It has been one year since we started the Eat Well, Spend Less series (big thanks to Jessica!), and we’re taking a look at how our food budget, menu, shopping habits, and diet may have changed in the last 12 months. Last April we kicked off the Eat Well Spend Less series by looking at the way we eat. I went over several meal planning tips and guides, and then I broke down an actual week of our food budget and a sample menu for that week. To date, those are two of my favorite posts of the series... more

One of the things we strive for when planning our menus is making everything fit together into one nice, neat little package. We look to use ingredients in different ways throughout the week so that we’re benefiting from the ability of do-aheads and being able to buy in bulk. We also benefit from a well-stocked pantry. “It looks like somebody’s got a case of the Mondays.” Hey, Monday. Thanks for showing your face. I could have used an extra 6 hours of weekend. Let’s... more

A look at the weekly menu in the middle of January that includes plenty of coffee, hiding in the house, and a Keurig Brewer and Millstone Coffee giveaway to keep you warm this winter. It’s Tuesday. My computer is acting slow. Last night I asked my husband to make dinner. I offered some slightly pathetic options, and he turned them into a meal. It is one of the reasons I married him. Suddenly microwave rice and chicken and fresh green beans became Singapore-style rice with cilantro and lime,... more

A look at this month’s Eat Well, Spend Less series on Thanksgiving food and entertaining.Keep the focus on family and being thankful this week. Holiday meals and entertaining can be expensive, and when you’re supposed to be giving thanks for all that you have, the last thing you should be worrying and fretting over is the cost of sharing a meal with your loved ones. Here are a few helpful tips to consider in the next few days to keep the food on your table wholesome, amazing and budget-friendly... more

We try to plan a meal plan that gives us options to swap and switch throughout the week. The menu usually has similar ingredients so we reduce waste, and we benefit from a well-stocked pantry at home. We’re getting ready for the holidays around these parts, believe it or not. Slowly but surely, things are starting to feel a bit more festive. I’m starting to think about dishes to prepare and serve (yeah, Im’ slow this year), and I maybe even started thinking about Christmas presents.... more

One of the things we strive for when planning our menus is making everything fit together. We look to use ingredients in different ways throughout the week so that we are making the most with what we have. We also benefit from a well-stocked pantry. P.S. We don’t always stick to the menu, but it helps get good food in the house on hand to create with, which is often half the battle. Halloween, Halloween. The trick-or-treating hasn’t even started (last year’s up above), but if... more

This month I’m participating in October Unprocessed on Eating Rules. Today’s menu is a look at school lunches and what to pack for kids when avoiding fruit snacks, packaged cookies and juice boxes. Plus, how to manage busy home and work lives. I admit that Friday is not the day to be planning a menu, but if you’re anything like me, you’ll be doing your grocery shopping sometime this coming weekend, so consider it a gift to get you thinking about what to put in those lunch... more