Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp backing soda

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 stick (1/2 cup) softened butter

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine flour, falt, and baking soda in a bowl and set aside.  Combine brown sugar, white sugar, butter and vanilla and beat until creamy.  Add eggs and beat.  Add dry ingredients and mix well.  Sitr in walnuts and chocolate chips.  Drop  mixture by very generous spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.  Bake 8-9 minutes (times may vary depending different ovens).  

Protein Sources

Here's some good sources of protein that are not the traditional meats:

Beans

Cheese

Nuts

Seads (sunflower, pumpkin, etc.)

Eggs

Yogurt

Milk

Tahini

Tofu

Oatmeal

Basic Stir Fry

Ingredients:

Chicken (or other meat), cut into bite size pieces

Bag of frozen, mixed vegetables

Oil

Seasonings

Rice

Brown Chicken in oil (I usually use Sesame), then add vegetables and seasonings, such as Soy Sauce (or other seasonings as desired).  Cook until vegetables are tender.  Serve over hot, cooked rice.  Round out meal with sliced fruit and milk.

Coupons!

Coupons can be a great thing.  My danger with coupons is buying something I really don't need (or is very nutrition).  It's a great deal if the items are things you really do need, but watch out!  :-)  I've linked a couple of good online coupon sources.  Feel free to post links you also find reliable!

http://coupons.smartsource.com//index.aspx?Link=5S2ZUA6PWPEPO

http://www.couponmom.com/

A very simple and inexpensive breakfast

Toast a piece of bread (preferabely, whole wheat).  Spread peanut butter on top, drizzle a little honey and mix in with peanut butter.  Slice up a banana.  Seve with juice.  This is one of my favorite breakfasts!  Quick, simple and nutritious!  :-)

Making a list. . .checking it off!

This might be a "duh" statement, but one way to save some extra coins at the grocery store is to go with a thorough list!  Unfortunately, this does take time before going to the store, but it pays off!  Then, stick to the list once you're in the store!  This is my current list routine:  The night before, I go through what I am planning on making for the next few days and check the refriderator, freezer, produce basket and pantry for what items I need for those recipes.  Then, I check what I have and don't have for snacks.  Then, I think through what we need as far as household items go (toilet paper, paper towells, shampoo, etc.).  I have recently started keeping paper and pen on the refridgerator for the family to write down items as the week goes on, but this has yet to really catch on yet (maybe someday. . .).  Then, I order the list by isle in the grocery store.  This helps me zip through a lot faster and I'm less tempted to wander and browse!  I also do my grocery shopping very early in the morning--this is easier with kids and with WIC purchases!  Happy shopping!

Healty Oatmeal Start

For about $2.00 or less, you can get a big container of generic quick or old-fashioned oats from your grocery store.  Fix a serving (or more) according to the directions on the box.  Then sprinkle with a 1 teaspoon brown sugar and half of a banana cut into small bits.  Round out with a cup of juice or milk.

B.R.A.T.

For when the bug hits your house, remember the B.R.A.T. diet to get things going again.  B.R.A.T. stands for Broth Rice Applesauce Toast.  And don't forget to be sipping (not gulping) down the water!  One of my biggest problems with bug related nausea (and pregnancy too) is taking down the water so fast that it just comes right back up, leaving me more dehydrated (and more nauseated) than I started with!  Bananas, Plain potatoes are also great foods on the next step after keeping down the B.R.A.T.

Tuna Melts

Canned Tuna

Enough mayo to lightly coat

Horseradish to taste

Sliced block cheese

Whole Wheat Bread slices

Mix tuna, mayo and horseradish.  Spread over bread slices.  Top with cheese slices.  Bake at 375 Degrees for approximately 20 minutes (times and degrees may vary depending on oven, altitude and taste!).  Round out meal with carrot sticks, celery sticks and a cup of juice.

Food on a Road Trip

I took a road trip with my kids recently.  I was very pleased I only spent approximately $25.00 total on food for all of us!  How did I do this?  I will share my plan of action. 

--I had a case of bottled water in the car.  

--I only drank bottled water while driving.

--I filled my kids' sippy cups with water and refilled with water every time we stopped.

--At each stop for gasoline, I allowed the kids to pick out ONE packaged cracker snack.  Each of these cost 50cents to $1.00.  I also picked one up for myself.

--I planned to stop for lunch.  We paid about $10.00 total for lunch, each way.  We ate chicken sandwiches, fruit slices and juice.

Tip I learned:  stopping every hour or so is not only good for everyone to stretched their legs and use the "potty," but it also helps in alertness.  One of the dangers of drinking so much soda and coffee (and consuming high sugar snacks) is while they initially give you a burst of energy, they also bring your alertness even lower than it started--causing you to consume yet another high sugar energy "booster."  Drinking water, eating fairly healthy and stopping freqently had the same effect, was healthier and cost soooo much less!  This tip seemed to work great on this trip.  We'll see if it holds next time I find myself on the road.  I would be curious if anyone else has any great nutrition and cost saving tips for road trips, with or without kids! 

Homemade Spaghetti

Ingredients:

1 medium onion, chopped

3-4 cloves garlic, minced

1 lb ground beef

1 large can crushed tomatoes in puree

Sliced Mushrooms

Spices, as desired

Whole Wheat Spaghetti Noodles

Brown onion, garlic and ground beef.  Add tomatoes, mushrooms and spices and simmer for 30 minutes.  Meanwhile, cooked noodles according to package directions!  Serve with mixed salad and milk for a complete meal!

Delay, again!

I apologize again! I am out of town for the next couple days and will have no internet access. Next update will be on Monday March, 9 2009.
-NutritionCents

Produce Trash Bag?

Get more bang for you buck with produce bags! I try to make sure I don't tear the bags as I'm putting fruit and veggies in it, then after we get home I wad them up and place them in the diaper bag. Presto--diaper trash bags! This saves me from having to buy "disposable diaper bags" and those extra pennies can go towards keeping fresh produce on the table!

Peanut Butter/Honey

Heres's an old, yet nutrition stand-by for lunches!

Peanut Butter Honey Sandwiches:
Whole Wheat Bread (check to make sure first ingredient is whole wheat flour)
Peanut Butter (I use natural peanut butter)
Honey

Spread Peanut butter on bread slices. Drizzle, then mix in honey on top. Cut sandwiches as desired. Serve with apple slices and oranges. Round out meal with a cup of milk.