Budget Savvy Tips For Healthy Eating

It’s a common misconception that eating healthy food is expensive. In reality, healthy eating is cheaper than eating junk food -- that is, if you know where to look.

For those of you looking to stick to healthy food while also sticking to a budget (which is most everyone!), here are some great tips:

• Skip prepared or pre-cut foods, which can cost far more than unprepared versions.
• Plan your meals ahead of time (including cooking large batches and freezing some for later) so you don’t have to splurge on expensive, unhealthy fast-food at the last minute.
• Pass on costly junk foods like potato chips, soda, cookies and other snacks.
• Buy lots of fresh veggies. They’re usually less expensive than canned versions. Only buy what you need.
• Keep track of what’s in your pantry so you don’t double-up on foods unnecessarily.
  St.LouisToday.com July 2, 2007

It’s true that shopping at trendy food stores can easily cost your whole paycheck, but taking advantage of sales on healthy items and clipping coupons, as well as looking for fresh, locally grown foods at a farmers’ market or a CSA, can all add up to big savings on your food bill.

Prepared foods can cost up to double the unprepared versions, so looking buying whole foods that you can make into meals, rather than prepared foods in a box, can actually lead to great savings.

And if you plan your meals ahead of time, you can get exactly what you need, when you need it, and prevent yourself from buying too much and wasting some of it when it goes bad.

If you still don’t buy the notion that your family can afford to eat healthily, take a look at this breakdown of how your family can eat organic foods for the same price as processed ones.

And of course, there are even bigger, indirect savings that come with eating whole foods.

Consider, for example, the difference in medical care needs between those who eat whole foods, and those who instead eat processed and factory farmed foods containing MSG, carcinogens or nerve poisons such as pesticides, trans-fats, massive amounts of sugar, and artificial synthetic sweeteners.

By Dr Mercola

Perfect Tomato Sauce From Scratch!

Today, Dr Mercola will be showing you how to make your own homemade tomato sauce from scratch. It might sound like a very simple recipe, but in reality, how many of us actually do it? I'm sure, like me, you very often just go out and buy a can or jar of tomato sauce, because it's much easier.

Well, this recipe is incredibly easy to do, and you can make it in bulk ahead of time and freeze it for later use.

Kitchen supplies:

• Large pot of boiling water
• Large bowl for mixing/blending
• Immersion blender (or regular blender or food processor)
• Large bowl of cold water
• Large slotted spoon

Ingredients:

• At least 4 large, fresh, ripe tomatoes
• 2 cloves chopped garlic, or to taste

Preparation:

• Place tomatoes in boiling water for approx 20 seconds.
• Remove tomatoes and plunge in cold water for about 12-15 seconds.
• Remove tomatoes from cold water.
• Peel tomatoes with fingers, breaking peel with fingernail or knife.
• Blend tomatoes with garlic to desired consistency, either smooth or with tomato chunks.
  Alternately, you may use a blender or food processor.

Makes 2-4 servings.

Note: You may add whatever flavorings, in addition to garlic, that you like, such as fresh basil, Italian herbs, black pepper, etc for a pasta sauce. Or, add any other spices or curry paste or sauce.

How easy was that? Raw, homemade, delicious and incredibly good for you. I hope you enjoy this recipe.