ALDI is the best grocery chain for saving money on natural and organic foods! Why shop at pricey Whole Foods when you can find such a great selection of healthy food at Aldi for a fraction of the price?
Have I ever mentioned that Aldi is one of my favorite stores? Yes, that’s right—not Whole Foods, not Earthfare, not even Trader Joe’s—but Aldi!
I started shopping at Aldi my first year married. Back then, the contents of my grocery cart included the likes of boxed macaroni and cheese, low-fat yogurt and canned cream of chicken soup.
And I simply loved how much money Aldi saved me as opposed to shopping at other mainstream grocery chains.
Now, when our family switched to eating real, whole foods, I realized that I could no longer do ALL our shopping at Aldi because the natural and organic selection there is limited (but growing!). Instead, my current routine is to shop at Aldi first, use my debit card to get cash back there for whatever amount is left in our grocery fund for the month, then go to BJ’s or any other stores I frequent to buy our food for the rest of the month.
Although you cannot use any coupons at Aldi, I’ve found that the items are much, much lower than at other stores anyway. You really just don’t need coupons.
I cannot vouch for Aldis nation or worldwide, but the one in my town is very clean and offers good-quality produce (most of the time—as always, check for bruises and mold before you leave the store!).
So what do I buy at Aldi?
Check out my list of real, whole foods I get at Aldi—along with a few cheats ;):
My Aldi Grocery List:
Raw Almonds
Pistachios
Dried Fruit/Raisins
Real Maple Syrup (although it’s Grade A…it’s pure!)
Pepper
Rolled Oats
Steel-Cut Oats
Raw Walnuts or Pecans
Nirtrate/Nitrite-Free Chicken Sausage
Onions
Garlic
Domestically-Grown Grapes
Avocados (sometimes for as little as $.49 each!)
Bananas
Sweet Potatoes
Mushrooms
Broccoli
Mangoes
Oranges
Pomegranates
Pineapples
Canned Salmon with bones (although I am sure the cans have BPA–compromise here)
Hummus
Jarred Salsa
Olive Oil
Coffee
Almond Milk
Dried Pinto Beans
Frozen Wild-Caught Alaskan Salmon
Frozen Tilapia
Frozen Shrimp
Frozen Broccoli
Frozen Peas
Frozen Green Beans
Frozen Asparagus (cooks up like fresh!)
Frozen Stir-Fry Veggies (I toss the sauce packet that comes in the bag and use my own seasonings…This is our “convenience” meal!)
Plain Rice Cakes (compromise because they aren’t organic…a favorite snack for the girls)
Veggie Chips (another compromise but a good treat for the girls)
Cracked Pepper Potato Chips (“treat” for hubby)
Tortilla Chips made with organic blue corn
Paper Towels
Toilet Paper
Sandwich/Freezer Bags
Aluminum Foil
Why shop the pricey Whole Foods when the discount supermarket, ALDI, has a great selection of natural and organic products, for a fraction of the price! Save money and shop at ALDI!
Aldi’s growing organic line, Simply Nature, includes the following items:
Organic raw milk cheese
Organic yogurt
Organic canned tomatoes
Organic pasta sauce (although it does contain soy)
Organic apple juice
Organic chicken broth
Organic extra virgin olive oil
Grassfed beef
and more!
Other Reasonable Food to Find at Aldi
While I don’t regularly get these items at Aldi, these are items that, although not organic, are acceptable when making the switch from processed to more whole foods:
Honey (it’s not raw, so better to bake with it)
Baking and cooking staples, like spices, sea salt, baking soda, baking powder, etc.
Hormone-Free Milk (from cows not treated with rbst hormone)
Conventional Eggs (better than no eggs at all!)
Hormone-Free Cheese
White Vinegar (we purchase it in bulk at BJ’s…this is a small bottle.)
Canned Beans
Canned Tomatoes
Whole Wheat Pasta
Canned Pumpkin
Natural Applesauce (no high fructose corn syrup…check the labels…they carry two kinds!)
Natural Peanut Butter
Why shop the pricey Whole Foods when the discount supermarket, ALDI, has a great selection of natural and organic products, for a fraction of the price! Save money and shop at ALDI!
Special Buys
Aldi always has some kind of special buy going on! I was told at my store that the buys are to see if there is a demand for new items. They’ll also stock seasonal items in the Special Buys section, and you can preview them in the store’s sale flyer.
Have you ever shopped at Aldi? What do you get at Aldi?
Here are more resources for grocery savings:
Lauren Greutman’s meal plans: Each cookbook teaches you how to create 20 delicious slow cooker freezer meals. Two of the books are specifically for Aldi ingredients!
Your Grocery Budget Toolbox: In this book, Anne Simpson arms you with resources to stretch your grocery budget and feed a family of 4 on less than $300 per month!
Grocery Savings Made Simple Course: In this course, Shannon shows you how you can shave hundreds and even thousands off of your grocery budget each year!
Also, be sure to check out these posts from the archives on saving money on real food:
This is a fun one I did it today. Initially, my goal was to complete the circuit 4 times, but I was able to get 2 rounds in! Pretty good for someone who is coming off an injury that basically had me doing none of these cool moves for 3 weeks! If you can complete this workout every morning… you’ll be “golden”… complete it twice a day and you’ll be my idol!
I like this Every Morning Workout because it focuses on basic moves that are tried and true, but still challenging at the same time. Have fun!
Susy Sedano is a Content Producer, a fitness enthusiast and an avid cook of healthy meals. She prides herself on creating healthy dishes for family and friends, and is always on the hunt for new workouts and recipes! Despite her hectic non-stop work and fitness schedules, she is a “girl’s girl” and a student of life!
When I first started using essential oils, I didn’t use them on or around my kids at all. I was a little terrified the oils might somehow hurt or damage my kids.
Turns out my intuition to be careful around my kids was good, but a little over the top. As I’ve learned more about essential oils and safety, I’ve found it is important to be careful with essential oils around kids. You can’t just treat kids like mini-adults.
It’s important to always dilute your oils when using them on kids. There are indeed some oils that should not be used on kids.
Moms Essential Oil Cheat Sheet Printable
That said, there are plenty of oils you can use on and around your kids. In fact, these oils are much safer (and even therapeutic) for your kids—much more so than the many toxins we often use around our kids.
Do you want to get started using essential oils with your kids, but you’re just not sure how? Or maybe you’re afraid you’ll use them incorrectly and damage your kids forever! That’s not likely, but I do understand the fear :).
Fear not! I’ve put together an essential oil cheat sheet for moms. It’s a 3-page download you can use to help you along the way. In this 3-page printable, I’ve included helpful information I wish I had when starting to use essential oils with my kiddos:
General safety guidelines for using essential oils with kids.
11 safe essential oils you can use around kids and what you can use them for.
Helpful, kid-friendly essential oil recipes
Moms EO Cheat Sheet PREVIEW 1040x 450
Click the link or image below to download the 3-page Mom’s Essential Oil Cheat Sheet. You’ll learn how to confidently and safely use essential oils with your kids when you receive this free printable in your inbox! I’ll follow it up with more resources and free printables to help you on your essential oil journey. Grab your copy now!
Download Now Original article and pictures take www.intoxicatedonlife.com site
Naturally sweetened whole grain oatmeal raisin mini breakfast muffins are perfect for little ones!
I’m at that stage of my life where we now have play date parties. I have girls nights out and whatnot, but when it’s a group get together, it’s almost always kid-focused. Play dates or baby showers or birthday parties.
And while at times I miss some of the fun we all had pre-kids, I’m actually fine with it. It’s cool to see people you’ve known forever become parents and then get to watch them with their little ones. A whole new side of us opens up, I feel like.
Also, when we get enough people together, the kids tend to take care of themselves. We had some of my high school friends over last month and we all sat in the kitchen, sipping mimosas, as the kids explored the toys in the living room.
I made these little mini muffins and set out some fruit for all the little ones to snack on. Mine, of course, couldn’t wait for the party to sample the goods.
They saw these breakfast muffins the day before when I baked them. I told them they weren’t ready yet – they were for the party the next morning.
So ALL morning long while we were playing and trying to not wreck the house before everyone arrived, they kept asking if it was time to try one. It was funny in a diabolical way to keep saying no. They were trying so hard to be patient.
Finally, I caved and let them sneak one before everyone arrived. Then I let them each have two more at the party. My husband later told me that J got an additional two after that. Somehow he still managed to eat all of his lunch. Ah, those little growing boys…
I found myself popping a couple of these as well throughout the day. They are just barely sweet but have great flavor from the raisins and the maple syrup combination. If you are making these for older kids or adults, you may want to increase the maple syrup to 1/3 cup to make them a bit sweeter.
And you can definitely sub honey, but I use maple syrup so they are safe for babies under age 1. Fun little finger food!
We’ve actually got that same group coming over again this weekend for a Valentine’s Day morning play date, which is what reminded me of these little breakfast muffins. Might have to whip up another batch and watch my kids wiggle as they wait. ��
Wishing you a happy weekend and a Valentine’s Day full of love!
Original article and pictures take www.familyfoodonthetable.com site
Microbiota Accessible Carbohydrates (MACs) – The New Kid on the Block
Microbiota Accessible Carbohydrates (MACs). It’s the newest term being used lately to describe the best way to feed your microbiome.
What are Microbiota Accessible Carbohydrates (MACs)
Two researchers, Drs. Justin and Erica Sonnenburg out of Stanford University have published a new book called The Good Gut, that explains what they have found.
The Drs. Sonnenburg also published an article in Cell Metabolism called, Starving our Microbial Self: The Deleterious Consequences of a Diet Deficient in Microbiota-Accessible Carbohydrates, in 2014, that describes some of their research.
According to the Drs. Sonnenburg, the microbiota is central to how one is predisposed to disease. The study of different indigenous populations tells us that the western microbiome has much less diversity and may be the root cause of the various diseases of civilization.
Traditional cultures consume much more fiber and have other lifestyle factors that support their microbiome.
It’s becoming clear that just because someone appears to be “healthy” that doesn’t mean that their gut microbiome is healthy. When we look at indigenous peoples who still eat their traditional diets, we see how different the microbiome is and we can see what ours is missing.
What to Eat to Support Microbiota Accessible Carbohydrates (MACs)
Tubers are very common to the hunter/gatherer – but these are wild tubers (sadly, we have breed certain characteristics out of these plants to make them more palatable). We do not have access to these wild tubers but we can eat the tubers that are available to us and other vegetables so that we can hope to recreate the fiber content.
The Drs. Sonnenburg advise us to eat more plants that have complex fibers – not potatoes, rice or refined flour – but foods that have a lot of roughage, like vegetables, fruits and legumes.
Some fiber, like cellulose (think of the stems of broccoli and the peel of an apple), gets fermented very little and very slowly. Other fiber, like inulin (think onions) gets fermented very completely and very rapidly.
Each vegetable or fruit will contain several types of fiber, not just one type. Broccoli is not ONLY cellulose! Each vegetable or fruit has its own complex fiber identity! Find some that you tolerate.
I think to optimize butyrate production throughout the entire colon, it is good to eat a mix of vegetables and fruits.
Good bacteria can be cultivated. Drugs that cultivate good bacteria are called PREbiotics, but foods can do the same thing. Vegetables and fruits carry fibers that are prebiotic. By eating vegetables and fruits, you are not just allowing the bacteria you have to make butyrate, you’re actually promoting their growth. (source)
Unfortunately we don’t have a lot of studies that tell us which fibers are the best. We do know that if the microbiota are fermenting, they produce metabolic end products – short chain fatty acids (SCFA), like butyrate that are beneficial to us.
The highest concentration of butyrate is found in the colon. It’s produced by intestinal bacteria from indigestible carbohydrates (MACs) such as cellulose and pectin. This relationship — between the colonic bacteria and butyrate — has evolved to the extent that butyrate has become the primary source of energy of the colonocytes.
Butyrate Suppresses Inflammation in the Gut and Other Tissues
Butyrate also has potent anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. This research suggests that using oral butyrate supplements and butyrate enemas may be used to treat inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis successfully. Some investigators are also suggesting that inflammatory bowel disorders may be caused or exacerbated by a deficiency of butyrate.
Huh. Can this be part of the reason for the dramatic increase in inflammatory bowel disease and other autoimmune diseases in recent years? There is already evidence that the gut bacteria in patients with inflammatory bowel disease do not make butyrate, and that they have low levels of the fatty acid in their gut.
To take it further, we know that many, if not most, diseases originate in the gut and we know how important the proper balance of gut bacteria — the microbiome — is to health.
It’s All About Fiber
We know that our ancestors ate 50 – 200 gms of fiber a day. That is up to ten times more than most people eat today. When you don’t eat enough dietary fiber, the microbes are forced to consume the mucous membrane! This has the potential of being disastrous! Not only do you miss out on the beneficial byproducts of fermented fibers, it can also become inflammatory to the mucous membrane and potentially cause damage.
There is a lot of research that shows that the beneficial short chain fatty acids (SCFA – the byproducts of fermentation of fibers in the colon) regulate the immune system and the brain/gut axis in mice. These SCFAs are acetate, propionate – which regulates metabolism and Treg development – and as mentioned above, butyrate which also regulates Treg development. Tregs damper the immune response when appropriate and are very important is preventing over-activity of the immune system.
How To support Your Microbiome
It’s hard to recommend specific foods as this is individual issue. But here are some recommendations from Mary Ann Sanders at Gutmicrobiotaforhealth.com.
Have as much diversity in your diet as possible
Consume fermented foods. We know that they have at least a transient beneficial effect as they travel through the digestive tract
Eat raw fruits and vegetables as these harbor environmental microbes (as tolerated)
Consume probiotic foods and/or take supplements
Consume adequate levels of diverse types of fiber, including prebiotics, to promote a diverse microbiome – MACs and resistant starch included
When possible, breast feed your baby. Breast milk contains live microbes and a rich supply of oligosaccharides and immune factors that appear to support good bacteria in the baby’s gut
Wash hands with soap and water instead of chemical soaps with antibacterials
Live on a farm, or at least have a dog or cat. This seems especially beneficial for children if started when they are babies (source)
Try to maintain a highly diverse diet and eat seasonally. There is some data that shows that when primates eat seasonally, there is a large impact on the microbiota. In other words, as the seasons change, so does the microbiota.
As the research accumulates, we can learn about which foods are best to support a healthy microbiome as well as potential therapeutics.
Having been on the GAPS diet for years, we have transitioned to include some resistant starch and other fibers in order to feed the microbiota. Have you been on GAPS for a few years? Maybe it’s time to consider expanding your diet.
I am so glad these researchers are focused in on the microbiome. What about you? Are you as excited about this research as I am? Leave a comment and let me know!
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Original article and pictures take realfoodforager.com site
Meatloaf Muffins … Fun for the Whole Family! (DF, GF)
There’s something magical about making meatloaf in a muffin tin. Maybe it’s the cute-factor of having your own personal little muffin of meaty-goodness? Or maybe it’s the fact that each little meatloaf bakes-up so moist and flavorful!
Whatever it is that makes my family go crazy for these veggie-laden meatloaf muffins, I’m all about serving healthy foods that bring a smile to their sweet faces – and the sweet faces in your home too!
Chock-full of healthy veggies, these mini-meatloaves are super simple to make and not only make a delicious dinner, but also a great lunch too! Their compact size helps them pack-up nicely in your favorite bento-style lunch boxes – and no need to reheat, since they taste great cold too!
So, rather than shopping on this glorious Cyber Monday, I’m in the kitchen making Cyber Monday Meatloaf Muffins – may sound silly, but it’s true!
Like Cyber Monday, these mini-meatloaves will save you time(you can make them on a weekend and reheat for a quick weeknight dinner, or freeze them for an easy future meal), and they’ll save you money(ground meat is one of the most economical cuts and you can use any veggies you have on hand).
So why not join me in a little meatloaf making fun?
P.S. You can make these savory little meatloaf muffins even more fun, if you tell your kiddos that they’re actually “Meatloaf Cupcakes!” Cause seriously, who doesn’t love cupcakes? And while we’re at it, why not call the mashed potatoes – “frosting” and the sweet peas – “sprinkles.”
I’m all for bringing a little creativity to the table to help kids learn that healthy eating is delicious and fun!
My new cookbook is here! With more than 100 irresistible recipes, Everyday Grain-Free Baking teaches you how easy it is to create grain-free, dairy-free versions of all your family’s favorite baked goods.
From breads, biscuits and muffins to savory snacks and decadent treats, you’ll find step-by-step instructions, beautiful color photographs and helpful tips & tidbits to make all of your GF baking adventures a delicious success!
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Original article and pictures take thenourishinghome.com site
Have a large crowd to feed? We have over 44 great ideas to help you keep it simple!
I frequently feed crowds of 20 or more. I’ve truly gotten to a place where I can say, “Oh, it’s easy.” How? I keep these meals very simple! And my best tip of all:
The side dishes I serve are made up of fresh fruits and vegetables. Nothing fancy or difficult! I simply wash strawberries and put them in a big bowl. I dump baby carrots onto a tray, slice some cucumbers, and set out some ranch dip. I steam several pounds of frozen green beans, peas, or corn.
My buffets always look so pretty and inviting because of these fruits and veggies! People love this! But I’ve gone to very little trouble. It’s a great win-win!
Don’t be afraid to say yes to help! If someone asks, “What can I do to help?” give them a job!
Create a menu with one simple main dish (ideas below) and as mentioned above, set out simple fruit and veggie side dishes to accompany the meal.
Watch for French and Italian bread on the mark-down trays at your grocery stores. Slice them in half length-wise, butter them, and warm them in the oven for an additional, filling simple side dish.
Serve water. Other fun drinks are great if you have time. But when I have a houseful of teens or college students, I usually set out jars of water and a stack of solo cups. It’s easy and well, spilled water isn’t a concern like spilled grape juice. Oy!
Smile often. Smile while you prepare the food and while you’re serving it. Let your guests know you are glad they are there!
Meals to Feed to a Large Crowd
Setting up a buffet in which people line up and fix their plate according to their preference is the easiest all the way around. This also ensures that people with food allergies or those who are picky can fill their plate they way they need and like. Here are my best ideas for simple main dishes that can be made in bulk and fed easily to a large crowd:
Baked Potato Bar (Bake potatoes in a crock pot or large roaster to make it easy. Set out diced meat or chili, grated cheese, chopped veggies, sour cream, and olives for toppings.)
Sub Sandwich Bar (Set out hoagie rolls, a variety of lunch meat and sliced cheese, mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, olives, and any other favorite sandwich fixins.)
Chili (served with toppings like Fritos, shredded cheese, sour cream, and olives)
Burgers and Dogs on the Grill (great for spring and summer!)
How about casseroles that are easy to make in bulk to feed to a large crowd?
Easy Meat Dishes that are Great to Feed to a Crowd
You’ve got to love how the word “Simple” is in each of these. These recipes each take just a few minutes of prep!
Soups and Stews That Are Great to Feed a Large Crowd
Make a big pot or two of these. Serve with fresh fruits and veggies, maybe bread, muffins, or corn chips. So easy and good!
Pssst! If you like keeping life in the kitchen simple, while still putting nourishing and delicious food on the table for your family, you should consider becoming a Simple Meals Member! We cut down on your time and effort, save you money, and provide you with all that you need to make great and simple meals all week long!
Easy Bread and Muffin Recipes to Feed a Large Crowd
Now your turn! Please share in the comments any and all of your ideas for cooking for a crowd. What are your favorite dishes to make for company? What dishes work well to make for large groups of people? If you have recipe links, share those too. Thanks all!
Original article and pictures take heavenlyhomemakers.com site
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Greek Yogurt Cream Cheese Over Toast with Fig Slices and Blueberries
Have you tried Greek Yogurt Cream Cheese? Compared to regular cream cheese, it's lighter and lower in calories, but is still creamy, spreadable and delectable. For this breakfast open sandwich, the Greek Yogurt Cream Cheese is the perfect choice, especially with figs and berries on top.
It's smooth, creamy, gluten-free, vegan-friendly, preservatives-free and made with USA-grown peanuts. Oh, and, it's addictive too.
Find it at Teddy All Natural Peanut Butter.
Turkey Mozzarella and Alfalfa Sprouts Sandwich
Savory turkey slices, soft mozzarella and crunchy alfalfa sprouts create quite a healthy and tasty combo. Get recipe at Clean Eating Sandwich.
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All Natural Blueberry Preservatives Over Nonfat Plain Greek Yogurt
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Healthy Chicken and Black Rice Noodle Stir Fry
Black rice noodle is a good idea for weight loss and clean eating diet because it's dense in vitamins, iron and fiber. It's also easy to cook and pairs well with protein and vegetables.
Today's low calorie dinner is a scrumptious plate of stir fry black rice noodle with chicken and spinach. With less than 500 calories per serving and a whopping 32 grams of protein, this easy healthy stir fry is a must-try!
