New Year's Reevaluations

Every new year is a time to reevaluate the progress of your life. I have been learning that as I get older, you can't just drop what you don't like and try something new. 
Changing an old routine is getting harder to do. It takes more persistence to take something a different direction. For example, changing you exercise routine (or in my case, exercising in a new gym, at a different location and a different time). I keep making large changes in my life, and I hope they stick with me through the year and to the next year.

How To Save Money: More Food Tips

Last year on June 4th, I wrote a blog article titled How To Save Money and Reduce Waste. Most of these ideas were based on food and grocery purchases. Here's another list of tips for saving money on food. Most of these tips are listed here: 100 Great Tips for Saving Money. I took whichever good tips I could use. Good for your pocketbook and your waistline.

1. Invest in a box of canning jars. Not only are they good for storing excess local fruits and veggies, they are great for packing cold lunches.
   I've always wanted to try cold oatmeal for breakfast and salad in a jar for lunch. My favorite salads is the Starbucks Zesty Chicken and Black Bean Salad Bowl. I learned to love quinoa because of it. But I keep kicking myself because the salad is almost $7.00, which I could be saving if I made me own. Just look at all the ideas I found just by searching! Canning jars are also great for portion control. 

   

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2. Cut back on convenience food. I stopped buying frozen foods this year, even the frozen veggies I would use for lunch. But sometimes it's difficult to pack my lunch, and I end up having to buy something. Even though packaged foods may be cheaper, they pack on too much salt and other chemicals as preservatives. I'd rather not mess with that.
3. Drink more water. I have heard that when you feel that hunger pang, you could be more thirsty. Drinking a cup of water before you eat will also help you feel full without eating too much.
4. Eat breakfast. Another great idea. Eating a good breakfast should keep you full way past lunch. I eat a little bit of oatmeal before I work out in the mornings to keep my energy going, then I eat the rest after the workout. This is also why I want to try these rolled oat recipes to make my breakfast the night before. Mmmm.

   

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5. Make your own meals. Brown bag your lunch. Eat leftovers. These all go under the same category. I love eating leftovers. I think it makes some foods taste better, like stews and soups.
6. Make your own items instead of buying them. This goes along with everything. I always think "I could have made this at home" when I'm buying fast food or those Starbucks salads.
7. Use coupons. I have never been able to use coupons effectively, but these guys seem to have a good strategy.
8. Pack food for a road trip. Much better than stopping at a fast food joint every few miles.
9. Eat less meat. I didn't think this was something of importance. But I guess since meat products are more expensive than fruits and veggies, this is a smart choice.
10. Turn off the television. I didn't understand this point until I read the rest. Commercials are constantly trying to make you spend money. I always get hungry when I see a fast food commercial. It worse when they replay it 2-3 times in under a minute. 

The biggest points that got my attention are driving a different route to work/home, spending to de-stress, and spending for entertainment. When I am stressed, I feel like going to the nearest drive-thru and buying a cheeseburger. And I used to go to the store when I needed something, and I'd walk out with ten things I think I needed. Making a list is another good reminder. 

Changing even the little things make a big difference. I am paying down some debt, and I need to keep that in mind before I spend anything. That's the main goal with these lists, to be debt free and save for the future. 

~ Sara

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How to Save Money and Reduce Waste

I was reading a few blogs this morning, and I came across this Food Waste Challenge from the United States Department of Agriculture. Although this challenge is more for organizations, I did find some good Resources for Consumers (plus I love the World War I Era poster!). This information is especially good for times like these.

World War I Era Poster, Committee of Public Safety,
Department of Food Supply, South Penn Square, Philadelphia, PA

EPA's Suggestions for Reducing Food Waste

1. Shop your refrigerator first! It's always a good idea to know what you have and what you need to buy. You don't want to have extra produce because you forgot you had bananas in the fridge (It's happened to us a lot. At least we love eating them!)
2. Make of list of things to buy and ONLY BUY THOSE THINGS. Sometimes it's so difficult to do this with those BOGO deals. Making a list is a great way to save money because you will know how much you will spend.
3. Buy only what you realistically need and will use. This point depends on what you are buying. If you know you eat so much of a specific canned good every month, it could be cheaper and beneficial to buy them in bulk. But when you buy what you need, you should not get any spoiled food.
4. Be creative! If safe and healthy, use the edible parts of food that you normally do not eat. Their examples were stale bread for croutons and sauteed beet tops. My mom loves to make what she calls "mystery soup" or "casserole surprise". She will take whatever vegetables and meat we have in the fridge, and she throws it together to make a delicious soup or casserole. Last month she made a casserole with potatoes, sweet potatoes, broccoli, celery, and cheese!
5. Freeze, preserve, or can surplus fruits and vegetables - especially abundant seasonal produce. Have too many peaches, apples, cherries or mangoes growing in your area? Can them! Just purchase some mason jars and air tight lids.
   You could also make jams. Here's a website with instructions on how to make homemade jam. I read the apricot jam directions, and they even give you specific instructions on what materials you will need and exactly how to preserve the fruit.
6. At restaurants, order only what you can finish. I usually share my meal with a friend or I split my food in half to take home.
7. At all-you-can-eat buffets, take only what you can eat. I don't usually take home food when I go to a buffet, anyways.

Also on the USDA website, there are more links on canning, food safety with meats, fresh produce, frozen foods, and general information on food keeping.

You can also try your hand at gardening. It is fun for the whole family and a good way to teach children to enjoy eating their fruits and veggies! From what I've heard from parents with gardens, if the children grow the food they will most likely eat it. Plus, fresh fruits and vegetables have a more pleasing taste than some store-bought produce.

For any new gardeners out there, try making a compost pile or vermicomposting with your leftover fruit and vegetable scraps. In Hillsborough County (where I live), you can take a free composting class and receive a free compost bin and thermometer, as well as free rain barrels for rainwater harvesting if you take the Rainwater Harvesting Workshop. Check with your county to see if they offer these free classes as well.

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