12 Ways to Slash your Grocery Bill

I strive to eat healthy most of the time mainly because I feel so much better when I put good, wholesome things into my body as opposed to junk. However, eating healthy can be expensive; let's face it, a bag of Doritos is much cheaper than a bag of organic, whole-grain tortilla chips.

After developing a lifestyle of healthy eats over the past few years, I've discovered ways to stock up on healthy items without going broke. Here are some of my favorites:

1. Buy items in season. What does this mean? Stock up on fresh fruit in the summer when it is on sale and at its peak of freshness. If you were to try to buy that same watermelon in January in the Midwest, chances are, it won't taste as good and you're going to shell out a lot more for it than you would in July.

2. Purchase items that you consume on a regular basis in bulk. If you're an oatmeal, pasta, or popcorn fanatic, don't buy the individual-serving packages--instead purchase the whopping containers to reduce the unit price and reduce excess packaging. Need to take oatmeal to work and love the convenience of instant packets? Make your own: fill a small, washable container with a scoop of oats and just add water/milk when you get to the office. It's the exact same thing but much cheaper in the long run.

Even though I'm a family of one, buying in bulk saves me some serious cash. Basically for single-serve items, you're paying for the convenience and packaging. If you're always on the go or traveling, these items can be great. However, for everyday use, they usually are not necessary.

3. Your freezer is your friend. Stash items away before they expire. Items such as flour, bread, bananas (freeze and use in smoothies!), and leftovers freeze extremely well. By freezing rather than tossing out expired food, you are saving money and time since you won't be rushing to the grocery store all of the time.

4. Don't be afraid to shop around. Certain items are cheaper at some stores as opposed to others. This technique is something that will come with time and soon you will know which stores carry which items cheapest. It is important to not stress over this too much though--don't drive to 7 stores just to get a week's worth of groceries--it's not worth it in the end.

5. Off brands won't bite, but don't skimp on the good stuff. Essentials such as cooking spray, raw oats, popcorn kernels, etc. are pretty basic items and it is hard to mess them up. Do yourself a favor and try the off-brands for a fraction of the price on items that you don't have a huge preference on. Chances are, you won't even miss the big brands. When it comes to specific items, I don't skip due to quality. Some of the items that I'm willing to pay more for include:

• Organic items
• Natural chicken and fish
• Coffee
• Condiments
• Cheese

I'm willing to spend more on these things because in the past I've tried off-brands and it just was not the same--resulting in wasted food and money.

6. "On Sale" doesn't always equal savings. A sale is not useful to you unless it involves something that you like or were planning on purchasing. Why buy it if it's just going to take up space in your fridge or pantry? That leads me to my next point--coupons.

7. Your mom was right when it comes to coupons. However, like sale items, they are only good if you're actually going to use the product. Your best bet is to use a coupon for an item that is on sale--double whammy of savings!

8. Do the prep work yourself. I set aside time each week--usually on Sundays to do all of my prep work for healthy eating during the workweek. I bake chicken breasts, prep salads in single-serve containers, cut veggies and fruits, and fill tiny tupperwares with bulk goods such as yogurt, cottage cheese, and applesauce. By taking an hour or so each week to do the prep work, healthy snacks and meals are easy to grab--helping me stick to my healthy eating regimen. Each morning, I simply grab containers and toss them into my lunch box before heading out the door.

9. Only purchase items that you will actually use. Sometimes we feel the pressure to get something simply because it is healthy or because it is on sale. If you purchase something only to toss it before you use it, or take one bite and spit it out, it wasn't really worth buying in the first place, was it?

10. Know your prices. This is crucial if you shop at multiple stores or if you like to take advantage of wholesale stores such as Sam's Club or Costco. By knowing the basic prices of most items, you'll be able to spot a deal a mile away.

11. The more uses for a product, the better. Buying chicken? Think of how many meals you can get out of it:

• Salad with grilled chicken
• Chicken parmesean
• Chicken and rice
• Stir fry with veggies
• Sandwich wrap
• Tacos
• Alfredo pasta with chicken + broccoli
• Using one item for multiple meals is a great way to stretch your dollar at the supermarket.

12. Keep an eye on unit prices. Unit prices are often listed on the price sticker below the item on the shelf. It will list the cost per unit--allowing you to compare brands and sizes of items to ensure you're getting the best deal. Here's a hint: buying the larger size of a product is usually the better deal!

Those are the majority of the tips I use when it comes to loading up on healthy foods. I try to shop every other week or so to keep my grocery bill down as well; however, some weeks I find myself rushing to the store a couple of times due to picking up random items that I forgot.

Do you use any of these techniques while grocery shopping? 
What are some of the ways you save money on food?
Are you willing to shell out more for organic or healthy options?

Panini Houdini + Sweet Potato Rounds

Good morning!

Over the holiday weekend, Andy and I went grocery shopping together to pick up some fresh food for the week. I loaded up on my usual staples, along with a few other new things such as edamame (love it!), a Italian garlic parmesan loaf, and zucchini (love it, but always forget to buy it).

It was the parmesan loaf and zucchini that were the stars of the recipe that I am about to share with you. I ate this sandwich many times over the weekend and it disappeared quickly because it is just that good.

First of all, what is a panini? A panini sandwich is one that is pressed while it is cooking and is served hot. Typically it is grilled and often has grill marks on both sides of the bread due to the pressing process.

Now that we're all on the same page, let's make one!

Gather up your ingredients:

• Ciabatta, French, or Italian bread
• Turkey, ham, or chicken (You could even do an all-veggie one if you so wish)
• Cheese of your choice (I used Colby Jack brick cheese)
• 1 roma tomato
• Sliced pickles--the more the merrier!
• 1/4 of an avocado
• 1/3 of a zucchini
• Wedge of a lime
• Small handful of cilantro
• 1 sweet potato
• Carrots or additional sides of your choice

First things first: slice a chunk of bread into 3 parts horizontally. Since paninis are generally a thin sandwich with a lot of fillings rather than a lot of bread, you'll want to remove the middle portion of your bread to make it easier to flatten during the cooking process. 

Don't worry, your middle slice of bread won't go to waste--it is perfect for making homemade croutons, using for another type of sandwich, or dunking into some olive oil.

Next up, slice your sweet potato into small silver dollars. When you have finished, transfer them onto a lightly greased cookie sheet, making sure they are not overlapping.

Pop your tray into the oven at 425 degrees for 25 minutes, flipping them over halfway through to ensure even cooking and crispiness.

After your potatoes are in the oven, grab your cilantro and chop it as course or as fine as you'd like. I prefer mine slightly coarse, but whatever floats your boat will do just fine.

Transfer your chopped cilantro into a small bowl along with your avocado and the juice from the lime. Then proceed by mixing it all together until you have reached your desired consistency. 

This mock-guac is super fresh and provides a great zip to your sandwich. Next, spread this gooey mixture onto one half of your sandwich. If you're not a fan of the green stuff, you can skip this step and use butter, pesto, or mayo instead.

You may then proceed with slicing your zucchini similar to how you sliced your sweet potato earlier--in small, even-sized rounds. Next, assemble your lightly greased pan as shown below:

Bread with mock-guac, zucchinis with salt and pepper, turkey, other slice of bread with cheese on top. I use a small griddle pan with grooves in it because it keeps things from getting soggy and I like how it leaves a nice grill mark on everything. I cook up the turkey separate from the sandwich to ensure it gets hot enough while the zucchini rounds fry up on their own as well to keep them from staying too crunchy.

After cooking on medium heat for approximately 5 minutes (flipping the turkey and zucchini halfway through), combine everything onto the bread:

Carefully add the rest of your sandwich toppings onto the half with the meat and cheese before adding your mock-guac covered bread on top.

Next, turn up the heat on your stove from medium to high and smash your sandwich ever so gently with a frying pan or a small plate. 

This keeps it flat while it cooks without burning your hands. Push down lightly and cook it until the sandwich is about half the height it originally was (about 2 minutes). You'll want to do this on both sides of the sandwich to make sure your cheese gets melty and both sides of the bread get toasted.

As soon as it is finished cooking, plate it up along with your sweet potato rounds, carrot sticks, and/or additional sides of your choosing. Serve hot.

So delicious!

There you have it--a simple twist on a turkey sandwich. Another combo that I am anxious to try is a chicken breast + fresh basil + mozzarella panini! These are easy to customize with your favorite veggies and sandwich fillings--the possibilities are endless!

What are your favorite things to put on a sandwich? 

Do you like pickles?

Lunch with Friends

These little guys joined me for lunch!

Awhile back, my mom convinced me to give spaghetti squash a try since I love all other varieties of this vegetable. I must admit, I was a little intimidated at first--a vegetable that turns into "pasta" when it is cooked?!

After purchasing one at the grocery store, I put it in my pantry and avoided it for a week or so before mustering up the courage to give it a whirl. I sliced that little bugger open and was surprised that the contents resembled a pumpkin's guts:

Up close and personal

I removed all of the seeds and then tried to think about how you even go about cooking this beast.

Lucky for me, there was an instructions sticker right on the front! Bonus.

Next, I transferred the two halves face-down onto a lightly greased cooking sheet per the instructions.

Afterwards, I added some little friends:

It got a little crowded, but don't worry--they managed. 

I popped the pan into the oven for about 30-40 minutes at 350 degrees.

When it was done, I began scraping the insides lightly with a fork.

A pasta impostor!

Bowl full of noodles!

I added some parmesan, olive oil, salt, and steamed broccoli and called it dinner. Overall, I was impressed. The squash gave it a nice, veggie flavor yet it was not too overpowering if you wanted to top it with marinara sauce. Bon appetite!

Have you ever tried spaghetti squash? 

What is one new thing you have tasted recently?

(How To) Stay True to Your Workout

Hi there!

I recently took a week off from the gym in attempt to allow my body to rest after an injury. Friday was my first day back at the gym and boy, did it feel good. I'm convinced that if you work out regularly (3-5 times per week) and then take some time off, your body starts craving those endorphins.

I took it easy since my knee is still healing and just peddled lightly on the elliptical and did a few upper body weights. Sometimes I'm tempted to skip the gym on days that I just don't feel like dragging myself there. However, I usually am able to convince myself to stick to it using some of these tips that I'm about to share with you.

Be Prepared
1. Pack your gym bag with all of the essentials so that you're always prepared. In mine, I currently have:

• Waterbottle that I can refill at the gym
• Granola bars in case I need a little energy before I start my workout
• Reading material (book, magazines, etc.)
• Shorts and/or capri's
• Tee and/or tanks
• Extra socks
• Tennis shoes
• Sports bras
• Ipod + headphones

These items keep me prepared so that I don't have an excuse to skip a workout once I'm there. I also can't stress the importance of checking that you have all your clothes in your bag before you leave the house. I've arrived in the locker room too many times to realize I forgot a sports bra, socks, or shorts and end up having to go home and come back.

2. Keep your gym bag in your car. I rarely head into the office without my gym bag in my car. By doing this, it removes my excuse for not working out. I have all of my stuff with me, so I might as well head to the gym after work for a sweat session. I also take the bag with me when I head out of town to visit my sister or parent since my gym has locations near them as well.

3. Have a plan before you walk in. By having a plan either in your head or written down on a little notecard, you're more prone to stick to your workout rather than just wander around aimlessly. I have a couple of card workouts that I've jotted down on index cards to bring with me to the gym. I just tape it to the treadmill or elliptical to keep me on track. Julie at Peanut Butter Fingers has a great page that is filled with ideas if you need something new.

Just Not Feeling It?
Let's face it--we all have days that we'd rather just curl up on the couch and watch mindless reruns rather than work out. Sometimes your body needs a day off or two to recover and this is okay! Don't feel guilty about taking time off--because it is during that rest period that your muscles are able to recover and as a result, get stronger. However, if you find yourself in a funk of not wanting to work out due to boredom, here are some tips to spice things up a bit and excite you about working out.

1. Wear something that you feel comfortable in. I've noticed that I feel more confident at the gym in a good pair of running capri's and a sweat-wicking tank than I do in old dance team shorts and a big, baggy t-shirt that has been washed too many times. It motivates me to work out longer and harder rather than being distracted by uncomfortable clothing and feeling like I should just leave.

2. Switch things up. After awhile, doing the same routine over and over again will cause your body to plateau--making it difficult to lose weight or increase your endurance since the routine is no longer challenging. To avoid reaching a plateau, I try to switch things up weekly and monthly. Here's a sample week of working out for me:

• Monday: Run outside 5 miles + Strength training consisting of legs, butt, and chest
• Tuesday: Rest
• Wednesday: Spin class at the gym + Strength training consisting of arms, back, and calves
• Thursday: 60 minutes of elliptical intervals (5 min at high intensity and easy pace alternated with 5 min low intensity and very quick pace) + Strength training consisting of legs, butt, and chest
• Friday: Treadmill intervals / speed drills + Strength training consisting of arms, back, and calves
• Saturday: Run long distance outside or walk on treadmill at high incline  + Strength training consisting of legs, butt, and chest
• Sunday: Elliptical intervals for 45 min, bike at heavy resistance for 15 min + Strength training consisting of arms, back, and calves

I typically take Tuesdays off due to hanging out with Andy, and Friday nights are usually our date nights so those workouts sometimes get skipped for pizza and a Redbox movie instead...

3. Entertainment. Being bored while you work out really makes it hard to get there in the first place. If you can avoid this and instead actually look forward to your workout, you're more likely to follow through with it. However, be sure that your entertainment doesn't take away from the quality of your workout--you should still be sweating! Here are some ideas:

• Save your new book or magazine for the gym as a means to motivate yourself to get there. 
• Got a favorite show? Make yourself watch it while on the treadmill at the gym. 
• Download a great new playlist to keep things interesting if that helps. 
• Bring a friend if you need accountability--chatting while riding side by side stationary bikes makes the time fly by much faster that if you're alone.

4. Try a new location. This does wonders for me! One of the deciding factors when I was choosing a gym was the multiple locations that my gym offers. Sometimes I switch things up by going to different gyms since they have different equipment, classes, and atmospheres. This technique really helps me to keep my routine different since things are not in the same place at all gym locations.

While You're There
Since you're already at the gym, you might as well make the most of it. If you've been on the treadmill for 45 minutes and you aren't even sweating, it's time to switch things up. Just remember, if you get there and you start working out and are just not feeling it, you can always leave early. It's okay to only work out for 20 minutes if you are crunched for time.

Also keep in mind that you don't have to go to the gym to work out. Some days I count cleaning my condo from top to bottom (vacuuming, scrubbing floors, etc.) and going to the grocery store as my workout for the day.

 When the weather is nice--head outside for a walk, run, bike ride, or relaxing rollerblade session to switch things up. Save running on the treadmill for when you need to keep a specific pace as part of a training plan or if the weather is cold or rainy so that you'll be less likely to burn out from treadmill boredom.

Play sports with your friends, basketball on your driveway, or try a new class at the gym--you just might like it so much that you forget you're even working out!

Take Care of Yourself
Part of a healthy fitness plan includes taking care of yourself outside of the gym. It is very important to listen to your body in terms of how it is doing each day. Sometimes it is necessary to rest rather than work out.

Reasons to Skip the Gym:

• You have a bad cold in your chest, making it hard to breathe
• Stomach issues (running with a stomach ache only makes it worse, believe me)
• If you feel dizzy, dehydrated, or have a really bad headache
• Being overly-tired or worn out (This heightens your risk for injury)
• If your body is telling you that you need a break to rest and recover
• Fun events--seriously, don't skip fun events with your friends and family to work out. The gym will always be there later that evening, the next day, and the following week.

This was the first of my fitness posts--I'm planning another one on factors to consider while choosing a gym, so stay tuned! 

How often do you work out? 
What motivates you to go to the gym?
What does your routine typically look like?