So I know it's really easy to buy pasta sauce on the cheap at stores, but 1. everything tastes better when you make it the way you like it. 2. You can make it much healthier and fresher. 3. Everything tastes better when it's fresh. That and I've grown mistrustful of many things, ready-made pasta sauces included. I mean, I even got the Trader Joe's … [Read more...]
A Simple Guide to Healthier Shopping
I'm a firm believer in reading the labels of foods you choose to buy. Jack LaLanne said it pretty well: "If man made it, don't eat it," and even better is the philosophy of "If you can't read it, don't eat it." Why? Because we're essentially stuffing our bodies with chemicals that we're not built to process, and furthermore, many convenience foods … [Read more...]
The Easiest Bread Recipe You’ll Ever Make: Beer Bread
I've wanted some great beer bread for a while, so today I decided that I'd make some myself. Now if you're unfamiliar with beer bread, it's a savory, crusty and rather dense, great with a hearty stew, spinach artichoke dip or chili. It's also incredibly simple because you can make it with as few as 4 ingredients. How cool is that? Yep, beer … [Read more...]
How to Bake Spaghetti Squash
You guys, I'm such a cheater. And what I mean by that is I love to cook dishes that are more exciting than the way they're prepared. Spaghetti squash? Simple prep. Very exciting and seemingly creative dish. But let's learn a little about the fruit, shall we? So spaghetti squash is a winter squash that's rather big (like a melon but longer) with … [Read more...]
Better When You Bake ‘Em Snacks
I'm a chronic snacker. I love crunchy, salty finger foods that keep calling my name even though I said I'd only have one. Once you pop you can't stop, right? Some time ago, I realized that if something is sliced thin enough, you can basically glaze or mist it with olive oil, stick it in the oven, and VOILA! You have chips. I mean, chips are thin … [Read more...]
5 Creative (and Healthier!) Desserts
Now I've never really had much of a sweet tooth, but every now and then, a craving strikes and it strikes hard. However, sometimes I just don't want to deal with the "buhhh" feeling that comes after cookies and cakes and pies. Enter better dessert alternatives! These are not only delicious, but they're all fruit-centric, providing fiber and … [Read more...]
Super Easy Cheddar Garlic Mashed Potatoes
I love carbs. Carbs are an amazing, wonderful thing that our body uses as fuel to power us through the day. However, all carbs are not created equal and some are much better than others, like veggie carbs and whole grains. Included in that number are potatoes, which are rich in starches which include resistant starches that act like fiber. Long … [Read more...]
Brown Baggin’ for Grown-Ups
A dear friend once requested a brown bag special, so TADAA!! Today's all about brown baggin' with style. Now there are tons of reasons to brown bag, and the most obvious is that it's exponentially cheaper. Seriously - $2-4 per meal vs. $10-15? Yep. Exponential. On top of that, it's a lot easier to keep track of and control your portions and … [Read more...]