Healthy Secret Macaroni & Cheese

Tonight I made one of my favorite meals. Mac n' cheese with an extra nutritional kick! I started by cooking 8 oz of whole wheat rotini pasta...


















Are you ready for the secret?


















Combine a thawed package of cooked winter squash with 1 1/2 cups skim milk, and heat to boiling-then simmer for a few minutes until slightly thickened. This is very exciting to me, because the squash is the same color as the cheese! But don't worry, you will still get plenty of cheese in this recipe. I would not deny anyone of that!


















Add the cooked pasta, a cup of fat free cottage cheese, and 1 cup of reduced fat cheddar. Stir until the cheese is melted. Season as desired-I added a pinch of nutmeg and cayenne pepper, and a little sea salt and black pepper.


















plus about 1 1/2 cups of chopped broccoli...



















and some breadcrumbs to sprinkle on top. I made my own by toasting two slices of bread, chopping them up and tossing with oregano, garlic and olive oil.


















Place the mac n' cheese mixture in a baking dish, sprinkle with the breadcrumbs, and bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes and....


















healthy comfort food at it's finest! YUM!
I served this dish with garlic & herb seasoned chicken breasts sauteed in olive oil. This allowed me to play with one of my new toys that I got for Christmas...A digital kitchen thermometer!


















Always make sure poultry products are cooked to a minimum of 165 F. Even if they appear done, they could still be harboring harmful bacteria which has not yet been cooked off.

Have a safe and happy new year, however you might be spending it!

Homemade oatmeal

This morning, I woke up to snow falling outside! It didn't look like it would accumulate much, but it was a very pretty scene. I tried to take some pictures, but they didn't really do it much justice.

I decided to make oatmeal today....my usual wintertime breakfast. Lately I have been eating it every day, alternating between adding raisins or bananas.

Today, I decided to try something different. I started by chopping up a Red Delicious apple that I had sitting in the fridge.

















It probably amounted to about 3/4 cup


















Then I added a cup of skim milk and 1/2 cup of dry regular oats


















Microwave for about 3 minutes, then...


















I added 1/2 packet of Equal (just to sweeten things up a bit), about a tablespoon of chopped walnuts, and a nice dusting of cinnamon...and voila! Homemade apple cinnamon oatmeal.
Who needs the pre-packaged stuff? You can buy a huge package of regular or quick-cooking oats for less than a box of the packets. It doesn't take that much more time (depending on your chopping skills) Plus, this way you can control exactly what goes in it...no added sugars that you don't put in yourself. I think it tastes better this way, too!

After breakfast, it was time to hit the books...


















I'm taking the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) a week from Monday, so my winter break is not really going to be much of a break. Today I'm expanding my vocabulary and learning strategies for excelling in the verbal section of the test. I know, it sounds boring just reading about it.

I'm going to need some more caffeine!

Cheap, tasty and not-so-sinful treats

First of all, we got our new camera! It's a Canon SD1200, and I love it!
We got the silver one!


Of course, we had to try it out first-on some of our favorite models...










Cooper and Callie are ready for their close-ups!

This new arrival was just in time for my holiday baking post, so I can add in pictures of all my sweet temptations!

Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE to cook, and over the past few years (thanks to my increasing patience and knowledge gained at school) I have grown to love baking as well. The bottom line is, "cooking is an art, and baking is a science." Just doesn't sound very fun or tempting when you think of it that way, does it?!

Once you learn to do it, it's actually very satisfying-and fun-to watch science take place in your kitchen.

The first thing I had to learn was, it is very important to follow the recipe! There was a time when I didn't even know the difference between baking soda and baking powder, and may have used them interchangeably.

Well, they both have the word baking in them-so what's the difference?!

The difference is huge-and was evident in my past baking escapades which tended to end in disaster.

This year-seeing as I am totally broke-I am spreading the holiday love with gifts from my kitchen.

I tried three new recipes from CookingLight.com, my favorite and most trusted source for good food at a low nutritional cost.

Oatmeal Cookies

Fudgy Mocha Toffee Brownies

Peanut Butter Icebox Cookies











Cookie making madness!!

There are two changes I make to every recipe which are okay and do not create tragedies like the baking soda/baking powder substitution. I use only whole wheat flour rather than white (and no, I don't mix-it still turns out great an no one knows any different), and I replace the butter or margarine with Smart Balance. This does not change the amount of calories at all, but it does increase the nutrition. The whole wheat flour adds fiber, and the Smart Balance exchanges the saturated fat for unsaturated, which is more conducive to raising "good" cholesterol over "bad".











All three recipes turned out AWESOME! I can't wait to share them with my family, friends and co-workers!

What are your favorite holiday treats?

The best 100% whole wheat pizza crust EVER!

I have been making this recipe for awhile now, and have yet to share it. But the secret has been kept long enough!

Making your own pizza from scratch is cheap, allows you to connect with the food you are eating, and is also a great way to get several of the food groups into one meal-grains, milk (cheese), veggies, meats and sometimes fruits. Plus, it's a lot of fun and is much easier than you might think!

I adapted this recipe from Vegetarian Planet, by Didi Emmons. When I make pizza crust, I always sub all of the white flour for whole wheat. Although this substitution sometimes makes things dense and unexciting, I have found that this recipe results in a hearty product that is still light and airy-not to mention irresistible! Sure, it might take much longer than picking up the phone and dialing for delivery-but some things are worth waiting for!

Ingredients:
2/3 cup hot, but not boiling, water
1 pinch (about 1/8 teaspoon) sugar
1 ½ teaspoons or 1 package dry active yeast
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups whole wheat flour, plus more as needed

1. Stir together 1/3 cup of water and the sugar in a large bowl.
2. Sprinkle the yeast over the mixture, and let stand until foamy-about 10 minutes.
3. Stir in the remaining 1/3 cup of water, the olive oil, salt, and enough flour (by ½ cup portions) to make a soft dough.
4. Knead on a floured surface, incorporating more flour, if necessary, to keep the dough from sticking. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 5-10 minutes.
5. Place the dough in a deep, oiled bowl (I use about 1/2 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil) and turn over to coat with the oil.
6. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and allow dough to rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size; about 1 hour.
7. Punch down the dough, and allow to rise for 20-30 minutes more.
8. Remove dough from bowl and flatten onto a large pizza pan sprayed well with cooking spray, spreading out by pulling the dough toward the edges. Or, make personal sized pizzas by dividing the dough into four equal portions.
8. Top with your favorite toppings, and bake at 425◦ F for 10-15 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Tonight I'm topping my pizza with pesto sauce, sauteed garlic and herb chicken, canned no-salt-added tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese. Here are some of our other favorite pizza toppings:
*Brushed olive oil with lightly steamed spinach, tomatoes (canned or fresh, depending on the season), chicken sausage (TJ’s!), and feta
*Marinara sauce with prosciutto ham and goat cheese
*Herb olive oil, asparagus, and Italian cheese blend

Side note: sadly, I cannot currently post pictures of my culinary creations as my camera has apparently "checked out". I will be bringing it to a repair shop soon, to see if it's worth fixing - otherwise a new purchase will most likely be in order.

Until then, I will have to tempt you with words rather than visuals!

Give cheap, yet creatively, this holiday season

Many people seem to be having a difficult time with money right now, which adds extra stress to holiday gift giving. But to me, the holidays are about spending time with friends and family-not the monetary value of the gifts that are given.
In years past, my family has simply composed a wish list of our holiday desires, then opened our gifts with absolutely no surprise whatsoever. Sure-everyone got what they wanted-but what fun is it to shop from a list? I do that at least twice a week when I go to the grocery store.

This year, we are trying something different; adding some thoughtfulness with a twist of creativity!

The rules are simple:
1. You can only spend $5 on gifts for each person.
2. You have to make your purchases at the Dollar store.

Now, it is assumed that everyone is going to really try to come up with something creative to buy with their respective $5 limits-not just pick up the first five pieces of junk they see in the store. We'll see how it works out. I can honestly say I am looking forward to the challenge.

Here are some other ideas for making your holiday gift giving cheap, yet thoughtful and creative:

Do a "Secret Santa" gift swap within your group: put everyone's name in a bowl and each person chooses only one person to buy for. Set a price limit that fits everyone's budget.

Create a "theme" for your gift exchange. For example, the rule might be that the gift given to each person must represent a memory about them. When the gift is opened, the story is told. This works great for families and close friends.

Make your own gifts. The options are endless-crafts, photo albums, baked goods, etc.

Play "White Elephant" or "Rob your Neighbor". It's simple, and a lot of fun!
Each person brings a wrapped gift, which could be anything from something that was made, to one that was bought or even a "regift" that you want to try and pass on. Just make sure the rules are clear for what can be brought and how much, if anything, can be spent-and know that you might be bringing home that very same gift with you once again!
If you've never played the game, see this link for details on how it works:
http://www.wikihow.com/Organize-a-White-Elephant-Gift-Exchange

The older I get, the less I desire-which makes it difficult for me to come up with items for a holiday wish list. I now see more value in spending time with loved ones than having a large stack of presents in front of me.
This year, I plan to focus more heavily on quality verses quantity. I encourage you to do the same!
Happy Holidays!

It's been awhile....

since my last post. In case you're wondering, I've been chin-deep in carbohydrate digestion, recipe testing and modification, medical terminology, and preparing to apply for internships. Oh, and of course there's work, volunteering, and making a feeble attempt to have a social life.
Focusing so much of my energy toward my schoolwork has really taken a toll on my sanity, and my creativity. It's downright exhausting, and when it comes time for dinner, I will admit, lately I haven't put much effort in. Instead I've been going with the old standbys such as frozen veggie burgers, and "no big deal," or "NBD" pasta-which consists of whatever pasta is on hand, jarred marinara sauce, and possibly lean ground beef or turkey. I've even given in several times and settled for carry out. Yes, it's been a rough, and somewhat expensive, couple of months.
Maybe I just needed a little inspiration to get me going again. My wonderful boyfriend Matt, always keeping our culinary needs in mind, heard about a great recipe while listening to NPR's Zorba Paster. After looking up the recipe online, I decided that Spicy Pumpkin Soup sounded intriguing, healthy, and simple enough to try. Plus, I had nearly all the ingredients already on hand and ready to go!

Spicy Pumpkin Soup
from: http://www.wpr.org/zorba/recipes/z09-0919r.htm

1 Tbs Olive oil
1 Large Carrot, chopped
1 Large Onion, chopped
10 Cups Low-sodium chicken broth
1 Cup Lentils
1 tsp Ground cinnamon
¼ tsp Ground ginger
½ tsp Curry powder
¼ tsp Chili powder
6 Cups Pumpkin, peeled, seeded and cubed (I used canned)
Minced fresh parsley (I used dried)

In a large soup pot, heat olive oil and sauté carrots and onions. Add broth and lentils and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat, partially cover and simmer for 30 - 40 minutes.

Stir in the cinnamon, ginger, curry, chili and pumpkin. Return to a boil, then reduce to low, partially cover and simmer for one hour, stirring occasionally. Salt and pepper to taste. Spoon into bowls and top with fresh parsley.

Servings: 6

This soup was fantastically tasty and perfect for the beginning of autumn. It was also very simple and economically friendly. Health wise, it only has 239 calories per serving and 5 grams of fat (1 saturated), very low sodium and no cholesterol. Plus, it's bursting with vitamin A, which is important for visual health. In addition, the soup has a good amount of protein and fiber, so it is perfect as a main dish. I served mine with whole wheat garlic cheese bread. Yum!

Wanna eat (or drink) cheap? Blend it yourself!

Have you ever had one of those fancy fruit smoothies from a coffee bar or other specialty shop? They're pretty yummy, but will run you upwards from $4. The good news is, you can make your own fruit smoothie, just as tasty as you'll find at these shops, for a very low cost. You might even be able to make it in less time than it takes to wait in line to hand them your five bucks!
Today I made a peach smoothie. I blended about a cup of frozen peach halves, 1/3 cup of fat free peach yogurt, and 1/2 cup of apple juice. Thirty seconds in my food processor (but you could use any type of blender you have available) and I had a delicious, and nutritious, treat! Of course, this could be done with any type of fruit, juice and yogurt you like. Fresh fruit will also work, but I like frozen because it allows you to skip adding ice-so you avoid the drink becoming watery, and still have that nice "smoothie" consistency. A few others I plan to try are mixed berry, strawberry banana, and, if I can find the right ingredients to replicate it, blueberry pomegranate.
Oh, and P.S.-a lot of places add smoothie "mixes" to their drinks-mixes that are full of added sugars and are not 100% fruit or fruit juice. I just looked it up, and some of them have 200+ calories in a one ounce serving (and the smoothie recipe says to add 2 ounces)! Making your own smoothie creations at home is a great way to control your intake of nutritious foods. My peach smoothie gave me 1.5 cups toward my daily fruit recommendation, plus 1/3 cup toward milk from the yogurt, with very few discretionary calories, or "extras." Plus, I saved $$$-it's a win-win! I suppose the only downfall is the fact that you have to wash your own dishes-but according to the calorie calculator, I burned 17 calories for the five minutes of light housework I engaged in as I washed, dried, and put away my food processor!

Making a list...

Have you ever taken a look at your finances and realized, "oh, there's just not as much there as I thought (and it's still a week and a half until payday)!" Well, this was my experience last week, and was probably due to eating out twice in one day...or going shopping...or the stack of bills I recently paid. In any case, I knew that, if I wanted to make it to next payday without starving, I was going to have to do some serious planning. Luckily, I have a tactic I like to employ when this situation arises. It does require a little effort, but can result in quite a bit of savings due to wasteful spending at the grocery store. So here it is...my "thrifty food plan."
The first thing I do is make a list of my assets. Foodwise, that is. I went through my refrigerator and pantry and listed all of the useful food items available, especially those which could be used as main dishes or need to be used up soon before they spoil. Sadly, there wasn't much...my only protein sources were one frozen chicken breast, a can of tuna, eggs, peanut butter, a few slices of deli turkey, and 3 pieces of precooked turkey breakfast sausage. Still, it was a start.
Next, I drew up a grid of all the days I needed to plan for. In this case, I went Saturday to Friday-one whole week. Below each day, I began to fill in as many meals as possible using my list of assets. I didn't go as far as to list the amount I would be using up, but this is certainly a possibility if you have the time. I did, however, cross the items off my list if I knew for sure I would be using the entire remainder of the product for a meal-for example, all three turkey sausage pieces would be used as a topping on pizza. It really helps me to have the list of foods right there while planning meals, because it helps me to "visualize" potential meals-things I could make if only I bought one or two additional items. It also forces you to be creative. One chicken breast is not much of a meal for two, but it can be chopped up and put into a pasta with pesto sauce and fresh vegetables. I also find myself becoming more open to new ways of eating some of my staple foods, such as oatmeal. I get so stuck on eating it my favorite way-with bananas or raisins. However, in lacking these foods, I realized that it would probably also be good with dried cranberries, apricots, and walnuts (and it was-I tried it this morning!).
As I came across ingredients I would need to buy in order to complete meals, I made a grocery list. Being as conservative as possible and choosing the least expensive item when faced with a choice, I managed to plan meals (roughly) for the next week. I say "roughly" because you can never expect to follow your meal plan exactly as its written. It's only Sunday, and I've already made a few changes to mine.
In the end of the process, I had comprised a very organized grocery list containing only the items I would need for the upcoming week. I had also managed to make a plan to utilize many of the things that have been sitting in my pantry/refrigerator for way too long. It's a great way to clear up space and eliminate waste before things go bad. Armed with a good list and a solid plan (plus the idea of a limited budget), I was also less likely to engage in "impulse buys" at the grocery store.
The meal plan itself is even a helpful way to be sure that you get in all of your servings of important (and often overlooked) foods like fruits and vegetables. When you have the whole day's meals laid out in front of you, it becomes clear where you might be lacking and gives you a chance to increase the nutritional value of your daily diet. (by the way, if you want to know how many servings of each food group you need, you can go to MyPyramid) Plus, for me, having something down on paper makes it kind of "set in stone" so I'm more likely to follow it. It definitely deters me from switching things up too dramatically, and of course, the ultimate defeat: going out and picking something up.
I will admit, I do not do this type of extensive planning every week, but there are many benefits to doing it as often as possible.
Happy meal planning!

Reduce your carbon footprint, by making some (and stay healthy too)!

Have you ever stopped to think about just how close some of those places you travel to by car every day really are? Today, I left my microbiology final (last day of school for 4 weeks!) and found another surprisingly nice day outside-especially for St. Louis, in July. I decided that a great way to kick off my "Summer Break Part 2" would be to go to the library to pick up some reading material. I have been walking to the library often lately, since I found one so close to me, and today there was no question about it due to the nice weather! When I arrived back home, armed with one vegetarian cookbook and two memoirs, I started thinking about the other nearby establishments I visit regularly and the fact that they are probably just as convenient as the library to walk to.
Okay, so here's proof that I'm done with school for right now: I had to make an assignment out of it. I googled the addresses of the library, Schnucks, and Target and then went to Google Maps and got walking mileage to each one from my house. As it turns out, the library is 0.9 miles, Schnucks is 0.6, and Target is 1.8 (which would also include Trader Joe's since its in the same plaza).
Then (the wheels are really turning right now) I thought about the fact that walking would not only save money on gas and eliminate the emission of harmful compounds from my car, but also help incorporate physical activity...an important part of a healthy lifestyle (it is part of the food pyramid now).
Walking 3.5 miles per hour (a nice, brisk pace but not ridiculously fast) will burn about 140 calories every 30 minutes. Of course, this varies by individual weight. Here's a nice calorie calculator I found that allows you to enter your own weight and activity time.
Calorie Calculator
Since it took me about 15 minutes each way to walk to the library today, I know I burned 115 calories. If I walked to Target or TJ's, I could burn 207! Now, I know it's not always logical to walk to the store if you're going to buy a lot, or if the items you are going to get are perishable. When possible, though, walking with a destination in mind is a great way to multi-task and help keep yourself, and the environment, a little healthier.

Am I getting enough fiber?

I recently had a concern that I may not be including enough fiber in my diet (I will spare you the details regarding why). I know very well why fiber is important, and for that reason I only buy whole grain products, as these contribute fiber while refined products (such and white bread, pasta and rice) do not. Most people know about fiber's role in digestive health (it keeps you "regular"), but fiber also has other functions. For one, it helps reduce blood cholesterol levels, which may put you at lower risk for heart disease. Because fiber is digested very slowly, if at all, it gives you a feeling of fullness more quickly, which could help with weight control. Finally, although fiber is technically a carbohydrate, it contains no calories...so it can't hurt you, it can only help!
The recommendation for fiber intake in adults 19-50 years old is 25 grams per day for women, and 38 grams per day for men. Over 50, this decreases to 21 grams per day for women and 30 for men. But what does this actually look like? I decided to track my dietary fiber for a day to see if, despite my best efforts, I am getting anywhere near my recommended amount.
For breakfast, I had a bowl of oatmeal (made with 1/2 cup of dry quick oats) and added 1/4 cup of raisins. The oatmeal was made with a cup of skim milk, and I also had a cup of orange juice; however, these foods provide no fiber so there's no need to include them in my count.
1/2 cup of oats=4 grams
1/4 cup of raisins=2 grams
Total for breakfast=6 grams
For a "snack", I had a slice of the zucchini bread I just baked this morning. Hey, you have to sample it to make sure it's good-right? I used all whole wheat flour, and the zucchini itself provides a pretty good amount of fiber. With some estimating between the original recipe and the label on the flour, I decided that the slice I had provided about 3 grams of fiber.
For lunch, I had half a turkey and cheese sandwich on a slice of whole wheat bread and an ounce (about 10) of Baked Ruffles chips. Here's my fiber count:
zucchini bread: 3 grams
bread: 2 grams
chips: 2 grams
total for snack/lunch: 7 grams
Tonight I made feta-stuffed turkey burgers and zucchini fries for dinner, both compliments of my favorite recipe source...cookinglight.com (both were excellent, by the way!)
Again, the zucchini provided a good amount of fiber (my serving was about a cups worth), and I put the burger on a Healthy Life hamburger bun, which is not whole grain but contains fiber that was added back in, or enriched, in the product during processing.
Zucchini fries: 6 grams
bun: 5 grams
Total for dinner: 11 grams
And the total for the day is...24 grams!
Although I was only 1 gram under the recommendation today, I am not sure that this represents my typical daily diet. I don't really eat zucchini that often, and had no idea that it provides so much fiber per serving. Still, it was nice to keep track for a day so that I can gauge my future intake.
Here are some other great high fiber choices that you can incorporate to help reach your daily goals:
spinach, 1/2 cup cooked = 7 grams
whole wheat pasta, 1 cup = 5-6 grams
baked potato with skin, medium=5 grams
apple, medium size with peel=4 grams
cooked beans, 1/2 cup=8-9 grams
fresh or frozen raspberries=4.6 grams
green peas, 1/2 cup=9 grams
corn, 1/2 cup kernels or 1 medium ear=5 grams
cooked broccoli, 3/4 cup=7 grams

sources:
Krause's Food & Nutrition Therapy, 12 ed.
http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/grains_why.html
http://www.wehealnewyork.org/healthinfo/dietaryfiber/fibercontentchart.html

Rediscover your local library

Until last September, I didn't even have a library card. I got it when I had to read a weight loss book for one of my classes, and didn't want to have to purchase one. I figured there was nothing else for me there, so I continued to buy books that I wanted to read new, or used on Amazon.com. But why buy when you can read them for free?? And really, what's the point of owning a book that you're probably going to read once and then leave on your shelf for years before you even think of reading it again.
Yesterday, I was thinking of once again purchasing some books online when I remembered I had that library card. I went to their website, and after realizing how easy it is to search the catalog, I (almost) completely abandoned the idea of ever buying a book again. Using the online catalog, you can bypass the whole searching through the shelves ordeal (which I totally appreciate...darn dewey decimal system) by simply making your request online and having it pulled for you. You can even request a book from another branch and pick it up from your local one. How convenient!
I made a request from my local branch and a few from others, then set out to check out the Brentwood library which, to my surprise, is actually walking distance from my house! I had no idea it was even there...shows how observant I am, considering I drive past it daily!
The building is shared between the library and City Hall (didn't know that was right there either) so it looked bigger from the outside, but was still relatively big and not too shabby on the interior. I went ahead and grabbed the item I had requested online (Lord of the Rings on CD...thinking of listening to it on an extremely long car trip I have coming up) and looked through the cookbook section. It was actually quite large! I picked up How to Cook Everything Vegetarian and was pleased to discover a book I didn't even know existed...Cooking Healthy Across America by none other than the American Dietetic Association (ADA)! It's a collection of recipes submitted by several R.D.'s who are part of the Food and Culinary Professionals practice group. How exciting! I couldn't not get it. It's organized by region of the U.S. and the sections highlight the best of local fare in that area. I must really like the food "From the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Northwest" because I have that section thoroughly marked up by post-it notes. I already tried the Pastitso (Greek Lasagna) recipe...clearly not native U.S. fare, but it turned out great for something I had never made before. The recipe made a whole 13X9 inch pan full, so we'll definitely be eating leftovers for the next couple of days!
So the whole point is, don't forget about your local library...you never know what you'll find there, and you may be pleasantly surprised!

Freecycle...for giving and receiving with no cash attached

I just found out about this great resource, and am totally amazed. It's a beautiful idea, really...you post things you want to get rid of, and can take things off other people's hands. There is no money involved...the whole point is to keep things from being thrown out into our landfills. One person's trash is another's treasure, right? I have seen some pretty great things posted so far...working TVs and furniture that the owner just doesn't want to go through the effort of moving, clothing, books, food...even a dog (I was so tempted, but I don't think my cats would appreciate it). I can think of a few things around my own house that aren't really good enough to sell, but I'd rather give them to someone who actually wants them than just dump them off in the donation box or let them sit at Goodwill.
The St. Louis area group can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StLouis-Freecycle/
or you can find your local group by going to http://www.freecycle.org/

Happy freecycling!

Hooray for Plato's Closet!

Where else can you drop off some clothes that you're sick of looking at in your closet, pick up some new ones, and leave with 3 bucks change?
I was planning on making a trip to the Kirkwood store today anyway, but first decided to quickly run through what was accessible in my closet. I filled up a box with some (seasonally friendly) tops and a few pairs of jeans I know I will never wear again. I find it's better to do this on a whim, because if I make a pile and go through it again later, it will surely get smaller as I convince myself that I can still use this stuff.
Plato's can be pretty picky about what they'll take, but through experience I've gained the ability to be realistic about what has a chance and what doesn't. Brand mostly matters, but if it's really cute they might take it anyway. They always have an overabundance of jeans, so they'd better be in really good condition or "different" in some way. They took both of my jean offerings today; they were Vigoss brand and had florescent colored v's on the back pockets. They say they won't take anything that was on the racks more than a year ago, but I have definitely sold things that were older than that, but in good condition. They never take my jewelry or shoes, even the pair I tried to sell today that I literally never wore (I guess they didn't think they were that cute once they got them home, either).
My main reason for my visit today was to buy skirts. I always spend my summers sweating in jeans, and am determined not to do so again. I have always thought I look terrible in skirts, due to my own self conscious (and probably ridiculous) reasons. But today, I purposely bypassed the jean aisles and went straight to the skirts (after a quick brush-through of the dresses...come on, one step at a time here!). I ended up getting three semi-short skirts that I could actually stand to look at myself in the mirror in, plus one top. Two of the items still had their original tags! I apologize in advance to all those that will have to endure the sight of my skinny, un-sunned legs this summer.
After applying the amount of the stuff I sold, plus 20% off (full frequent buyer card) they still owed me money. It was a pretty good deal, and a welcome change from shopping at stores that only result in an increase to my credit card balance.

A new format

So, I started this blog last winter when I was on break from school...probably somewhat out of boredom, and my need for fulfillment during a time when I had no homework and few deadlines. I wanted to prove that I could stay within the USDA's "thrifty" food cost budget while still fulfilling my nutritional requirements. It was fun, but also a lot of work. I had to keep track of what I was eating by taking pictures and entering all of the foods in the MyPyramid website. Then, I used an Excel spreadsheet to cost out all of my meals and compare my weekly total with what the USDA said I should be spending on this budget. It was actually very much like a project I did at school my sophomore year.
I had myself kind of stuck on the idea of keeping this thing up, even when school started again in January. Little did I know, this would be one of the most challenging semesters ever!! I started to fall behind in my schoolwork when I was blogging, and behind on the blogging when I was doing schoolwork. It just wasn't going to work out...one of them had to go. Unfortunately, having a blog won't get me that degree that I've been working toward (and paying 20 grand a year for), so the logical choice was to cut it out. I really missed it, because it was a nice creative outlet for me and definitely kept me in check on my eating and spending habits (I sure felt guilty when I had to post pictures of takeout more than twice a week, but it happened).
I really learned a lot during my little "blog experiment", and I did pick up some new habits that helped me spend less and eat better. For example, I no longer need the MyPyramid site to count up my servings...at any point during the day, I can tell you where I'm at with grains, fruits, etc. I have also become very adept at planning meals that will fulfill my requirements; I hardly have to think about it now.
I have decided to start this new blog with a much looser format; I will not be "forced" to post every day, or weekly, or any time at all. I will post when I have an experience to share...a particularly successful shopping trip, a highly nutritional and satisfying meal, or just really interesting things I read or learn about at school. I have added "be happy" to my title, because that is a very important element to the equation that I have decided represents what I believe in...cheap+healthy+happy.
Cheap: To some, this word is synonymous with "crappy". To me, it signifies non-wasteful spending. I will mostly relate this to food, but I also believe in low cost clothing, furniture, dishes, etc. If it can be purchased used, that's all the better....reduce, reuse, recycle!
Healthy: I'm an avid label reader, and I decide whether to buy something based on what I see there. In certain cases, I may choose the higher priced item so as not to sacrifice this element.
Happy: A very complicated term indeed; happy to me might not be happy to you, and vice versa. I seek to reduce cost and increase nutrition only to the extent that I remain happy doing so. No, I'm not going to eat something I don't like just because it's good for me. Yes, sometimes I just feel like going out for dinner instead of cooking at home. That's life though...nothing is flawless!
So here begins my new venture in blogging. Please comment as you feel necessary.

I am taking a short hiatus from blogging, so that I can get caught up with some things in school and my personal life. I plan to be back in a couple of weeks...probably over spring break. Rest assured, I will still be eating cheap & healthy, and I encourage you to do the same! See you soon :)

Breakfast
Today was my early day at work, and I hardly got any sleep last night...so I'll go ahead and apologize for the shortness of this post.
Breakfast was eaten in two shifts, as I typically do when I have to get up at 5 in the morning. I need something to get me going this early, but then I need more "fuel" later in the morning so I can make it through lunch.
Breakfast # 1: a cup of fat free (Dannon) vanilla yogurt mixed with a cup of frozen (thawed) strawberries and blueberries, 1/4 cup of granola cereal, and 11 almonds.
Breakfast # 2: a small bran muffin and a 2 egg omelet made from egg substitute (compliments of the kitchen after breakfast ended).

All together, this meal provided:

Grains: 2 oz whole (1/2 from granola cereal and 1 1/2 from muffin)

Fruits: 1 cup (blueberries and strawberries)

Vegetables: 0

Milk: 1 cup (yogurt)

Meats & beans: 3 oz (almonds and eggs)

Oils: 1 teaspoon (almonds)

The cost of this meal was approximately: $2.39

Lunch
I had a piece of leftover veggie lasagna from last night, along with a cup of raw baby carrots. I forced myself to walk on the treadmill for 45 minutes, even though I would rather have taken a nap. The walk actually gave me some energy...funny how exercise works that way! I will definitely be taking a nap when I get home, though.

All together, this meal provided:

Grains: 1 1/2 oz (about 2 lasagna noodles)

Fruits: 0

Vegetables: 2 cups (veggies in lasagna and carrots)

Milk: 1 cup (mozzarella and cottage cheese in lasagna)

Meats & beans: 0

Oils: 1 teaspoon (pesto sauce in lasagna)

The cost of this meal was approximately: $1.63

Snack
I did take that nap when I got home, and I think I slept a little too long! I had to "start over" when I woke up by having some coffee and juice. I made a latte with a cup of skim milk and had that along with a 6 ounce cup of OJ. We're going to a 30th birthday party for a friend tonight, so I needed to get going again!

All together, this meal provided:

Grains: 0

Fruits: 3/4 cup (juice)

Vegetables: 0

Milk: 1 cup (skim milk in latte)

Meats & beans: 0

Oils: 0

The cost of this meal was approximately: $0.47

Dinner
We were kind of in a hurry to get going tonight, so rather than cook dinner we went by Crazy Bowls & Wraps (CBW). I got a power bowl this time, which the menu boasts is "everything your body needs in one bowl!" Well, I'm not sure I agree with that statement, but it's a pretty good mix: brown rice, beans, chicken, romaine lettuce, corn salsa, and a little cheddar cheese. It comes with corn tortilla chips, which I like to dip in their awesome hummus and salsa. I estimated what I ate from the bowl (it's a pretty big portion), and also counted about 6 of the chips that I had.
I didn't get to do my nightly yoga poses tonight, because by the time we got home from the party it was pretty late, and I was completely beat! I'll try to make up for it tomorrow. Right now, the biggest gift I can give myself is some sleep!

All together, this meal provided:

Grains: 2 1/2 oz, 1 1/2 whole (1 from chips and 1 1/2 whole from about 3/4 cup of rice)

Fruits: 0

Vegetables: 1 cup (beans, salsa, lettuce and hummus)

Milk: 1/4 cup (cheese)

Meats & beans: 3 oz (chicken)

Oils: 1 teaspoon (fried chips)

The cost of this meal (if I had prepared it at home) was approximately: $1.47

How did I do today?
Grains: 6 oz out of 6 oz (5 were whole)
Fruits: 1 3/4 cups out of 2 cups
Vegetables: 2 3/4 cups out of 2 ½ cups
Milk: 3 cups out of 3 cups
Meats & beans: 6 oz out of 5 ½ oz
Oils: 3 tsp out of 6 tsp

Total cost for the day: $5.96

Breakfast
I had oatmeal this morning: 1/4 + 1/8 cup of quick oats cooked with a cup of skim milk, with 3 tablespoons of walnuts and a medium sliced banana added. I also had a cup of OJ.
This is going to be a very long day, because I have an appointment this morning, then I have school, then practicum in the evening. It's not even lunchtime yet and I already need a nap!

All together, this meal provided:

Grains: 1 1/2 oz whole (oatmeal)

Fruits: 1 3/4 cup (banana and OJ)

Vegetables: 0

Milk: 1 cup (skim milk)

Meats & beans: 1 1/2 oz (walnuts)

Oils: 1 1/2 teaspoons (walnuts)

The cost of this meal was approximately: $1.13

Lunch
I had enough time to come home for lunch before running off to school. I made a peanut butter & jelly sandwich on toasted whole wheat bread (Sara Lee). I love PBJ like this, because the peanut butter gets all melty and gooey...yum! I also had an ounce of baked potato chips and a cup of fat free Dannon yogurt topped with a little cinnamon. Adding the cinnamon makes it seem more like a treat for some reason!

All together, this meal provided:

Grains: 2 oz whole (bread)

Fruits: 0

Vegetables: 1/2 cup (chips)

Milk: 1 cup (yogurt)

Meats & beans: 2 oz (peanut butter)

Oils: 2 teaspoons (peanut butter)

The cost of this meal was approximately: $1.52

Dinner
I've been thinking of making veggie lasagna for awhile now, and was fully inspired tonight when I saw this dish all evening long at my practicum. I went by the store and picked up the rest of the items I would need, and threw together a quick dish when I got home. I kind of made it up as I went, but I think this is what I ended up with, layer by layer:
marinara sauce
noodles (no-boil kind)
cottage cheese mixed with pesto sauce
fresh spinach
noodles
cottage cheese w/pesto
frozen peas & carrots
mozzarella cheese
marinara sauce
noodles
spinach
marinara sauce
I baked it, covered with foil, at 375 for about 45 minutes. It turned out great! I only made an 8X8 dish, and cut it into 4 portions. I had one square, along with a Boca "chicken" patty to add some protein to my meal, and a 6 ounce glass of Old Orchard 100% berry juice blend.

The yoga series I chose for this evening was Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (One-legged king pigeon pose); Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward facing dog); Balasana (child's pose). I mostly chose pigeon because it is one of my favorites and I haven't done it in awhile-the other two are just nice transitions for it, although child's pose is great anytime. I was sad to find how much flexibility I've lost in pigeon. I am going to have to start practicing this one more often so I can get it back!

All together, this meal provided:

Grains: 1 1/2 oz (about 2 lasagna noodles)

Fruits: 3/4 cup (juice)

Vegetables: 1 1/2 cups (marinara,spinach, peas and carrots)

Milk: 1 1/4 cups (mozzarella and cottage cheese)

Meats & beans: 2 oz (Boca patty)

Oils: 2 teaspoons (Boca and pesto)

The cost of this meal was approximately: $2.64


How did I do today?
Grains: 5 1/2 oz out of 6 oz (4 were whole)
Fruits: 2 1/2 cup out of 2 cups
Vegetables: 2 cups out of 2 ½ cups
Milk: 3 1/4 cups out of 3 cups
Meats & beans: 5 1/2 oz out of 5 ½ oz
Oils: 5 1/2 tsp out of 6 tsp

Total cost for the day: $5.29

Breakfast-introducing the "Dena McMuffin"!
I tried something new for breakfast today. I topped a toasted "light" multi-grain english muffin with a fried egg (I don't know the proper name, but I cracked it in the skillet and broke the yolk so it would be flat), a Morningstar Farms soy sausage patty, and a slice of fat free American cheese. I also had a whole orange and a cup of fat free vanilla yogurt. This meal ended up being a little expensive (those Morningstar Farms products are a bit pricey), but it was delicious!

All together, this meal provided:

Grains: 1 1/2 oz whole (English muffin)

Fruits: 3/4 cup (medium size orange)

Vegetables: 0

Milk: 1 1/2 cups (1/2 from cheese and 1 from yogurt)

Meats & beans: 2 oz (1 from egg and 1 from "sausage" patty)

Oils: 2 teaspoons (sausage patty and the egg was fried in Smart Balance)

The cost of this meal was approximately: $2.60

Snack
I had a mixed berry Nutrigrain bar as my late morning/early afternoon snack before I went to the workout room during my lunch.

All together, this meal provided:

Grains: 1/2 oz whole
The cost of this meal was approximately: $0.31


Lunch
I did about 30 minutes of very brisk walking on the treadmill today, followed by 15 minutes of ab work. It was a great workout! I brought some leftover whole wheat spaghetti (1 cup) and pasta sauce (3/4 cup) for lunch today, and topped it with a tablespoon of Parmesan cheese. I knew if I left it in the fridge much longer, it would get thrown away and I have been trying to be better about wasting food. There is really no excuse for it! I also had a banana and a 6 ounce cup of fat free blueberry yogurt. This day is going by so fast...I suppose that's a good thing when you're at work :)

All together, this meal provided:

Grains: 2 oz whole (spaghetti)

Fruits: 3/4 cup (medium size banana)

Vegetables: 3/4 cup (marinara sauce)

Milk: 1 cup (1/4 from cheese and 3/4 from yogurt)

Meats & beans: 0

Oils: 0

The cost of this meal was approximately: $1.39

Dinner
Matt already had dinner going when I got home from work (he is so awesome!) We had Morningstar Farms soy veggie burgers with fat free American cheese on whole wheat buns, with Alexia potato wedges and steamed broccoli. I had about 1/2 cup of the potatoes and a cup of broccoli with a teaspoon of Smart Balance Light. I also decided to finish up the grapes-there was about a cup left, but I only ate about 3/4 cup because some of them were a little too squishy for me. These probably wouldn't have made it another day either...no wasting!!
Tonight I did 3 hip-opening yoga stretches: Baddha Konasana (bound angle pose)
, Gomukhasana (cow face pose), and Agnistambhasana (fire log pose). I chose these because my hips have been feeling very tight lately (probably from sitting too much), and also because these are all good for stress relief. I can never get enough of that! I stayed in each one for about 2 minutes. It felt so good, and really made me want to get back into a regular practice.

All together, this meal provided:

Grains: 1 1/2 oz whole (bun)

Fruits: 3/4 cup (grapes)

Vegetables: 1 1/2 cups (broccoli and potatoes)

Milk: 1/2 cup (cheese)

Meats & beans: 2 1/2 oz (veggie burger)

Oils: 2 teaspoons (1 from burger and 1 from Smart Balance)

The cost of this meal was approximately: $2.56

How did I do today?
Grains: 6 oz out of 6 oz (all were whole)
Fruits: 2 1/4 cup out of 2 cups
Vegetables: 2 1/4 cups out of 2 ½ cups
Milk: 2 1/4 cups out of 3 cups
Meats & beans: 4 1/2 oz out of 5 ½ oz
Oils: 4 tsp out of 6 tsp

Total cost for the day: $6.86

Breakfast
I was in a hurry to get out the door this morning (no big surprise there!) so I didn't have much time to get creative with breakfast. I made oatmeal with a cup skim milk and threw in 1/2 cup of (thawed) frozen blueberries. I also had a cup of 100% OJ. I get to go to my favorite class this morning (Community Nutrition), followed by my least favorite class (Biochem). It's going to be a long morning/afternoon!

All together, this meal provided:

Grains: 1 1/2 oz whole (oatmeal)

Fruits: 1 1/2 cups (blueberries and OJ)

Vegetables: 0

Milk: 1 cup (skim milk)

Meats & beans: 0

Oils: 0

The cost of this meal was approximately: $1.24

Snack
We had a very interesting guest speaker in Community today. One of the counselors from my school came and spoke about eating disorders. She gave some very startling statistics as far as the prevalence of these disorders, and told us how to recognize signs in our future clients. I've never really thought about how I would handle it if someone told me they were experiencing disordered eating habits. It was good to plant that seed just in case, as well as get some advice on how to handle it. Very good information!
I had a Fiber One bar (oats, strawberries and almonds) as my pre-biochem snack. I needed something to get me through, since I won't be eating lunch until later in the afternoon.

All together, this meal provided:
Grains: 1/2 oz whole
The cost of this meal was approximately: $0.50

Lunch
Matt and I went on our usual Tuesday date today. These have become very important to us; it's a day that he's off work, and I get finished with school relatively early, so we have some time to spend together. Yes, it usually involves going out somewhere and yes, it involves spending money...but with my school schedule becoming so hectic, I need to set this time aside especially for us. I would like to come up with some inexpensive/free date options, though. This might be more feasible once the weather gets nicer so we can spend some time outside. I am so ready for spring!!
We went to Cicero's in The Loop for lunch. I have lived here all my life, and I'm pretty sure this is the first time I have eaten there. I ordered the salmon wrap with a salad topped with fat free raspberry vinaigrette dressing. The wrap was awesome, and just the right size for a meal! I estimated the fillings...about 5 ounces of salmon, 1/4 cup of cooked spinach, and a spicy cream cheese sauce to dip in. I didn't really need much of the sauce...the wrap was great by itself! I had nearly the whole wrap, and about 1 1/2 cups of the salad.
After lunch, we went down the street to Meshuggah's coffee house, where I treated myself to a cafe mocha made with skim milk. It was so yummy and chocolatey! I don't know when the last time was that I had such a good mocha. We hung out and made good use of their free wireless internet for awhile before heading out. It was a really great afternoon!

All together, this meal provided:

Grains: 1 1/2 oz (tortilla)

Fruits: 0

Vegetables: 1 3/4 cup (spinach in wrap and salad)

Milk: 3/4 cup (skim milk in mocha)

Meats & beans: 5 oz (salmon)

Oils: 0

The cost of this meal (if I had prepared it at home) was approximately: $2.15

Dinner
I made my whole wheat pizza crust for dinner tonight. I topped it with pesto, canned (no salt added) diced tomatoes, broccoli and mozzarella cheese. I suppose this can count as my "made from scratch" meal for the week, since I prepared the dough myself. I had two slices and about 3/4 cup of grapes on the side.
I did do a few yoga stretches tonight, as I promised myself I would. My leg muscles have been getting so sore from my lunchtime treadmill excursions, so I did some leg and hip stretches tonight. I really need to remember to stretch more often, because I could definitely feel a difference afterward.

All together, this meal provided:

Grains: 2 oz whole (pizza crust)

Fruits: 3/4 cup (grapes)

Vegetables: 1 1/4 cups (broccoli and tomatoes on pizza)

Milk: 1 1/4 cups (mozzarella cheese)

Meats & beans: 0

Oils: 3 teaspoons (pesto sauce and olive oil used on crust)

The cost of this meal was approximately: $1.77

How did I do today?
Grains: 5 1/2 oz out of 6 oz (4 were whole)
Fruits: 2 1/4 cup out of 2 cups
Vegetables: 2 1/4 cups out of 2 ½ cups
Milk: 3 1/4 cups out of 3 cups
Meats & beans: 5 oz out of 5 ½ oz
Oils: 3 tsp out of 6 tsp

Total cost for the day: $5.67

Breakfast
I have my presentation today...I think I'm ready, but I just want to get it over with! It's not even a big deal, only about 10 minutes...but still, that whole public speaking thing is never fun for me. Today I had 1/2 cup of scrambled Better n'eggs with a slice of whole wheat toast and a cup of fat free vanilla yogurt with 1/4 cup of granola cereal mixed in. Have I mentioned I really like the Dannon Light & Fit? It's definitely going on my shopping list for this week. I used about a teaspoon of Smart Balance Light between the scrambled eggs and the toast. I also had a cup of OJ.

All together, this meal provided:

Grains: 1 oz whole (toast)

Fruits: 1 cup (OJ)

Vegetables: 0

Milk: 1 cup (yogurt)

Meats & beans: 2 oz (Better n'eggs)

Oils: 1 teaspoon (Smart Balance)

The cost of this meal was approximately: $1.58

Lunch
I had a meeting for one of my organizations today, and this time they actually served what I expected them to-pizza (last time they threw me off with nachos). I had two slices of cheese pizza (not pictured because it didn't seem appropriate to pull out my camera during the meeting), and a cup of baby carrots that I brought along from home. I figure it's not bad etiquette to eat your own food as long as you eat something that was offered along with it. Am I right here?
It was hard to concentrate on the meeting, because from there I went straight to my class to give the presentation! Why do I get myself so psyched up about these things?! I just need to relax!

All together, this meal provided:

Grains: 2 1/2 oz (pizza crust)

Fruits: 0

Vegetables: 1 1/4 cup (pizza sauce and carrots)

Milk: 3/4 cup (cheese)

Meats & beans: 0

Oils: 0

The cost of this meal (if I had prepared it at home) was approximately: $0.96

Snack
The presentation was a success!! It went better than I could have imagined. I still have yet to receive feedback from my instructor and classmates, but I think it will be pretty good overall.
When I got home, I snacked on an ounce (about 30 total) of unsalted, dry roasted peanuts. Whew! I'm just so relieved about that presentation! Too bad it's really just a dry run...I still have to do it for the employees of my practicum site next month. One thing at a time, though...

All together, this meal provided:

Meats & beans: 1 oz

Oils: 1 teaspoon

The cost of this meal was approximately: $0.19

Dinner
One of my favorites..."fake chicken Parmesan"! A Boca "chicken" patty topped with 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese, over a cup of whole wheat spaghetti with 3/4 cup of marinara sauce (Classico, tomato & basil variety). I also had a cup of frozen, steamed peas & carrots with a teaspoon of Smart Balance. So easy to prepare, this meal is becoming a weekly staple for me-especially when I'm busy and don't have a ton of time to plan out meals.

All together, this meal provided:

Grains: 2 oz whole (spaghetti)

Fruits: 0

Vegetables: 1 3/4 cups (peas & carrots and marinara sauce)

Milk: 3/4 cup (mozzarella)

Meats & beans: 2 1/2 oz (Boca patty)

Oils: 1 teaspoon (Smart Balance)

The cost of this meal was approximately: $2.09

How did I do today?
Grains: 6 1/2 oz out of 6 oz (4 were whole)
Fruits: 1 cup out of 2 cups
Vegetables: 3 cups out of 2 ½ cups
Milk: 2 1/2 cups out of 3 cups
Meats & beans: 6 1/2 oz out of 5 ½ oz
Oils: 4 tsp out of 6 tsp

Total cost for the day: $4.82

Weekly wrap-up: 2/9/09-2/15/09

How did I do this week?

Average serving/day:
Grains: 6 oz
Fruits: 2 cups
Vegetables: 2 1/4 cups
Milk: 2 1/2 cups
Meats & Beans: 4 3/4 oz
Oils: 4 teaspoons

Average cost per day: $5.10
Total cost for the week: $35.72

I feel off a little on the veggies, milk and meats & beans this week...but I'm doing much better on the oils! Snacking on a few almonds really makes a difference. I kept the weekly cost low too, although I did have a couple of expensive days, it all evened out. I'm going to try out some new options for meat substitutes this week...hopefully I can keep from falling short on the protein foods again.

Breakfast
My presentation is tomorrow...and I still have lots of work to do on it. Unfortunately, I have to go to work all day...darn that need for an income!!
Breakfast was 1 1/2 cups of Kashi Honey Toasted Oats cereal with a cup of skim milk, an 8 ounce glass of OJ, and a medium sized banana (which I ended up saving for after I got to work).

All together, this meal provided:

Grains: 1 1/2 oz whole (cereal)

Fruits: 1 3/4 cups (OJ and banana)

Vegetables: 0

Milk: 1 cup (skim milk)

Meats & beans: 0

Oils: 0

The cost of this meal was approximately: $1.27

Lunch
I continued my lunchtime workout routine today. I'm so glad I have started doing this for myself, otherwise I wouldn't get any exercise at all! Ever since I canceled my membership at Gold's to save money (I really wasn't getting enough use out of it anyway) I have really struggled with getting my physical activity in adequate amounts. This is especially bad when it's cold outside and school is going on...two big roadblocks in one! I walked on the treadmill for 40 minutes today, very briskly with a pretty steep incline. I wanted to do some free weights at the end, but I was running out of time (and getting very hungry!), so I guess I'll try to do a little lifting when I get home.
Lunch was leftover Moroccan chicken from last night-about 4 ounces of meat with 3/4 cup of brown rice, a cup of broccoli and 1/2 cup of sauce. I also had a 6 ounce cup of fat free cherry yogurt. This meal was even better the second day...thanks Time for Dinner!

All together, this meal provided:

Grains: 1 1/2 oz whole (brown rice)

Fruits: 0

Vegetables: 1 1/4 cups (broccoli and tomatoes/onions in sauce)

Milk: 3/4 cup (yogurt)

Meats & beans: 4 oz (chicken)

Oils: 0

The cost of this meal was approximately: $2.09

Dinner
Matt surprised me by bringing home a Chicago style pizza from this Italian place down the street. The only topping he added was broccoli, which was perfect with the chunky tomato sauce and cheese. I had about 2 slices total, and estimated the toppings as best I could. This type of pizza is very messy, and requires the use of a fork and knife to eat it. The last time I had Chicago style pizza was actually in Chicago, and this definitely measured up. Yum! To add some extra veggies, I steamed a cup of frozen Brussels sprouts in the microwave and added a teaspoon of Smart Balance and some Mrs. Dash seasoning blend.

All together, this meal provided:

Grains: 3 oz (thick pizza crust)

Fruits: 0

Vegetables: 1 1/2 cups (broccoli and tomatoes on pizza, and Brussels sprouts)

Milk: 1 cup (cheese on pizza)

Meats & beans: 0

Oils: 1 teaspoon (Smart Balance)

The cost of this meal (if I had prepared the pizza at home) was approximately: $1.08


How did I do today?
Grains: 6 oz out of 6 oz (3 were whole)
Fruits: 1 3/4 cups out of 2 cups
Vegetables: 2 3/4 cups out of 2 ½ cups
Milk: 2 1/2 cups out of 3 cups
Meats & beans: 4 oz out of 5 ½ oz
Oils: 1 tsp out of 6 tsp

Total cost for the day: $4.44