Last week, Christine shared with you how she uses plant-based protein in her home cooking. This week I am doing the same with black beans. A can of black beans is a pantry staple in my home. I almost always have one on hand. With three busy kids, I need to be able to create... The post Black Beans – A Pantry Staple appeared first on Spend Smart Eat Smart.| Spend Smart Eat Smart
I had an interaction with a friend recently that I decided to use as inspiration for a blog. She shared with me that she had heard a lot of buzz about plant protein and how it was important for good health. However, when she went to the grocery store to buy plant protein products, she...| Spend Smart Eat Smart
Now that school is out for the summer, my kids are constantly reaching for snacks during the day. My grocery list has grown quite long over the past several weeks! To stay on top of my grocery budget, I have been trying to buy less pre-packaged snack foods and opt for items that have more... The post Refreshing Summer Salsa appeared first on Spend Smart Eat Smart.| Spend Smart Eat Smart
Vegetables here, vegetables there, vegetables everywhere! Gardens and farmers’ markets are bursting with produce. You may have some tried and true ways you like to use summer vegetables. If you’re looking for some new ideas, here is a round-up of some of our recipes that allow for flexibility in the vegetables that are used. Roasted...| Spend Smart Eat Smart
Setting up a Kitchen Go into almost any home store or browse through a magazine and you will see all kinds of different kitchen gadgets. We need to decide what we really need to equip our kitchens and what is extra. Key points Having the things you need in your kitchen where and when you need...| Spend Smart Eat Smart
Back in April I wrote a blog about good places to find free garden seeds. I also shared about how, in the summer of 2024, deer ate everything in our garden except the marigolds and zucchini. This year, we made some changes to our garden and we are feeling successful. We used a deer repellent... The post Garden Check In appeared first on Spend Smart Eat Smart.| Spend Smart Eat Smart
Have you ever skipped a recipe or passed on fresh fruits and vegetables because you weren’t sure how to choose or prepare them? You’re not alone! Fresh produce can feel intimidating if you’re unfamiliar with how to prepare it. When I first met my husband, I noticed he often had pre-cut fruits and vegetables in... The post Boost Your Produce Confidence appeared first on Spend Smart Eat Smart.| Spend Smart Eat Smart
This time of year, you can find a cucumber almost anywhere you go – the farmers market, the grocery store, or the food pantry. They are also being harvested from home gardens. I have a cucumber plant in my garden that is growing nicely and I hope to pick and eat a cucumber from it...| Spend Smart Eat Smart
It’s been a month of food mashups here on the Spend Smart. Eat Smart. blog, and today I get to wrap up the series. I grew up on a farm in western Iowa that raised cattle. My parents and brother’s family continue to raise cattle, so I always have ground beef in my freezer. I... The post A Twist on Tacos appeared first on Spend Smart Eat Smart.| Spend Smart Eat Smart
This week it is my turn to share a Spend Smart. Eat Smart. recipe mashup. Christine and Katy shared main dish mashups, so I thought I would sweeten it up and share a dessert mashup. I used the base of our Cranberry Oatmeal Bars recipe to make, what I am calling, Apple Crisp Bars. I...| Spend Smart Eat Smart
This month is all about Spend Smart. Eat Smart. recipe mashups: we hope it encourages you to try something new! As a busy mom, I surprisingly enjoy meal planning because it gives me a sense of control for those extra busy weeks. Even though I enjoy it, every so often I find myself in a... The post A Fun Twist on Two Favorite Dishes! appeared first on Spend Smart Eat Smart.| Spend Smart Eat Smart
This month we are sharing food mashups. These are ideas for using foods or recipes in unexpected ways. You will hear about a mashup from each of the Spend Smart. Eat Smart. bloggers through the month of June! Have you tried our delicious Slow Cooker Pork Roast? This is one of my favorite recipes on... The post Recipe Mashup – Slow Cooker Pork Roast on a Sandwich appeared first on Spend Smart Eat Smart.| Spend Smart Eat Smart
Nine years ago, when my son was six and my daughter was two, my co-worker and friend Katy Moscoso came over to watch my kids. I made the Spend Smart. Eat Smart. Chicken Alfredo Pasta recipe ahead of time for them to have for supper. I had made the recipe before, and my daughter liked...| Spend Smart Eat Smart
Recipe Mashup – Slow Cooker Pork Roast on a Sandwich| Spend Smart Eat Smart
One of the best things about summer in Iowa is the wonderful fruits and vegetables that come into season. Sweet corn, summer tomatoes, and fresh green beans are high on my list. In Iowa, we are lucky to have a program that helps Iowans who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eat more...| Spend Smart Eat Smart
In last week’s blog, Justine shared all about protein, including why we need it, how to determine how much we need, and what foods contain protein. Today I’m sharing a sample one-day meal plan for a 15-year-old male, a 40-year-old female, and a 65-year-old female who all get 30-60 minutes a day of physical activity....| Spend Smart Eat Smart
I hear and read a lot about eating protein foods, but I often end up confused. Am I not eating enough protein? Am I eating too much? This week and next week on the blog, Jody and I are digging deeper into protein needs to help us all better understand this topic. To start off,...| Spend Smart Eat Smart
This month I am excited to bring some attention to an old favorite recipe and offer an idea for how you might try it a different way. Sloppy Joes have been around for a long time and most people have a favorite version of them. My favorite is the version on our website. This recipe...| Spend Smart Eat Smart
With (slightly) warmer temperatures and longer days, I view spring as a season for new opportunities and renewal. Trees are beginning to bud, birds are building their nests, and flowers are starting to bloom. All the newness that comes with spring brightens my mood and brings a new level of motivation- motivation I desperately need...| Spend Smart Eat Smart
Have you noticed the displays with garden seeds going up in the stores in your community? Those displays are a sign to me that it is time to start thinking about our garden for the summer. We do not plant our garden until after the middle of May to avoid freezing, but it is fun...| Spend Smart Eat Smart
The gardening urge tends to strike me this time of year as we start to see trees, flowers and grass come back. I love to grow flowers, herbs and a few vegetables at home. I stick with container gardening because I do not have the space for a raised bed or an in-ground plot. Even...| Spend Smart Eat Smart
Pasta is a fan favorite at our house. I love the flexibility of pasta and how I can use a variety of sauces, cheeses, noodles, and even protein. Thankfully our daughters enjoy pasta, so some form of a pasta dish ends up on our meal plan at least 1-2 times a week. To switch it...| Spend Smart Eat Smart
Does anyone else’s mind go blank when you start to make a meal plan, and you can’t think of anything to write down? Or is it just me? Some weeks the ideas just pop into my head. Other weeks I struggle with deciding what to make. Here are four things I do to help me...| Spend Smart Eat Smart
So far in our meal planning series we have heard a lot about how to engage our families in the process to make it easier and suit everyone’s preferences. That might leave you thinking that if you live on your own, meal planning will be a breeze – no arguments over dinner! I can share...| Spend Smart Eat Smart
Seed oils have become a hot topic in the world of nutrition, with opinions ranging from them being a dietary villain to a misunderstood hero. Let’s dive into what seed oils are, their health effects, and how to make informed choices about consuming them. What Are Seed Oils? Seed oils are extracted from the seeds...| Spend Smart Eat Smart
Recently a friend of mine welcomed their third baby. When my husband and I brought our oldest home from the hospital six years ago, we had several friends and family drop off meals and snacks as we transitioned to becoming new parents. Not having to worry about meal planning those first few weeks was so...| Spend Smart Eat Smart
