Are you rushing around finishing Christmas gifts only to be tempted by fast food, take out and expensive snacks in the check out lane? Are you exhausted from staying up late wrapping presents and have no motivation to make dinner? During these busy holiday days, you can spend much more on food as you cope with more dinners out and less time in the kitchen. Here are a few ideas on how to control your food spending during the last few days before Christmas.

1. Keep it simple. Give yourself permission to have simple meals. Now is not the time to try new recipes or put a three course meal on the table. Serve cold cereal for breakfast. For lunch & dinner think sandwiches, frozen pizza, canned soup and simple slow cooker meals. A easy favorite slow cooker meal could be a frozen meat with BBQ sauce, cream of something soup or Italian salad dressing poured over top. Pair with a baked potato and microwaved frozen vegetables.

2. Make a quick meal plan. Take a 5 minute look at your freezer and stockpiled food. What frozen meats and make ahead dinners do you have? Plan out a few nights meals and post on the refrigerator.

3. Stock your car. Keep crackers, granola bars, dried fruit and/or nuts in your car. It can help stretch you (or the kids!) to drive past the fast food restaurants to make it home for your simple dinner.

How do you save money on food during the busy holidays?

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Amazon Deals for December

• Save 25% off Earth’s Best Baby Food and Formula when you use the code: EARBEST3 + use the Subscribe & Save option.

• Save on Pamela’s Gluten Free Baking Mixes are still 25% off when you use the code PAMHOL22 + use the Subscribe & Save option.

• Save up to 30% off Kashi products when you use the the Subscribe & Save option. (No code needed)

• Save up to 30% off Eat Natural Bars with the code BROBRI55 + the Subscribe & Save option.

• Save an extra 20% off Numi Seasonal Teas when you use the code: NUMIHOL3. No Subscribe & Save option needed!

Daily Deal Sites

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• Save up to 50%  on organic mattresses from Greenbuds Baby over at Zulily. These mattresses are usually super expensive so if you are planning on buying one; jump on this deal! Deal ends 12/14. ! Save up to 50% off organic Baby Star clothing ( deal ends 12/9), and several other organic brands for women, kids and babies. Save on wooden toys by Beyond 123. Save 10% off a $30 or more purchase with the coupon code: shopmom875.

• Save up to 50% off of Melissa & Doug toys over at Eversave. You can purchase a $50 voucher for $25 to Zoolou. Voucher can’t be used on shipping which is $5.95. EXPIRED

• Score 2 snack bags and 1 sandwich wrap for $14 with FREE shipping over at Mamapedia. Deal expires 12/8.

Organic & Natural Printable Coupons

• It’s a new month so be sure to print off the reset Whole Foods store coupons, Stonyfield Organic Dairy coupons and Earth’s BestOrganic Baby Food Coupons.

• Over at Coupons.com, print75 cents/off Smart Balance Milks, $1/off Arrowhead Organic Products,$2 off Burt’s Bees Products, $3/off Yes To Natural Skincare Items, 75 cents/off CrunchMaster crackers and more!

• At Mambro Sprouts, there are several new organic coupons as well including $1/off 3 Clif Bars, $1/off CrunchMaster crackers, $1/off Earth’s Balance Coconut Spread.

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As a registered dietitian, one recommendation that I make to almost all of my patients is to increase the number of fruits and vegetables that they consume. Why? Produce is bursting with nutrients, low in calories and high in fiber. They help control blood sugar and weight while nourishing the body. In fact, research has shown in folks that eat 9-10 servings per day have reduced cancer risk.

But what is one of the most common reasons that I hear on why people can’t consume enough? Price. “I can’t afford to eat more fruits and vegetables”, my patients lament. The good news is that fruits and vegetables can easily fit into a tight budget.

Here’s how:

1. Rely on low cost staples: There are several fruits & veggies out there that are lower in cost no matter the season. Make these the foundational produce that you buy. Even though they are low in cost, they are still excellent sources of nutrients.

• Inexpensive veggies: cabbage, carrots, potatoes, celery, onions, garlic
• Inexpensive fruits: bananas, apples, oranges, cantelope and honeydew melon

2. Find variety in loss leaders: Plan your meals around what veggies & fruits are on sale that week. Often, these loss leaders are what is in season.

• Fall: pumpkin, apples, acron/butternut/spaghetti squash, sweet potatoes, cranberries
• Winter: beets, grapefruit, oranges, tangerines, celemintines
• Spring/Summer: blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, watermelon, asparagus, green beans, grapes

You may have to look outside your traditional supermarket to get the best prices. Here in Chicagoland, I shop at local produce markets in addition to my grocery store to get rock bottom pricing on produce. Other vensues that may work for you are: CSAs, farmers’ markets, Aldi and Costco/Sam’s Club. These alteratives may beat your local supermarket on produce prices. Supplementing with your own garden’s bounty is also a great way to save!

3. Fill in the gaps with preserved produce: You can routinely find frozen vegetables for $1 per pound (my go-to price) even without coupons. Wait for a sale and use coupons to get a wide variety of frozen veggies. Or freeze them yourself when your own favorites are in season (usually last around 3 months). Frozen vegetables not only offer great pricing but are just as nutritionous as fresh as they are frozen right after picking. Other inexpensive options are canned vegetables (rinse before cooking to reduce sodium content), canned fruits (look for those that are canned in extra light syrup or fruit juice) and dried fruits such as raisins.

By filling your cart with low cost staples and adding variety through seasonal & preserved produce, you can nouish your body and prevent disease by consuming lots of fruits and vegetables despite your tight budget.

Here’s to health!

A few weeks ago, we had in informal family dinner with our cousins who had recently returned to the US from teaching in Latin America. Needless to say, we had lots to catch up on…comparing stories of life in a foreign country, discussing the different Spanish words, phrases and idioms for the different countries we’d lived in.

Anywho…my mom-in-law brought over some apple cider and we got so caught up in all the laughter and conversation that I forgot all about the cider that was in the fridge!

After all were gone, we were cleaning up and discovered the unopened cider…and I immediately started thinking…what else can I do with this, besides drink it?!  An experiment was in order…I wonder what would happen if I used a little cider in place of some milk in a batch of pancakes…and maybe toss in a chopped apples for kicks and giggles.

A wonder-fall brinner!

These just ooze…warm and cozy…enjoy me on a chilly fall afternoon!

• Pumpkin Blondies from Sunny Side Up in San Diego!

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Katie from Kitchen Stewardship has a wonderful recipe for healthy pumpkin muffins and breads. I really like how she breaks down the recipe and shows you what substitutions to make to make the muffins healthier!

• Healthy Pumpkin Muffins and Breads

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Seriously. Now seriously.

This is just too creative. I volunteered to bring goodies to the boys’ fall parties this year. And I think these will be a hit!

And you can make them with the new gluten free Rice Krispies too!

Can’t get enough of these Pumpkin Rice Krispies Treats from The Stories of A2Z!

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It is now that I wish I had a bagel in the house. I have not a one. Sigh.

• Pumpkin Cream Cheese from Easy Everyday Eats

I think I’ll be buying a bag of bagels soon, so I can have this as breakfast or afternoon snack!

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As I killed sugar from my diet in August, and continue to keep it at a minimum, I found myself missing out on my occasional latte and Chai tea. These are splurges for me, but even still…I was missing them.

Since getting them without sugar at Starbucks wouldn’t be an option, I’d just have to make my own. Better and cheaper!

I’ve shared my favorite version of the Pumpkin Spice Latte, and now…my sugarless version of Pumpkin Chai Latte.

So here’s my recipe…ingredients inspired by this recipe from Just Good Energy.

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Calling all donut lovers…

Time to bop on over to Lauren’s Latest for her Pumpkin Spice Donut Holes recipe.

Enjoy!!!

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