The Most Bang for my Buck - got some ideas!!!!!

[Guest guest]

I agree with Mike. Learning to eat right is the key. In addition, one

way I have found to make your dollar go further is to buy fresh

fruits and veggies in bulk (Costco or Sam's club was good for me,

since I couldn't always afford organic). My friend and I used to do

a " tag-team " deal where she would by a couple of cases of fruits or

veggies, I would buy a couple of cases of 2 *different*

fruits/veggies, and then we would split up the cases between us. This

was a great way to get variety of fresh fruits/veggies and be able to

save money since you are still buying in bulk.

 

Something else I sometimes do: when you use a fruit/veggie juicer,

you don't necessarily need to throw the peel/pulp away. I like to use

apples this way since you can extract the juice, and then get the

pulp & mix with a little bit of the juice, to thin out the fiber

(drink what you don't use), add some cinnamon, and you have a

marvelous fresh-pressed apple sauce with tons of fiber. You can also

mix in a little bit of pear if you like. Experiment. Personally, I

like to make my apple sauce this way and add ALL the juice back into

the pulp. I'm just too lazy to chew the apples sometimes!!!!

 

When juicing carrots: save the pulp and add a bit to soups, spaghetti

sauces, pot roast gravy, whatever. It adds fiber & lots of great

nutrients to your food.

 

If you are worried about fresh fruits/veggies going bad before you

have a chance to cook with them, then buy frozen. Or freeze a portion

of what you buy (in ziploc bags). For making soups, frozen veggies

work great.

 

Just keep in mind that whenever you fresh-press juice, you must use

the pulp and/or juice within a day or two to get the best benefit. Or

you can freeze pulp (for example, the carrot pulp) and thaw later

when you use it.

 

Another good thing: whole foods (whole wheat, whole brown rice, whole

grain pasta) are becoming more widely available in grocery stores. I

found that I could save money buying these items in larger stores

(Kroger, etc.) than in tiny health food stores.

 

Lastly, Bananas should never be juiced or frozen. Always use them

fresh.

 

::Cheers!::

Kristin

 

, " Mike Frost "

<lincolnp1@e...> wrote:

> Wicked, IMO, best thing to do is to eat properly first. Many of the

problems

> you all are experiencing may be alleviated by eating right. There

are many

> ways to eat right, but the simplest is to only buy foods with no

ingredient

> labels. With some exceptions, such as butter, these would all be

natural

> foods. No preservatives, additives, fillers, etc. Doesn't have to be

> organic, (although that would be best), but it does have to be

fresh. Buy

> from local farmers' markets where possible. Get involved with food

buying

> co-ops if possible.

>

> Buying foods with no labels will eliminate many sugars and simple

carbs,

> will increase good and healthy fats, and eliminate most processed

grains.

> Try whole foods you never have before as they may be excellent

sources of

> nutrients, vitamins and minerals not found in the 'normal' whole

foods.

>

> Cook your foods lightly as heat neutralizes many enzymes, vitamins,

and

> nutrients. Quick steam veggies, eat red meats closer to rare rather

than

> well done. Fresh fruits are a great substitute for sugar-stuffed

processed

> desserts. Filter your water if possible, better to drink bottled

water. Use

> olive or coconut oils for cooking not vegetable oils in any form,

no deep

> frying.

>

> I know you asked about supplements, vitamins, etc. They have a role

to play

> in proper nutrition, but if I had to choose, I'd go with whole

foods first.

> Any coins left over at the end of the month, go for a whole foods

> multivitamin.

>

> Its a different way to eat, but will probably do you all better in

the long

> run.

>

> Mike