4 Places to Shop for Natural Living Products Online

4 Places to Shop for Natural Living Products Online

Do you ever shop for natural living products online? When I first began my natural living journey, I was at a loss for where to shop! At the time, we had one small, locally-owned health store in our community.

But, sadly, they were and still are way outside of our budget!

Thankfully, I discovered some great places to shop for natural living products online.

These online retailers save me both time and money! Today’s post will introduce you to 4 of these places to shop for natural living products online!

If you know me at all, you know that I don’t like to shop.

Truly, when I was growing up, my mom and sister would go shopping and I would ride along and sit on a bench and read.

But life calls, and we simply cannot get by with no shopping at all. And although I frequently confess to being technologically-challenged, I am over-the-moon excited about the online shopping options available to us today.

Eco-friendly, non-toxic, natural living products, in particular, are often difficult to find in brick-and-mortar stores, especially if you live in a small, rural community.

Even if you do live in the suburbs or near a big city that offers stores that carry your favorite natural living products, I’ve found that I usually have to visit more than one store to take care of my entire list.

Instead, I now prefer to shop for natural living products online. This saves me both time and money:

1. I save time because I don’t have to get dressed, get the girls dressed, buckle them into their carseats and drive all over town to take care of our household needs.

2. I save money because I do not waste gas driving to the variety of stores it takes to check off my shopping list.

3. I also save money because, let’s be honest, when I am shopping in person I’m often drawn to the clearance bins and specials for things we don’t necessarily need. When those things end up in my shopping cart, I am not saving money no matter how cheap they are. Unless I truly needed them, I’m just spending more money than I intended to spend.

4. It saves me money because most of the time online retailers offer my favorite products for a much lower price than brick-and-mortar stores!

5. Some (but not all) of these online retailers also offer subscription services. Subscription services can be tricky, but if you can work them to your benefit and set them up to arrive when you want them to, this can also help you with budgeting because you know exactly how much your items will cost each time your order is processed.

Without further ado, check out these:

4 places to shop for natural living products online

1. Vitacost.com

This online store has been a long-time favorite of mine.

Traditionally, I have purchased most of our supplements, vitamins, etc. from here. In fact, most of my natural medicine cabinet and winter supplements regimen come from here!

Vitacost has a huge selection, including shelf-stable gluten-free and health{ier} food items, and they also offer beauty, toiletry and baby items.

Although I do sometimes purchase these things from Vitacost, I have found that the supplements are usually the best deal, with the Vitacost brand items being the cheapest.

Vitacost offers a subscription service for your favorite items–called “Set and Save”– but this is a feature I honestly don’t use. I find their system a little trickier to cancel, so I’ve opted to just remind myself to order when I need things. Instead of the subscription, I use my “List” feature to save things I want to order, and I love that they save old orders in my account.

Since I typically order the same items now, when I am placing an order I will just go look back at my previously-ordered items and quickly make a new order from there.

Shipping

Vitacost sends out regular emails with coupon codes and specials, and they almost always offer free shipping if you’re buying at least $25 worth of Vitacost brand items.

Shipping is always free for orders of $49 or more. If you do have to pay for shipping, it’s just a $5 flat rate (so it makes more sense to get as much as you can in that order).

Referral Program

Vitacost offers a nice referral program: For every friend you refer to Vitacost, you get $5 off a future order, and they get $5 off their first order as well. So it’s truly a win-win!

You can combine $5 off coupons for up to $100 off. So, if you’re on a tight budget it’s often worthwhile to wait and combine these for a free order! You cannot get free shipping on orders you are paying for with the coupons, but I typically just pay for the $5 flat rate shipping.

You can sign up via my referral link to get your $5 off!

I usually post my Vitacost orders on Facebook and Instagram, so you can get an idea of what I order there.

2. Amazon.com

We typically purchase an Amazon Prime membership every year, but I will be honest in that I haven’t used Amazon a whole, whole lot for groceries or other household products. Some of my friends rave about their Subscribe & Save grocery service, though!

Shipping

I think the really nice thing about Amazon Prime is that you can get free and fast shipping. They also offer just about anything you could even want or need, from toilet paper to dairy-free milks!

Like Vitacost, I like that Amazon stores past orders, so I can easily remember what I like to order through them. It is worth it to price check Vitacost vs. Amazon because sometimes one will be cheaper than the other.

3. Azure Standard

Azure is a natural living foods co-op (although they offer some household products as well).

I have personally never ordered through Azure Standard, but I have heard others rave about it for years! They have recently come to my area, so I am hoping to place my first order soon!

We finally got an Azure Standard co-op in our town this year, and I absolutely LOVE it!

I place an order every month! I order mostly food items that I cannot get locally, like organic meats and organic frozen veggies, Earth’s Best soy-free non-dairy butter substitute, kombucha, Bubbies pickles, and rice milk.

The nice thing about Azure is that they offer fresh produce, which none of the other online options offer. However, the downside is that you have to go pick up the orders at a drop location.

Our drop location is just ten minutes from our house, in a Kohls parking lot. It’s super convenient and I love not having to drive to faraway grocery stores to get the items I order online from Azure!

Shipping

If you are in an area with a fuel surcharge, you will also have an 8.5% shipping charge added to your invoice once the truck is loaded. You can approximate your grand total by multiplying your total product amount in your cart by 1.085.

New Grove members can get a FREE Mrs. Meyers hand soap, FREE Mrs. Meyers dish soap, FREE Full Circle Dish Brush, a $5 store credit, and FREE shipping! Click here to learn more!

I am so excited about this next one! I just recently discovered ePantryGrove Collaborative, and I am already loving them.

Grove Collaborative (formerly called ePantry) is a subscription service, but you can space your orders out however length of time you wish (one month, two months, six months, etc.), and you can cancel at any time!

Grove offers both natural and some conventional products, but their natural living selection is what makes me the most excited.

When you first visit the site, you are prompted to take a 2-minute survey that will allow you to “build your pantry” with your favorite products. This removes some of the headache of shopping for me. I personally despise browsing through endless brands because I feel like it’s a waste of time. When there is a brand I like to use, I like to have easy access to it.

If you want to browse their entire selection, you simply click on “browse products.” You can search by category or brand name.

As far as their cancellation policy, this is what Grove says:

“Grove is meant to be a recurring service, and this is 100% customizable by you. We will suggest shipment dates and products, and we send out a reminder email one week and again one day before a scheduled shipment. If you like our suggestions, feel free to leave them as is! Grove usually recommends an every-other month schedule. On the other hand, you can order once every six months if that works better for you (for example)! Explore the features on our site that allow you to do this, or email support@epantry.com for a full list of customizing features. There are no lock-in commitments or set shipments! They can cancel anytime by emailing us or calling in- except usually people don’t, as they love getting the products at a great price delivered to their door.”

Referral Program

Grove also has an amazing referral program. If you spread the word about Grove, every person you refer will get a $10 credit on their first order! Even better, you will also receive a $10 credit after they check out. It’s a win-win!

Shipping

Your very first order via Grove ships for FREE!! After that, they offer a $2.99 flat shipping fee per order, or if you sign up for a VIP program, you get a full year of free shipping.

They also offer a VIP program, which gives you a year of free shipping, 4 full-sized free items, sample products and the VIP customer hotline. I am a VIP!

I LOVE that all but one (Azure) of these gives me the freedom to shop and receive the products I love without ever leaving my house. Shopping for natural living products online saves me both time and money.

Have you ever shopped for natural living products online? What are your suggestions for places to shop for natural living products online?

Original article and pictures take thehumbledhomemaker.com site

4 Non-Sandwich School Lunch Ideas

4 Non-Sandwich School Lunch Ideas

While sandwiches are the easiest lunch option, if your child won’t eat them, YOU need options. Here are 4 healthy non-sandwich school lunch ideas!

You right remember my stance on packing school lunch: your child WILL survive and actually THRIVE by eating the same meal every day. However… if your child is asking for something new and different than their “usual,” I think parents can use this to their advantage and expose their children to new healthy foods! So if that’s the case when it comes to packing lunch in your house, I have 4 non-sandwich lunch ideas that combine old favorites in healthy and colorful ways! The best part? These non-sandwich lunch ideas are easy enough for kids to make! So get them in your kitchen and packing lunch with you. Let’s get packing!

1. Customizable Pizza Kabobs [click for the full-recipe]: This is a favorite of my pizza-loving kids. Pizza night isn’t just for Friday’s anymore… it can be for school lunch too! Just mix and match your pizza toppings based on what your kiddos like on their za and serve with their favorite dipping sauce. I’d go for ranch, but my kids like marinara.

2. Apple Cheese Wraps: Except there’s no bread! Slice your favorite apple and thinly slice your favorite cheese and wrap the two with a thin strip of deli meat. Joey LOVES gala apples with cheddar cheese and turkey. But I’d dig granny smith with cheddar and salami! Again, you can customize this recipe based on your child’s preference.

3. Hummus Snack Plate: It’s exactly that. Kids love dipping, and you can give them a variety of veggies to dip in hummus. If your kids shy away from hummus, you can give them Greek yogurt too!

4. Banana Sushi Rolls: This one is too fun…. Take a piece of whole wheat bread and using a rolling pin roll it flat. Spread your favorite nut butter or sun butter on the bread. Lay a whole banana in the middle and carefully roll up the bread around the banana. Slice into six pieces that are 1.5 inches thick.

Whether I’m packing a lunch or making one at home, I always make sure there are 4 things: a fruit, a veggie, a whole grain, and a protein. Hence that’s what you’ll see in all of these non-sandwich lunch ideas. You can always mix and match the sides, but your kids will be coming back for more if you add a few chocolate chips in their lunch like I did. Who wouldn’t?!

Head on over to my products page to see what lunch boxes and serving cups I used to make these lunches! Here’s to a healthy and happy school year for both parents and kids!

I recently shared these lunch ideas with viewers of Fox 2 News Detroit. Hope you enjoy the clip as much as I loved sharing it!

Original article and pictures take i2.wp.com site

4 Kid-Friendly Dips

4 Kid-Friendly Dips

These 4 kid-friendly dips are easy to make and perfect for dipping everything from meat to vegetables at dinner or even eating with a spoon for a healthy snack!

Hi friends!

If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve probably seen some of these dips pop up in my food prep posts for the past couple of months. I initially started whipping up dips like that to give Squish something to dip his meat into. Turns out he likes a few of them so much that he generally just ends up eating them with a spoon. However, he’s recently developed an affinity for ketchup and has pretty much mastered dipping his chicken in that, so I’m hoping that his dipping prowess will soon extend to these dips as well! If not, by the spoonful is just fine with me!

These are super simple recipes and are so easy to make! Dips are a fun way to add some extra nutrients to your child’s plate and it’s fun to experiment with different flavor combos.

Here are the recipes for these four:

Kid-Friendly Dips

This is his favorite!

Pumpkin Black Bean Dip

Combine 1/2 cup pumpkin + 1/2 cup black beans + 1/4 cup peanut butter in a food processor.

Puree until smooth.

Squash Yogurt Dip

Combine 2/3 cup roasted squash + 1/3 cup plain or vanilla yogurt + 1/4 tsp cinnamon.

Puree until smooth.

Optional:

Add some hemp seeds.

Use plain yogurt and add a dash of maple syrup.

Avocado Pea Dip

Combine 2/3 cup avocado + 2/3 cup cooked green peas + 1 cup canned pears/pineapples.

Puree until smooth.

Raspberry Cottage Cheese Dip

Combine 1/2 cup white beans + 2/3 cup cottage cheese + 2/3 cup raspberries.

Puree until smooth.

Do you make dips for your kiddos? What flavor combos do they like?

These dips would make the perfect addition to your weekly food prep! Like I mentioned, they also make a great snack with a spoon. Want more kid-friendly snack ideas? Check out these Healthy Toddler Snack Ideas!

Enjoy!

–Lindsay–

Original article and pictures take www.theleangreenbean.com site

4 Gargling Benefits and How It Could Benefit Leaky Gut

4 Gargling Benefits and How It Could Benefit Leaky Gut

By Maria, Contributing Writer

I grew up in Bulgaria where gargling was taught early and used often. Pretty much every time my sister and I would have a sore throat we would be told to gargle boiled Tetra or Smradlika, a medicinal plant that only grows in our part of the world and boy, does it taste gross. Thankfully, there is an alternative, gentler remedy for a sore throat.

Naturally, one would think that I would continue in this tradition with my son. However, at 3.5 years I had still not attempted to teach him how to gargle. Then I watched a video interview with Dr. Datis Kharrazian speaking about the brain and gut connection. In it, he talked about gargling benefits as a way to heal the brain gut connections. All the information he presented applied to my son, who has intestinal permeability (leaky gut). I’d been making him the best foods and giving him supplements to help heal his gut for a while; yet my lingering question was always, when will he stop needing these digestive support supplements?

Months later, my son is now a pro at gargling and I’ve noticed some other benefits that I’m going to share. All children and people are different, so take the information and decide how, and if, you would like to apply it.

4 Gargling Benefits and How It Could Benefit Leaky Gut

#1 Soothes Sore Throat

Instructions: gargle purified warm (almost hot) water with lots of sea salt. Use approx. 1/2 tsp of salt to 1/2 cup water. This will provide temporary relief to your sore throat and will need repeating. I must add that our medicinal herb, despite it tasting gross, was really more effective than the salt water.

There are a multitude of other warm recipes to gargle, including broth, but it is best to keep it simple when you introduce to a child. They will like to be involved and shake the salt in their own cup!

#2 Removes Mucus in the Throat

Instructions: gargling helps extract that yucky mucous you get in your throat when you have a cold or suffer from post-nasal drip.

My son would urgently tell me that he needed to gargle when he had mucous running down his throat. Additionally, you really want to encourage your child not to swallow mucous. It is full of bacteria and or viruses, which can upset a sensitive tummy; i.e. have low gut microbiome diversity, Candida or a leaky gut.

#3 Improves Children’s Oral Hygiene

Gargling emphasizes the need to spit instead of swallow and is a gateway to teaching how to swish liquid in the mouth.

After teaching my son this technique he learned to stop swallowing his toothpaste and spat it out instead. He became more open to swishing water in his mouth, and spitting out any residue toothpaste.

#4 Neurological Rehabilitative Exercise

This is possibly the single most important reason to gargle daily.

Instructions: gargle aggressively (loudly) and make it a habit. The key is to do it multiple times a day, so add it to something you plan to do habitually, every day. It may help to have a thermos of warm water with you or located where you plan to gargle.

This exercise helps with Brain to Gut Access Disorder, which may be particularly helpful for those suffering from Intestinal Permeability (“Leaky Gut”). Specifically, if you have been trying to heal your leaky gut with the proper diet / supplements and are still not seeing a full recovery, this could be a critical missing piece to your healing journey.

In the video interview, Dr. Datis Kharrazian explains the methods by which you can tell if a person has a brain to gut access disorder. First, you must listen to the sounds the digestive system makes with a stethoscope. There are normal sounds similar to a heart beat in that it is rapid and repetitive and then there are the very slow and intermittent sounds. If you have the latter, then you may have a brain to gut access disorder.

Second, you can watch for signs that the patient is suffering from a motility issue, which is the pace of how fast or slow the food is moving through the body. Motility, the movement of food through your gut is a brain phenomenon. Does the patient need to drink coffee to get bowel movement, or take other supplements like magnesium or natural laxatives?

The gargling benefits described by the Doctor were how gargling, and even singing loudly, helps re-create those brain connections needed to neurologically release digestive enzymes and stomach acid. The brain needs to fire neuron connections to your vagus nerve, and your vagus needs to establish connections to your gut nervous system for it all to function the way it was designed.

Which Gargling Benefits Are of the Most Interest to You? Are You Interested in a Follow-Up Post on Tips to Teach Your Children How to Gargle?

Original article and pictures take www.modernalternativehealth.com site

36 Ways to Use Whey and 5 Ways to Make It!

36 Ways to Use Whey and 5 Ways to Make It!

Have you ever heard of whey? It's practically a superfood, and free to make! Plus it makes for THE BEST homemade bread. Learn how to make it, and 30+ ways to get more into your daily diet! :: DontWastetheCrumbs.com

My daughter has this Minnie Mouse seek-and-find book that she can’t seem to put down. She’s found everything on every page, several times over, but still likes to look at all the pictures.

I like kefir just as much, and since there’s always a jar culturing on my kitchen counter, it often finds its way into my budget accountability posts.

I thought it would be fun to do a little seek-and-find with my kefir jar. Because who couldn’t use a little game on Hump Day? Can you find the kefir in these pictures?

36 Ways to Use Whey, 5 Ways to Make It and Reasons Why You Should Include this Healthy and Super Frugal Food in Your Meals!

Black bean brownie points if you found all four.

So, back to the kefir. Is it mere coincidence that the easiest fermentation in the whole wide world is also likely the healthiest? I think not.

In case you didn’t know how easy it was, allow me to share quick tutorial:

1. combine kefir grains with milk
2. allow to sit on the counter for 12-36 hours
3. strain grains and repeat

See? Easy peasy.

But one day I let my kefir sit too long and it started to do something weird… the white separated from everything else and I seriously thought I was making cheese.

Which is a whole ‘nuther story. But anyway.

As it turns out, that weird yellow-ish liquid is whey. I’m sure you’ve seen the same weird liquid surface in yogurt and sour cream after a few days. In my pre-real food days, I would have poured off this weird looking stuff and asked Mr. Crumbs if my yogurt was still okay to eat.

As if either of us really knew.

Nowadays though, I’m pouring off this healthy liquid and saving it for something useful like soaking my oats or making pancakes or using it place of water in other recipes.

Did you know that whey contains calcium, thiamin, vitamin B12, vitamin B5, magnesium, potassium, riboflavin, phosphorus, selenium and zinc? Plus loads of other nutrients. Not too shabby for what we originally thought was just icky weird gross stuff!

5 Ways to Make Whey

First, there are two types of whey: sweet whey and acid whey.

Sweet whey is the liquid that comes from making cheese with rennet, like cheddar or Swiss.

Acid whey is the by-product of cultured dairy products like sour cream or yogurt.

Both types of whey are super rich in protein, vitamins and minerals, so we want to find ways to use them up instead of pouring them down the drain. However, acid whey can be damaging to the environment in large quantities, so it’s best to just use sweet whey for gardening and composting ideas.

Although whey will occur naturally without your doing anything, if you DID want to make whey, here are five ways you can do it:

1. Allow raw milk to sit at room temperature where the natural bacteria will cause the milk to clabber. Strain the milk using a cheesecloth, a tea towel or an old (but clean) thin t-shirt.
2. Use a fine mesh strainer, clean towel or cheesecloth to strain cultured yogurt.
3. Strain cultured kefir (with the same methods as #2).
4. Strain cultured buttermilk (with the same methods as #2).
5. Make homemade Greek yogurt (which is essentially the same as #2).

Why Should You Make Whey?

Two big reasons:

#1 – It’s healthy. Please refer to the above list of 10 vitamins and minerals for details.

#2 – It’s cheap. Like, WAY cheap! As in, it doesn’t cost a dime!

There’s an assumption that if you’re making whey, your original goal was to make something else instead. Whether that be yogurt or kefir or cheese – you were making something other than whey. Therefore, the whey is like a bonus food and free.

There’s a big list below of things you can do with whey, but here’s the best part: When you use whey, you’re replacing something else that cost money. That could be lemon juice, vinegar, milk or even just plain water. When you use whey instead, you’re saving money.

In summary, whey = free healthy food. Awesome! Curious what amazing uses this super-frugal-healthy food has?

Have you tried making bread using whey? It makes an incredible loaf! Especially if you use whole wheat flour!

36 Ways to Use Whey

1. Culture foods. Using the methods in Nourishing Traditions, you can use whey to ferment all sorts of foods… beets, cabbage, carrots – you name it!
2. Soak grains. We soak our oatmeal and weekly batches of bread, and now we’ll be doing it with whey. It costs me money to make those (or buy lemon juice), and whey is free!
3. Soak beans. Just like grains, your digestive system benefits from beans being soaked before cooking. Swap your acid medium and use whey, or feel free to add more!
4. Soak nuts. For the same reasons above. (More on soaking.)
5. Make pizza dough. Add a sourdough-ish tang to your dough for a delicious pie. Here’s our favorite dough recipe.
6. Make bread. My latest batch of soaked bread (above) was made with 100% whey as the liquid and it was SO good! I’ve heard it helps with whole grains and creating a better texture and my taste buds confirmed this one!
7. Stick it in smoothies. Whey is naturally high in protein (almost 2g in one cup!) and it’s my first choice for extra liquid when making protein smoothies.
8. Condition your face. The cultures in whey are acidic, so toss some on a cotton ball and use it as a toner.
9. Condition your body. Up the ante and add one cup of whey to your bath for an all-over-the-body skin toner.
10. Make a face mask. Use whey combined with soothing raw honey for an easy face mask. Your skin will be loving you! More details here.
11. Condition hair. If you’re washing with baking soda, a diluted whey rinse will work just as well as the diluted vinegar rinse!
12. Pet food. Instead of throwing the extra nutrients down the drain, add them to pet food for some extra vitamins!
13. Dog treats. Get the recipe!
14. Water the plants. Speaking of saving on water, add a bit of this to your watering can. Be sure to use sweet whey though and not acid whey since it might damage the nutrients in the soil so you should definitely dilute it first. Check out this article for more information.
15. Balance the garden’s pH. If watering the plants is out of the question, consider balancing the pH levels of peas, cucumbers and squash by spraying some on just the leaves – the whey will kill the mold that grows! (Again, sweet whey only.)
16. Lower the garden’s pH. Blueberries, roses and tomatoes like acidic soil and whey will help you achieve just that.
17. Add it to compost. A great outdoors spot if you don’t feel comfortable adding it to your garden, or don’t have one to add it to!
18. Substitute for buttermilk. Biscuits, dressings or pancakes? Yep, use whey!
19. Substitute for milk. Instead of milk, use whey to make creamy cheese sauce that will get baked and cheese-ified.
20. Make rice. Although the heat will kill some of the live enzymes, you’ll still retain the nutrients since rice absorbs all the liquid.
21. Make risotto. A combination between the previous two, you’re cooking rice and making it creamy at the same time. Might as well add some nutrition too!
22. Make chicken stock. Substitute not just for the apple cider vinegar, but for some of the water too! Trade up to half of the water (or more, depending on your taste preference) for whey and come out the other side with a richer, more flavorful stock.
23. Thicken gravy. Chances are if you’re making gravy, it’s topping something unhealthy. Boost the nutrition by using whey.
24. Substitute for orange juice. Whey is about as acidic as orange juice, so if you’re using the juice in smoothies or in baking (like yummy scones or in a quick bread), try swapping for whey instead.
25. Substitute for lemon juice. Whey tastes much like lemon juice, so it makes a great substitution in recipes or cocktails…
26. Make a cocktail. Half whey and half juice, plus sweeten to taste with honey or stevia and you’ve got yourself a deliciously healthy drink!
27. Use in salad dressing. Instead of a vinaigrette with lemon juice, how about a vinaigrette with whey?
28. Tenderize meat. Swap whey for any vinegar in a traditional meat marinade. Mind that whey will add tang, so adjust seasonings accordingly.
29. Make lemonade. Seriously. Here’s the recipe.
30. Make ginger ale. Yum!
31. Make cream cheese. Similar to the method of culturing milk with buttermilk, but you’re culturing milk with whey and straining for cheese. More details here.
32. Make soda. Again, seriously! There’s a Swiss drink called Rivella that’s 10% whey. Way cool!
33. Make caramel. Add a bit of salt with a touch of sugar and voila – instant caramel!
34. Use it as a brine. Feta cheese will keep longer in whey, and you can use it when brining your Turkey in November too!
35. Make ricotta cheese. The word “ricotta” means cooked twice, which is what ends up happening to the whey when you make this cheese. Here’s a super easy tutorial that even I, the bad-cheese maker, could likely do right!
36. When all else fails – freeze it. If you’ve got too much and you’re unsure what to do with it, freeze it in ice cubes for later!
37. Bonus idea – make mayo. Whey will kick your homemade mayo up a notch by lacto-fermenting it. It also allows the mayo to last longer!

But wait – there’s more! The above ideas were spawned after too much web surfing and not enough dinner. Both Salad in a Jar and The Prairie Homestead have a few more unique ideas for using whey, just in case the above 36 weren’t enough for you.

Whey is the frugal foodie’s super-liquid. What’s your favorite way to use it?

Some Other Posts You Might Like:

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Original article and pictures take dontwastethecrumbs.com site

35 WAYS TO MAKE MONEY THAT ACTUALLY WORK! (Updated for 2017)

35 WAYS TO MAKE MONEY THAT ACTUALLY WORK! (Updated for 2017)

This article originally began as ‘ways for teens to make money’, but as I have updated and added to it over the years, I have found that many of the items listed actually work for many adults looking to make some extra income as well.

Not sure about you, but there have been many times in my life when I wanted/needed to make some extra money.

The good news for us today is there are a wide range of ways to make money that weren’t around even a decade ago.

Luckily for many of us, we may already be very skilled in certain areas that could easily translate into a nice side income for us.

So potentially, someone who is willing to work hard could make considerably more than working traditional side jobs like delivering pizza, babysitting, mowing lawns, etc.

So, check out the ideas listed below. Some may not be a good fit, but some of the ideas may be perfect for you!

THE 35 WAYS TO EARN MONEY

Basically this is a free site that offers you a bunch of ways to earn cash, gift cards, or other rewards.

You can earn money by a variety of methods including:

• Answering polls
• Using their search engine
• Doing simple tasks (like giving feedback about a website)
• Getting cash back for shopping online
• Taking surveys
• Playing games on their site.

I have tried it out and have received multiple payments from them, so I can attest that it is legit. Check out my review here! They also offer a $5 bonus!

Try Swagbucks Now!

Oh and they also have an A+ rating with the BBB.

While you won’t get rich doing this, to me it seems like a great way for internet-lovers to make some money. Find out more in the video below or get started here.

3Start making money scanning your groceries

Have you heard of the National Consumer Panel (NCP)?

Well, they pay you to scan your grocery purchases with their Smartphone App.

Basically, as a member of NCP you help manufacturers and retailers make decisions on what products to develop or improve.

How it works:

1. Next NCP will provide you access to use their Smartphone App
2. Then, you’ll use your phone to scan the barcodes on all products you purchase during any shopping trip.
3. You record some other information like where you shopped and how much you paid.
4. Each week you are compensated with points that can be redeemed for CASH.

For more info, you can check out their website or sign up here.

4Learn how to save up to 50% on almost everything you buy

So this one isn’t exactly a money-maker, but if you can save a ton, it might be just as good.

For a limited time I am running an online workshop where I am teaching my 3-step system that I use to save up to 50% on my purchases.

The workshop is a $29 value and for a limited time you can attend for FREE!

7Blogging

I have been making a full-time living blogging for 8 years now, and it isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme, but it can work.

If you are interested I am hosting a FREE 45-minute online workshop where I teach the 3 most important keys to making a full-time living blogging.

Additionally, I actually wrote a short book that explains how I replaced my day-job with my blog – and even though it sells for $5 on Amazon, you can get it FREE here.

The book covers the basics of getting started as well as how to get traffic and how to earn from it as well.

Original article and pictures take christianpf.com site

34 Healthy Recipes for Picky Eaters

34 Healthy Recipes for Picky Eaters

34 Healthy Recipes for Picky Eaters

For most of us, eating healthy is not a simple affair. It requires more thought and time than simply grabbing a snack from the vending machine, ordering whatever catches your fancy on the menu, or cooking your favorite meals. This is especially true if you (or those you cook for) are picky eaters. However, you should not let the fact that you’re a picky eater prevent you from providing your body with the nutrients it needs to be a lean mean machine. There are plenty of healthy recipes for picky eaters.

Thanks to the rise of the Internet, there are healthy recipes and sources of healthy inspiration everywhere. Don’t believe me? Spend 10 minutes on Pinterest and I promise you’ll walk away with at least 1 new thing you want to try. In fact, eating healthy regardless of dietary restrictions or personal preferences has never been easier. There are a million dinner ideas literally at your fingertips! To get you inspired to eat a little healthier, I’ve put together some of my favorite healthy recipes for picky eaters. Enjoy!

Healthy Breakfast Recipes for Picky Eaters

You know the saying: “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!” So start your day off right with the following nutritious, delicious, and healthy recipes for picky eaters.

1. Healthy Gluten Free Breakfast Smoothie (Freebie Finding Mom) – Need to grab something on the go? This gluten free breakfast smoothie is fast, easy, tasty, and healthy. What’s not to love?

2. Coconut Oil Granola (Freebie Finding Mom) – Take advantage of the health benefits of coconut oil first thing in the morning with this scrumptious granola. This healthy recipe for picky eaters can be customized to your preferences by swapping in your favorite flavorings, nuts, seeds, and dried fruits.

3. Breakfast “Sushi” (My World Simplified) – This fun breakfast idea is perfect for vegetarians and a great way to use up leftover tortillas. Bonus: The kids can practically make these “sushi rolls” by themselves (except for the slicing).

4. Sweet Potato Hash with Sausage and Eggs (Delicious Meets Healthy) – Trying a paleo lifestyle? Then you’ll definitely want to check out this sweet potato hash recipe. It’s great for breakfast or well, any meal actually.

5. Simple Strawberry Watermelon Smoothie (Eat Thrive Glow) – Get in an early morning dose of omega 3 fatty acids with this colorful, flavorful smoothie. Seriously, it tastes like summer!

6. Dark Berry Chia Smoothie (Lavende and Lemonade) – Can’t get enough Chia seeds? I totally understand. This healthy recipe for picky eaters is sweet and just a little bit tart and packed full of good for you stuff including Chia seeds, berries, and coconut oil.

7. Spiced Pumpkin Beetroot Muffins (Caroline’s Cooking) – Okay, we all LOVE Starbuck’s pumpkin spice latte but what about pumpkin in other foods? This seasonal superfood has amazing health benefits such as lowering blood pressure and improving sleep so you should take advantage of it whenever you can… like with these spiced pumpkin muffins.

Healthy Lunch or Dinner Recipes for Picky Eaters

Don’t let temptation lead you astray! When all your coworkers head out to lunch or you just feel too busy to do anything other than run through a drive-thru for dinner, turn to these easy, tasty, and healthy recipes for picky eaters.

8. Goldfish Encrusted Chicken Nuggets (Freebie Finding Mom) – If you go to war with your child each and every night at dinner, than this healthy recipe for picky eaters is for you! Trust me. My son LOVES these goldfish encrusted chicken nuggets and I feel good about the fact that they are baked (versus fried) with no added preservatives.

9. Crock Pot Chicken Taco Soup (A Spark of Creativity) – This healthy recipe for picky eaters is perfect for the busy mom (which is all mom’s right?). The chicken and black beans make it a great source of protein while the corn ensures your family is getting some vegetables. You could add in peppers, onions, etc to give it an extra veggie boost.

10. Vegetable Pizza Appetizer (A Spark of Creativity) – This dish looks as good at it tastes. The bright assortment of vegetables makes it pop on any plate. This easy dish is filled with vegetables and sure to be a family favorite (bet you never thought you’d see “vegetables” and “family favorite” together in a sentence).

11. Chicken Sausage Pasta with Veggies (A Spark of Creativity) – This healthy recipe for picky eaters gives traditional pasta dishes a makeover with whole wheat pasta, an extra serving of vegetables, and chicken sausage. This dish is awesome because you can go from start to serving in under 20 minutes.

12. Zucchini Pizza Bites (A Few Short Cuts) – Whether you’re throwing a party and want to have something figure friendly or are looking for something (anything) healthy the little ones will eat, this healthy recipe for picky eaters is for you. Enjoy pizza without all the calories that come with crust!

13. Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas (Delicious Meets Healthy) – Roasted chicken, seasoned vegetables, brown rice, and fresh guacamole… is your mouth watering just thinking about it? Mine is!

14. Grilled Chicken with Raspberry Balsamic Glaze (Delicious Meets Healthy) – Tired of “boring” grilled chicken? Wish you could wow your family and friends this summer with something new, exciting, and healthy? Wish granted! The raspberry balsamic glaze is fresh and refreshing. This is a fun summer healthy recipe for picky eaters.

15. Roasted Vegetables and Sausage (Delicious Meets Healthy) – This healthy recipe for picky eaters is loaded with fiber, antioxidants, vitamin A, and much more. Bonus: You can make this recipe a little lower in calories by using chicken sausage.

16. Grilled Mediterranean Chicken Kebabs (Delicious Meets Healthy) – Get a jump start on dinner by marinading chicken breasts and vegetables overnight so that the next evening all you have to do is skewer and grill them for about 10 minutes. Healthy recipes for picky eaters don’t get much easier!

17. Greek-ish Vegetable Empanadas (Caroline’s Cooking) – Hearty, filling, and stuffed with vegetables, these empanadas are a great comfort food. Bonus: They make awesome leftovers to take in to the office for lunch.

18. Marathoner’s Zucchini Ribbon Lasagna (Just 2 Sisters) – This healthy recipe for picky eaters uses zucchini strips in place of some of the noodles to create a fresh and filling lasagna recipe. There are only 320 calories per serving!

19. Pizza Kabobs (Mama of 3 Munchkins) – Does your family love pizza? Whose doesn’t? Save your waistline by trying out this twist on pizza: Pizza kabobs.

Healthy Snacks for Picky Eaters

One of the worst times for those of us trying to get healthier is snack time. There’s just so much temptation. When it comes to snacks, stay on track with these healthy recipes for picky eaters.

20. Coconut Oil Popcorn (Freebie Finding Mom) – Kick back in the comfort of your own home for movie night. Even if you pay to rent a movie from iTunes, Amazon, or RedBox you’ll save big by not paying for a movie ticket. Make the night complete with this healthy recipe for picky eaters for popcorn popped in coconut oil.

21. Orange Juice and Fruit Popsicles (Freebie Finding Mom) – This summer, beat the heat with a cool treat. No, I’m not talking about ice cream. Instead, go for homemade fruit popsicles that are lower in calories and sugar and rich in vitamins and anti-oxidants. Bonus: Create different flavors by using different fruits.

22. Vitamin Gummies (Freebie Finding Mom) – Okay, this isn’t technically a snack recipe but your kids are bound to love this healthy recipe for picky eaters so much they’ll act like it is. These homemade all-natural vitamins are perfect for helping your little ones (and even yourself) fight off any nasty germs.

23. Sweet Potato and Kale Veggie Chips (Freebie Finding Mom) – If you’re a savory palette, you’re well aware of the siren’s call of potato chips. Such salty goodness! Guess what, you don’t have to completely give up chips to get healthy. Instead, try out these sweet potato and kale veggie chips to get your chip fix AND give yourself a nutritious boost thanks to these two superfoods.

24. Homemade Peanut Butter (A Spark of Creativity) – Do you know how to make homemade peanut butter? Let me give you a hint: You’re going to need peanuts… and that’s it. Yep, for this homemade recipe for picky eaters you only need 1 ingredient and you can use the resulting product (peanut butter) in so many different ways.

25. Crunchy Cinnamon “Sugar” Chickpeas (Strength and Sunshine) – Satisfy your sweet tooth with this crunchy snack that is gluten-free, vegan, and sugar-free. Yep, you read that right, sugar-free.

26. Roasted Red Pepper Hummus (The Crunchy Chronicles) – Hummus, which is made primarily from chick peas, can help regulate your cholesterol and blood sugar levels, which makes it a healthy snack that is also super tasty. You can customize your hummus in about a hundred different ways from adding garlic to extra peppers. Try pairing it with raw vegetables (like broccoli) instead of chips or pretzels to keep it healthy.

27. Cucumber Chips (The Crunchy Chronicles) – Here’s another awesome vegetable chip recipe. This healthy recipe for picky eaters is super simple (10 minutes of prep time) and is gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian friendly. Yum!

28. Homemade Nutella (Eat Thrive Glow) – Looking to treat your heart? Try this homemade Nutella spread. It’s rich in hazelnuts which are known to help maintain a healthy cholesterol level. You can use Nutella in a variety of other dishes making this an awesome healthy recipe for picky eaters.

29. Healthy Chocolate Mockshake (Snappy Gourmet) – Some days just call for a chocolate milkshake… but that doesn’t mean you have to wreck your diet. This healthy recipe for picky eaters (who doesn’t like chocolate?) is gluten-free, has no added sugar, and can be made dairy free.

30. Baked BBQ Zucchini Chips (A Few Short Cuts) – Do you love barbecue chips? What better food is there for a summer picnic? Now you can add a little nutritional value to that summer treat by swapping potatoes for zucchini.

31. Crunchy Apple Chips (Living Sweet Moments) – Believe it or not, you can also make chips out of apple slices. If you’ve struggled to get your little one to consume any fruit at all this may do the trick. These apple slices are also a great accompaniment to your brown bag lunch each day.

Healthy Desserts for Picky Eaters

Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten about the most important meal of the day: dessert. Here are some sweet healthy recipes for picky eaters.

32. Chocolate Date Balls (Cake Whiz) – This dessert healthy recipe for picky eaters also goes by the name “energy balls”. Made from a combination of nuts, coconut, and dates, they have a decedent fudge texture but are secretly pretty darn good for you.

33. Chocolate Beetroot Brownie Bites (Caroline’s Cooking) – While this might not be the healthiest recipe ever, in comparison to normal brownies, this healthy recipe for picky eaters rocks! Filled with beetroot, coconut milk, dates, and almonds with very little sugar, it is scrumptious, gooey, and irresistible.

34. Easy Mini Berry Tarts (Confessions of an Overworked Mom) – Work some fruit into your diet (as well as your children’s) by passing it off as dessert. Trust me, with these sweet and tart berry treats, no one will question whether or not this counts as “dessert”.

For more healthy recipes for picky eaters, follow Freebie Finding Mom’s Toddler Meals Pinterest board and be sure to check out these 25 toddler lunch ideas along with these healthy homemade snack ideas for kids.

Now, if you haven’t drooled all over your keyboard, please share your favorite healthy recipes for picky eaters in the comments.

Original article and pictures take www.freebiefindingmom.com site

33 Simple Summer Recipes and Tips (New Freebie for Simple Meals Subscribers!)

33 Simple Summer Recipes and Tips (New Freebie for Simple Meals Subscribers!)

I thought it was hot here in Nebraska until my friend from Las Vegas told me about the temps they get there. Phew! What’s it like where you are?

You know me, though. I never complain about the heat because I love summer, sunshine, and being warm. I’m cold all winter so I embrace all the heat of summer while I can!

However, I don’t like heating up the house to cook or bake during the summer. Why run the air conditioner and the oven at the same time??

What should we do though because we all still eat three meals a day at home during the summer. Man shall not live on fruit smoothies alone. So what else is there?

Simple Meals members have already been enjoying Weekly Menu Planning Packets that offer mostly oven-free meal ideas for the summer. But what about breakfast and lunch? And what about snacks?

Beat the Heat has 33 Simple Summer Kitchen Tips and includes 49 real food recipes to use this summer that will keep your kitchen from heating up!

This resource is packed with ideas to get you through the summer. All real food ideas. Bunches of recipes. Oodles of tips for ways to have fun feeding your family delicious treats, light lunches, great snacks – you will love this!

This new eBook is a freebie for all of our Simple Meals Members. This is our only paid subscription (though super inexpensive!) offer here at Heavenly Homemakers and for good reason. Members get a thorough menu planning packet every single week! All the thinking and planning has been done for you. Your grocery list is made for you. You get bonus ideas, time saving tips, and extra recipes. This comes to your inbox every Thursday morning so you can plan for the next week. And the best part is that every single recipe and meal we suggest that you make is ridiculously simple.

Nothing complicated. All real food. All family friendly. Spend very little time in the kitchen. Endure no stress if you forgot to thaw meat (there’s a back-up plan for that!). Simple Meals really is making people’s kitchen lives easier!

All for one little dollar per week!

This week, members will get this fabulous Beat the Heat bonus resource along with all their regular menu planning info! We’ll send it out in this week’s regular Simple Meals Planning Packet email. Then to be sure we’ve caught all new members who want this, we’ll send it one more time on July 20. So join Simple Meals before July 20 for sure so you can receive this Beat the Heat booklet in your inbox with your planning packets!

Your yearly subscription equips you with a 52 week's worth of meal plans, grocery guide, recipes, and bonus tips, plus you get over $60 worth of bonus eBooks! Your Simple Meals plan will arrive in your inbox each Thursday morning.

Original article and pictures take heavenlyhomemakers.com site

32 Healthier Ways to Eat Tacos Every Day

32 Healthier Ways to Eat Tacos Every Day

Tacos have gone from unappetizing fast-food to a Tuesday-night staple and gourmet food truck fare. Filled with meat or veggies, stuffed inside a soft or hard tortilla, and topped with cheese or guacamole (or both!), the possibilities are endless. And while there’s nothing wrong with a beefy, cheesy handheld, there are plenty of delicious ways to make healthy tacos too.

These 32 variations—organized by the main ingredient—all start with wholesome add-ins. Some keep things classic, others take on Asian influences, and more go vegan or gluten-free. Ultimately, they all confirm one thing: In any iteration, few foods in this world are as tasty as the taco.

Vegetables

Photo: Naturally Ella

This recipe isn’t kidding about focusing on veggies, packing in a whopping six of ‘em. Wrapped in a soft tortilla and topped with avocado cream, you may have just found your new favorite way to eat roasted vegetables. The best part? The ingredients are customizable—so go with whatever’s in your kitchen or in season!

Photo: Lorimer Kitchen

The flavors in these tacos may give off a distinct Thanksgiving-vibe, but who are we to object to healthy, holiday-themed meals any time of year? The addition of brown sugar gives the squash that irresistible caramelized-edge, while a cup of chopped pecans provide a savory, fiber-filled crunch. Cranberries blend with agave and garlic to make an antioxidant-rich spread that brings it all together. Gorgeous to look at and tasty to eat, don’t be surprised if you find yourself making these in the dog days of summer.

Photo: Sequins at Breakfast

Portobello mushrooms are widely known as meat’s vegetarian understudy. Not only do they make a hearty stand-in for steak in these soft tacos, but they also provide glucose-lowering properties for practically zero cholesterol. Layered with more veggies and topped with a fresh and zesty chimichurri sauce, these tacos are next-level good.

Photo: Amuse Your Bouche

Got a serious hankering for Mexican but no time to hit the store for ingredients? Think outside the shell and turn to this recipe, which calls for items you likely already have on hand. Ground walnuts mixed with cumin and paprika make for an aromatic serving of omega-3s, and the salsa and sour cream toppings are a nod to the traditional taco. Conventional? Hardly. Authentic? Probably not. Delicious, nutritious, and cute enough to serve guests? You bet!

Photo: Ambitious Kitchen

A roundup of taco recipes without an option for breakfast? Inconceivable! Take your standard scrambled eggs to the next level with the addition of heart-healthy smoked salmon and mashed avocado all wrapped up in a striking blue corn tortilla with some fresh dill. In just a few extra steps, you’ve amped up the protein, healthy fat, and taste factor to make for a complete morning meal.

Seafood

Photo: Jessica Gavin

No matter what the weather is, these tacos will transport you (or your taste buds, at least) to the beach with their generous use of summery ingredients, including Roma tomatoes for lycopene, anti-inflammatory cilantro, and of course the fish providing those all-important omega-3 fatty acids for brain health. For an added boost of protein, try subbing the sour cream for low-fat Greek yogurt, and drizzle 'til your heart’s content.

Photo: A Dash of Megnut

Last minute guests? Home late from work? Before reaching for that delivery menu, consider this recipe. The blogger uses the popular and inexpensive tilapia, but feel free to substitute any other white fish (cod or halibut works great). Spoon on some summer peach salsa for an additional pop of brightness and call it dinner! It’s hard to believe, but aside from a quick dash to the store, half an hour is all you need to throw this gorgeous meal together.

Photo: Chili Pepper Madness

Flaky grilled salmon, often touted as a superfood fish thanks to its low mercury and high fatty-acid content, serves as the base for these non-traditional tacos. The fact that the guacamole gets some life with colorful, antioxidant-rich pomegranate seeds makes this recipe a keeper in our book!

Photo: Home Sweet Jones

These tacos are proof that an impressive and tasty meal doesn’t need to take a toll on your time, wallet, or patience. While there are several spices for the fish, most are likely in your pantry, and even the garnishes are no-frills: A four-ingredient sauce and some fresh avocado slices are all that are needed to dress up the fish and cabbage filling.

Photo: Pinch of Yum

These tacos are definitely not for the faint of heart. Shrimp tossed in a cayenne and cumin seasoning and topped with a garlic-lime sauce pack a flavorful (and spicy) punch! Cool it all down with toppings like avocado, cotija cheese, and fresh cabbage.

Meat

Photo: Host the Toast

If you’re looking to beef up regular tacos a bit, look no further than this blogger’s take on steak. Grill it to your preference, then fold it up in soft tortillas with chopped cabbage and fresh salsa. The best part is the gorgeously green chimichurri sauce, the ideal light topping for the meaty filling.

Photo: Shared Appetite

Suffering from weeknight chicken breast fatigue? So are we. Switch up your taco night with this melt-in-your-mouth slow-cooked lamb shoulder. Top it all off with some pickled onions and tequila-soaked raisins and you've got yourself a party!

Photo: From Cats to Cooking

When you’re too busy to babysit a skillet, this recipe will come to the rescue. Other than some advanced planning, the prep is super easy: Toss your meat in a Crock-Pot along with a fragrant concoction of spices and lime juice. Pork often gets a bad rap for its high-fat content, so feel free to use a boneless loin roast for a leaner cut that still supplies high-quality protein. Four to six hours later, you’ve got juicy goodness, ready to shred and scoop into tortillas with your favorite garnishes.

Photo: Real Food Whole Life

Whoever thought it was possible to limit tacos to Tuesdays clearly never tried these. Seasoned with cumin and garlic and garnished with a summery peach and basil salsa, these tacos are an absolute must! Health tip: Try to find pastured turkey, which may be higher in anxiety-reducing tryptophan.

Photo: Carlsbad Cravings

When buffalo sauce meets chicken tacos, the results are pretty epic. Rather than using the messy and greasy deep-fry method, this blogger lets the chicken soak up a buffalo marinade and grills the breasts to perfection. Topped with an avocado corn salad and a rich blue cheese and ranch sauce (a little goes a long way!), this is some truly taco truck-worthy stuff.

Photo: As Easy as Apple Pie

There is a reason the classics never die. Loaded with the usual tastes and textures of the time-honored mainstay, these beef tacos are further proof not to mess too much with a good thing. Topped with all things traditional, from shredded cheddar to salsa, this will likely become your go-to recipe for reliable, crowd-pleasing Mexican.

Beans and Lentils

Photo: She Likes Food

These tacos are yet another way to celebrate the current front-runner in the produce-popularity contest, cauliflower. The cancer-fighting, cruciferous veggie is roasted with chickpeas before being enveloped in corn tortillas and topped with a creamy vegan slaw.

Photo: Simple Vegan Blog

Tofu, beans, and corn come together as a satisfying stuffing for these vegan and gluten-free wraps. The homemade sour cream is also made from firm tofu rather than dairy, cutting down significantly on the fat while upping the protein. Scooping the filling into lettuce is a fantastic way to lighten up the meal without missing out on the fun of eating with your hands—no matter your age, that’ll never get old!

Photo: Coffee and Crayons

Here’s a recipe that makes veering off the beaten path look totally doable (and worth it). The simplicity of this recipe is equally as beautiful as the color you get from nutrient-dense butternut squash, black beans, and spinach! Drizzle a bit of chipotle lime cream on top and you're good to go.

Photo: She Likes Food

If you were afraid the concepts "barbeque" and "vegan" could never belong on a plate together, you may just want to hug us—or this blogger—for bringing you this recipe. Instead of meat, black beans and quinoa get the sweet n’ savory treatment here. Don’t skip the olive oil, either; including some healthy fat helps increase the absorption of lycopene from the tomatoes.

Photo: Vegan Richa

The blue corn tortillas used here are optional, but they make the dish so visually appealing that we highly recommend them! Still, if the lentils and sweet potatoes are starchy enough for you, wrap them into romaine leaves to ease up on the carbs and avoid tipping into overly-full territory. No matter which way you go, the recipe is free of dairy, eggs, soy, nuts, and gluten, making these tacos an allergen-friendly dream come true.

Tofu and Tempeh

Photo: Veggie and the Beast Feast

Photo: Compassionate Cuisine

Crispy, crunchy, and creamy, these vegan tacos are a multi-textured treat. Slightly firm tofu soaks in a marinade of cayenne, cumin, and a touch of honey before being sautéed to slightly charred perfection and nestled into corn tortillas. A super simple cabbage and carrot slaw on top adds a pop of color. Drizzle (or drench, it’s up to you!) them with a zippy cashew-lemon sauce, then devour.

Photo: Delish Knowledge

Looking to expand your vegetarian protein repertoire? Offering up vitamin B2 for red blood cell production and digestive benefits thanks to its fermentation, tempeh is a great choice. Mixed with a spicy tomato salsa, the result may look and even taste somewhat like the meaty traditional, but contains considerable less cholesterol. The mango avocado salsa adds a fresh touch to cool down the heat. Making a double batch is highly advised.

Photo: Peach and Plenty

Mexico meets Vietnam in this Southeast Asian twist on tacos, where corn tortillas are stuffed with the classic ingredients of a tofu Banh Mi sandwich. Whether it’s the homemade pickled veggies or the metabolism-boosting kick of the chili sauce, every layer of this fusion recipe promises a healthy benefit—and one heck of an exotic trip for your palate!

Photo: Dieplicious

If these colors popping off the plate aren’t enough to tempt you, maybe the ridiculously simple ingredients and preparation will do the trick. Tofu is a sponge for the flavors it’s cooked in; in this case, the calcium-rich protein is crumbled into an aromatic concoction of garlic, onions, olive oil, and tomato paste, absorbing all that spicy goodness. Served with your favorite taco fixings, this recipe is that ideal combination of easy-to-make and impressive-to-serve.

Photo: Vegan Dare

You’ll need to scroll down for the English recipe on this blog, but that extra effort will be well worth it. Tofu has no chance of tasting bland here, thanks to a generous sprinkling of garlic powder and peppery cumin—a spice known best for its digestion-stimulating benefits. With avocado spread on the tortilla (try the blogger’s homemade version) as well as sliced on top, it’s double the healthy fat, double the fun.

Photo: A Thought for Food

The long list of ingredients needed here to achieve the "jerk" component may be daunting, but don’t let that distract from what's a surprisingly straightforward preparation. Tempeh once again plays the leading role, accompanied by a robust supporting cast of spices and topped with a unique mixture of radish and fennel. The result is a deceptively simple production, so easy to make in larger quantities that it’s fit to feed a party of two or 12.

Dessert

Photo: Today's Nest

Chocoholics, here’s another recipe to fuel your addiction. Whisking cocoa powder into the batter for the shells gives the mixture a dash of cholesterol-lowering flavanols and that irresistible bittersweet quality. Don’t be intimidated by the homemade "tortillas"—with just a few simple ingredients and a bit of practice, you’ll be churning them out like a pro in no time. Fill ‘em up with your favorite mixed fruit (the classic strawberry-banana pairing works great) and fresh coconut flakes.

Photo: Le Creme de la Crumb

In this refreshingly sweet take on tacos, a homemade crepe-like tortilla encases a fresh fruit mixture. For added decadence, feel free to top with homemade ice cream and drizzle with your favorite caramel or chocolate sauce.

Photo: Little Leopard Book

Apricots are often overlooked when it comes to fruit, but just a single one packs 13 percent of the daily recommendation for vitamin A (important for eye health and the function of several organs)—and only 17 calories. Here, the stone fruit is caramelized and sits atop rich mascarpone cheese inside of tortillas that are warmed in the oven and drizzled with honey. Drooling yet?

Photo: Sugar Dish Me

In this sweetened-up twist, cinnamon-sugar dusted tortillas are baked, then filled with honey, light cream cheese and studded with multicolored cubes of chopped berries, oranges, and pineapple. You can’t go wrong with creamy, sweet, and colorful.

Originally published December 2014. Updated July 2016.

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Original article and pictures take greatist.com site