat really great veg fare. It is great having so many cooks because you see so many styles and recipes (I've thought about doing a Hive cookbook)...and all that for 25$ a week/person, which includes farm share produce and supermarket foods. hah don't mean to rub it in, $60 is a good number to shoot for, for 2 a couple. Sounds like you and Brett are doing well, I am glad to hear it... Keep cooking awesome food! "

So naturally, in the spirit of community, I felt compelled to out do him.

But seriously, his comment got me thinking. If you're looking to cut your bill down further, consider grouping together with friends and family one or two nights each week. Have each person bring one side, one dish, a bottle of wine, or even one ingredient! As comfortable as your two person dinner table may be, bust out of your comfort zone and enjoy a table full of good food, good beer/wine/lemonade, and neat people.

This week:

Breakfast

-oatmeal with raisins and walnuts and butternut squash

-toast with peanut butter and fruit
-grapefruit and toast
-chocolate blueberry pancakes (leftovers that we froze!)

-greek yogurt/granola/berry parfait

Lunch

Most days, leftovers from dinner will be eaten the next day as lunch. Other days, these are what I rotate in:

-veggie burger veggie wrap with veggies and slice of cheese

-baby green salad with green peppers, tofu

-brown rice, broccoli, spinach, and tofu

Dinner


Sunday

-Salad with veggie burgers, fresh fruit

Monday

-Fourth of July cookout with family!

Tuesday

-General Tso's Tofu with steamed broccoli and brown rice

 

Wednesday

-Butternut squash ravioli made with homemade wonton wrappers and salad (Again, this recipe is from SB book- I LOVE it. )

*The first time that I made this, I froze the wrappers. I think I should have put separating sheets between each one, because it literally took an hour to separate all of them. Any suggestions? Parchment? Wax paper?

 Thursday
-BBQ Tofu on the grill with veggie mac n' cheese and salad

Friday

-Pizza on homemade dough


Saturday

-Chili with salad and whole wheat cornbread
(this is leftover from last week, waiting for us in the freezer!)

Snacks/Treats

-popcorn with Parmesan cheese and spices
-lemon poppy seed muffins
-greek yogurt with grapes

-mini smoothies with frozen fruit

Last Week


Enjoy!