We often connect what we eat to our physical health. Eating to reduce our risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Or eating to keep our bones and muscles strong as we age so we can keep doing the activities we enjoy. What we eat can also affect our brain health. No single food can... The post Five Foods to Eat for Brain Health appeared first on Spend Smart Eat Smart.| Spend Smart Eat Smart
Prebiotics and probiotics – I cannot always remember which is which and I usually have to look it up when someone asks me a question about them. What I do know for sure is that they are important for a healthy gut microbiome. The gut microbiome is made up of the bacteria, viruses, fungi, and...| Spend Smart Eat Smart
The Sleepy Side of Nutrition| Spend Smart Eat Smart
When you think about nutrition, what comes to mind? Maybe it’s maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, or lowering your risk of illness and disease. But have you ever considered how your food choices might affect your sleep? As adults, we should aim for at least 7 hours of quality sleep each night.... The post The Sleepy Side of Nutrition appeared first on Spend Smart Eat Smart.| Spend Smart Eat Smart
Is the weather cooling down where you are? The fall vibes are beginning here in Iowa and that makes me want to use the produce that comes in season for us in the fall. For our October recipe of the month I would like to share three ways to use sweet potatoes. Even though we... The post Welcome Fall with Sweet Potatoes appeared first on Spend Smart Eat Smart.| Spend Smart Eat Smart
Let’s be real—being a caregiver is one of the most loving, selfless things you can do. But it’s also one of the hardest. Whether you’re caring for a parent, spouse, child, friend, or neighbor, the emotional and physical toll can sneak up on you. That’s where Powerful Tools for Caregivers comes in. And trust me,...| Spend Smart Eat Smart
Vegetable Dip| Spend Smart Eat Smart
Homemade breads and sourdough recipes are making a big comeback. If you are like me, you’ve probably watched countless videos or read blogs from people sharing how easy it is to make bread from scratch. I consider myself to be a pretty good cook and baker at home, but homemade bread? It intimidates me! I... The post Bread Recipes for Busy Seasons! appeared first on Spend Smart Eat Smart.| Spend Smart Eat Smart
This week I get to share with you about my air fryer adventures. Check out Justine’s blog from last week to hear about her experience making roasted broccoli and fish in her air fryer. I have a multicooker with the air fryer function. It also has settings to bake, roast, dehydrate, reheat, and rotisserie. And...| Spend Smart Eat Smart
Over the next few weeks, Jody and I are going to share with you some of our adventures with air fryers and highlight Spend Smart. Eat Smart. recipes that we have made successfully using this appliance. An air fryer cooks food by circulating hot air around the food, which gives it a similar taste and... The post Air Fryer Adventures – Part 1 appeared first on Spend Smart Eat Smart.| Spend Smart Eat Smart
My kids are starting their second week of school, so we are slowly getting back into a morning routine. It’s important to me that they start the day with a good breakfast to fuel them for learning and after-school activities. One of our go-to Spend Smart. Eat Smart recipes for breakfast is Oatmeal Pancakes. My... The post Back to School Breakfast: Oatmeal Pancakes appeared first on Spend Smart Eat Smart.| Spend Smart Eat Smart
The start of a new school year means a busier schedule for my family. As much as I love to cook, some school nights I simply don’t have the time or the energy. Slow cooker recipes and one-pot dishes are on my meal plan at least 2-3 times a week. Any recipe that requires minimal...| Spend Smart Eat Smart
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...| 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
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
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
