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Join Me in a Healthier Summer

Taco Tomatoes

Grilled Spicy Chicken with Hominy Hash

To join me in a healthier summer means eating better and moving more. Are you ready to roll?

Let’s face it, whether you are single or have a large family, a caregiver, or have small children, it’s difficult to serve nutritious meals every day. Often it seems easier and quicker to use fast foods or boxed mixes.

Add to that, it’s difficult to find (or make) time to exercise properly. Summer is here and my bod’s not ready, how about yours?

Finding myself unable to do some of my basic tasks has reminded me of the need to make daily changes to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Here are a few of my goals for a healthier summer. Want to join me?

#1 Plan what I will eat each day.

Plan what I will eat each day” Hmmm! I plan already, I plan to eat all that’s set before me! Well, I don’t think that’s much of a plan, do you? The truth is, without another plan, my healthy lifestyle is doomed from day one.

Sadly I admit I have all too often relied on fast foods or boxed mixes because they are easy and at least seem to be cheaper to prepare. Click here for healthy, quick meals that are easy on the budget!

#2 Determine my triggers.

I took time to look at my most troubling foods and determined to eliminate those as much as possible. (Goodbye salty snacks and bargain baked goods!) What are some of your triggers that could be eliminated or cut down a bit? Bread, sugars, others?

#3 Incorporate movement.

To incorporate movement is simply plan to move more., get some exercise each day. I did better this week because I planned for at least ten minutes of exercise in the early morning. My main challenge is to make myself get up and at least stretch a bit or walk through the house every hour or so. It’s easy to spend two or three hours glued to my seat as I finish an article or work on the computer.

#4 Make it fun and enjoyable.

I enjoy walking, especially in our woods. I used to walk down the hill through the walnut grove and across our little bridge. Truthfully, today I can’t walk around the outside of our home without stopping to rest. (Sad to admit, but honest!)

What is your main challenge to a healthy lifestyle? If you need more exercise, remember to begin slow. We seem to think we need to begin with hours of exercise. A few minutes a day can and will make a world of difference, especially in how you feel–you will feel better and look better.

Here is another great link for healthy, easy meals. Enjoy and please let me hear what is working for you.

Healthy Hugs,

Have you checked out Quick Nutritious Meals for Your Family?

Safely Serving Snacks, Meals, Leftovers

Individual Servings for Committee Members in Our Home

Safely serving snacks, meals and leftovers take on a new meaning in today’s climate.

In this article, learn how I safely served snacks to a committee meeting in my home. Also, I share brief suggestions for navigating potluck or community meals.

I believe, if 2020 has taught us anything at all, it is how to be creative! Avoiding double-dipping or re-using serving utensils can be easy as well as fun.

MEETING IN YOUR HOME

Pictured here are the snacks I served at a committee meeting in our home. Deep, disposable trays were filled with Chex mix, cookies, fruits, cheeses, summer sausages. Drinks were in bottles or cans.

LEFTOVERS

The plus side of our meeting: I fixed plenty extra and the guys took home snacks for their wives. I didn’t check to see if the wives really got any! This was so easy, I now keep trays to send leftovers home from family gatherings. If you serve in church or community events, stock packages of trays so guests can enjoy the food later in the week.

HOLIDAY DINNER

Think about your holiday dinner … if you aren’t sure who will be there, use this idea and have a serving line with only a couple of people handling the utensils. Use deep, roomy trays with lids, no washing later! Cleanup is a snap with more time to visit and enjoy family and friends.

A NEW KITCHEN STAPLE

Check out your local dollar stores, you will find a wonderful selection of trays with lids. Look closely: some are divided which works well for sauces and creamy foods. Make sure they are deep enough for your needs. I keep several packages of trays in my cabinet just for the two of us.

SUMMER PICNICS-DINING ON THE PATIO

Often we eat out on the porch or gazebo in warm weather. How fun to have a lid to protect my food while I enjoy the flowers, birds, and other critters.

Wishing you a safe and happy winter; snuggled up with a tray of munchies and a good book!

Let me hear your survival tips.

Hugs,

Cooking Substitutions for Almost Anything

Momma rarely followed a recipe without making a few changes. Of course, I would come to realize as I grew older, many cooking substitutions were due to a meager pantry and tight budget.

I recall vividly as a teen baking a chocolate cake for her birthday. The rich chocolate icing was adorned with tiny pink roses and green leaves. It was beautiful if I say so myself.

However, one taste and you knew something wasn’t exactly right. Oh, everyone ate it; not a single person said anything about the unusual taste. That is, except my little brother. If you have siblings, you know how honest they can be!

Discovering we were out of shortening or lard, I had substituted hardened bacon grease. After all, it was grease – it should work as well. Take it from me, it pays to know good cooking substitutions.

For instance, did you know that when baking, you can replace one egg in every three with one tablespoon cornstarch? Follow this link to find out. Also, you’ll learn what to use when out of buttermilk or mayonnaise. And, wait until you the substitutions for gluten-free flour! Click here for more.

Do you know a good substitution for mayonnaise? Milk? Cracker crumbs? Honey? If so, you will find a wealth of information on this site featuring dozens of baking and cooking substitutions.

As I write this, we are faced with many of the issues Mother faced. Our economy and our lifestyles have changed over night. Running to the store every day or so may not be an option. Perhaps our challenging circumstances will require us to learn how to make do with what we have.

I would like to hear some of your favorite substitutions. Also, why not tell me some that haven’t been such good choices. I won’t tell (tee, hee)!

Want an easy, healthy soup with lots of options to suit your tastes? Click here for my recipe.