Candy > Grocery Shopping The Healthy Menu Mailer Way

Grocery Shopping The Healthy Menu Mailer Way

by: Susanne Myers

I have to admit, grocery shopping isn?t exactly one of my favorite things to do. In case you can?t ?hear? the sarcasm in my voice, let me tell you that I?d rather be doing just about anything other than grocery shopping. I tried delegating it to my husband, but we usually end up eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and potato chips when I do that.

Since I can?t avoid grocery shopping, I found a few things that make it a more pleasant and most importantly a faster process. I?d like to share my grocery shopping tips with you.

1) Make a shopping list and stick to it.

Making a list and sticking to it will keep you from buying too much junk. Not only will it encourage you and your family to stick to the new healthy eating lifestyle, it will also save you some money on your grocery bill.

Please apply common sense to this though. If you remember that you forgot to put your baby?s diapers on the list, by all means get them. On the other hand, if you feel tempted to get the new chocolate pie because there is a two for one sale, skip it. You get the idea.

2) Eat a snack before you go grocery shopping.

Never go grocery shopping while you are hungry. You?ll be much more tempted to buy junk food and already prepared meals. You?ll also end up buying much more than you really need. Either go shopping right after a meal, or eat a small snack before you go. Even eating a piece of fruit and drinking a glass of water will keep you from feeling hungry while you are in the store.

3) Avoid the aisles with the chips, snacks and candy

Don?t tempt yourself by going down the ?junk food? aisles. You?re only human and the candy and snack manufacturers put a lot of money into making their products as tempting and appealing as possible. The easiest way to avoid having those items land in your cart is to skip the aisles entirely.

4) Buy fresh meat and produce whenever possible

Buy your meat and produce fresh whenever possible. You?ll get the most nutritional bang for your buck that way. If there is something you either can?t find fresh, or it just doesn?t look good, go with a frozen version. The only exception to this is tomatoes, especially if you are going to cook them anyway. Tomatoes loose their nutritional value quickly after they are picked. If you are making tomato sauce or are using them in a stew or soup, just stick with canned tomatoes. They are canned immediately after they are picked and contain more nutrients than a batch that has been sitting in a truck for days.

5) Write your grocery list with your supermarket in mind

You will make your shopping trip much easier and faster if you keep the layout of your market in mind when you write your shopping list. Think about the departments and isles you go through first and put those items on your list. Mentally make your way through the rest of the store adding your items to your list as you go. You?ll avoid backtracking for an item further down on your list once you are in the store.

6) Clean veggies and herbs

Unpack and clean your vegetables and herbs as soon as you get back from the store. Loosely wrap them in some paper towels and stick them in a Ziploc bag. They?ll be ready to use when your recipes call for them.

7) To freeze or not to freeze?

Portion your meat out depending on how much each recipe calls for. Keep what you will be using over the next two days in the fridge and freeze the rest. With hamburger meat, you may want to freeze any portions you are not using the day you bought them.

You?ll see that by implementing even just a few of these tips, your shopping experience will be more pleasant and most importantly more efficient. You?ll spend less time in the supermarket and more time enjoying your family.

About The Author

Susanne Myers, together with Christine Steendahl, owns and publishes the Healthy Menu Mailer. The Healthy Menu Mailer is a weekly publication that will provide you with a healthy and lean dinner recipe for each night of the week and a grocery list to go along with it. Members also have access to an ever-growing list of breakfast, lunch, snack and desert recipes and a members? only forum for additional help and support. Join today at http://www.healthymenumailer.com.

Just How Is Chocolate Made?

by: James McDonald

How is chocolate made you are wondering? Chocolate is derived from a cocoa bean removed from the pod of the cocoa tree. Cocoa trees are found growing in equatorial zones in the South America region. Once the Cocoa beans have been harvested they are then placed into large shallow pans to be heated. This is also known as the fermentation process. In some regions where the climate is warm the beans may be fermented by the sun. Throughout this fermentation workers stir them often to ensure that all the cocoa beans have been equally fermented.

One of the first things that industrial chocolate manufacturers do is dry roast the beans. The process of dry roasting helps develop the flavor into what we enjoy when eating it. The cocoa nibs, otherwise known as beans are comprised of two very important ingredients: cocoa solids and cocoa butter. The cocoa butter is basically a fat while the cocoa solids are predominantly...

Just How Is Chocolate Made?

Candy > Just How Is Chocolate Made?

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Steps to Build a Beautiful Baby Gift Basket

To present a baby gift basket which looks unique and draws attention the following suggestions should be helpful:

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Don't Buy Baby Gift Baskets, Make Them Yourself

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Best Recipes: Peppermint Cheesecake

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by: Donna Monday

This festive cheesecake is pretty in pink and perfect for Christmas or Valentine?s Day.

Crust

1 cup chocolate wafer crumbs

3 tablespoons margarine, melted

Filling

1 envelope unflavored gelatin

? cup cold water

2 (8-oz.) containers soft cream cheese

? cup sugar

? cup milk

? cup crushed peppermint candy

1 cup whipping cream, whipped

2 (1.45-oz). milk chocolate candy bars, finely chopped

Toppings

whipped cream

crushed peppermint candy

chocolate shavings

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine crumbs and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool.

Soften gelatin in water; stir over low heat until dissolved. Combine cream cheese and sugar, mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well...

Best Recipes: Peppermint Cheesecake

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by: Donna Monday

Several types of chocolate may be used when baking cookies, pies, cakes, bars, and other sweet treats. The amount of cocoa butter and sugar can affect the texture and taste of chocolate?from bitter to very sweet. Below is a quick guide to the most popular kinds of chocolate used in baked goods.

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=> MILK CHOCOLATE ? Milk chocolate contains...

Sweet Gourmet: Baking Chocolate Guide

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by: Joseph Wunsch

Burberry, maker of the classic trench coat and plaid scarf, has transformed itself into one of the hottest brands in fashion today making Burberry Handbags. The Burberry Handbag is a mainstay of high fashion, so much so many companies have started making replica Burberry handbags.

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Burberry Handbags -Information When Shopping for Burberry Handbags

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by: John Mussi

As a parent, you usually want your children to have the best that life has to offer. Unfortunately, you know that it can be quite difficult to get the money that you need sometimes as an adult? and you wish that there was some way that you could spare your children these same problems.

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Children and Money

Children like money? after all, it's used to buy the things that they enjoy and it's so hard for them to get. Even small amounts of money seem huge to a small child. That said, children tend to like instant gratification of their wants and desires, so whatever toy or piece of...

Encouraging Your Children to Save Money

Candy > Encouraging Your Children to Save Money

Home Equity Loan Comparison - Access Your Home's Equity Through A Second Mortgage Or Equity Loan

by: Carrie Reeder

You can access your home equity without the cost of refinancing with two financing options. A second mortgage will give you a lump sum check with a fixed or adjustable rate. A home equity line lets you tap into your equity when you want to. Both options allow you to write off interest on your taxes and avoid high financing costs.

Benefits Of...

Home Equity Loan Comparison - Access Your Home's Equity Through A Second Mortgage Or Equity Loan Grocery Shopping The Healthy Menu Mailer Way Candy

Candy > Home Equity Loan Comparison - Access Your Home's Equity Through A Second Mortgage Or Equity Loan

Grocery Shopping The Healthy Menu Mailer Way

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Grocery Shopping The Healthy Menu Mailer Way Candy

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Low Interest Debt Consolidation Loans - Getting A Low Rate

by: Carrie Reeder

Low interest debt consolidation loans can help you pay off your debt sooner. For the lowest rates use your home equity to secure a loan. You can also find personal loans that will reduce your interest payments. Otherwise, transfer your credit balance to a new credit card account that offers 0% interest on transfers.

Home Equity Loans

Home equity loans offer low interest rates...

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Candy > Low Interest Debt Consolidation Loans - Getting A Low Rate