Cheap, Healthy Foods - Watch Your Weight and Your Budget

A major issue for those who are trying to create a healthy lifestyle is the cost of healthy food. There are many products on the shelves of your local grocery store that are healthy, but most of them have a larger price tag than the unhealthy, high-fat foods. There are options. If you shop wisely, you can eat healthier than you ever have before and decrease your grocery bill at the same time. Nutritious eating doesn't need to be expensive.

Less Junk = More Savings: In choosing healthy foods, keep in mind that you will automatically be spending less than before due to the absence of junk foods that you may normally purchase such as soft drinks, sugary snacks, and high fat meats.

Less Waste = Less Waist: Healthy eating is not just eliminating certain foods from your diet; it is replacing them with healthy foods. And, if weight control is your goal, you will also be reducing your portion sizes, which will mean less money spent on each meal.

Less Meat, More Veggies: Reducing the amount of meat you eat and replacing it with vegetables is a great way to save money. Fresh vegetables are not nearly as expensive as meat or poultry and your body will thank you for it. Salad is another cheap, healthy food. The pre-packaged salads will cost a bit more than if you purchase the lettuce and other vegetables separately and prepare the salad yourself.

Frugal Fruit: Fruit can be a somewhat expensive, but if you purchase canned fruits in low-sugar syrup or water, you will pay relatively little in comparison to fresh fruit. Apples and oranges are inexpensive compared to some other fruits and you can often find sales that will further reduce your expenses.

Beans and Rice are Nice: Legumes and rice are very inexpensive and you can use either or both of these to replace meat several times per week.

Save on Meat: Canned fish costs considerably less than fresh fish and still contains most of the nutrients. Canned tuna and salmon are very cheap and are very low in fat and calories if you choose the varieties packed in water rather than oil. Chicken is less expensive if you purchase a whole chicken and remove the skin yourself before cooking.

Healthy food does not have to be expensive. You can purchase cheap healthy foods and not only eliminate unhealthy fat and calories, but you can actually save money if you shop wisely.

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Would you rather spend time doing the things you love rather than being stuck in the kitchen? http://www.freequickrecipes.com/ has quick recipes for mothers... and others. And, if you are looking for a fun way to trim your thighs, don't miss http://www.funexercisevideos.com/ .

Writing Your Personal Mission Statement

Companies use mission statements to let people know why they are in existence. Their mission statement could include information about who they are, what they do, and how they do it. Although corporate mission statements vary greatly, each serves as a guide for the company, its employees, and the general public. But how many of us have personal mission statements? Informal research suggests that few people use detailed written mission statements in their own lives. Sure, most people have some idea where they are going and what they hope to accomplish in life but few have actually written a formal mission statement.

What are the benefits of having a written personal mission statement? First, it’s easier to define the actions and goals that will help you achieve your vision. It serves as a roadmap to get you where you want to go. A mission statement allows you to measure your current reality and your progress toward your ideal life. It also allows you to evaluate your values and incorporate them into your daily life.

A mission statement is simply a statement of what guides you, what inspires you, or what you want to accomplish in your life. There are many different ways to approach writing a personal mission statement, but an effective statement can be written in four simple steps. First, list one to three values or principles that you live by and why these are important to you. If you have more than three values on your list, order them by importance to you and select the top three. Next, list the things that bring you happiness, inspire, and satisfy you. This would include the things you do best and most enjoy doing. Then list the things you’ve always wanted to do or the legacy that you would like to leave. These three lists will be combined and used to write your personal mission statement.

An effective mission statement will be simple, clear and brief (between 2-5 sentences). There are many different ways to combine these three lists into a personal mission statement. The first method is to use your own words and combine each of your three lists into a meaningful statement. The second method is to use a template and fill in the blanks with your answers from the above exercises. There are many templates available online that can guide you to crafting a mission statement. Here are a few of my favorite templates:

I value [1-3 values] because [why these are important to you]. I will [what you will do to live by these values].

To live each day with [1-3 values or principles], so that [what living these values will give you]. I will do this by [specific behaviors].

To treasure above all else [most important things to you] by [what you can do to live priorities].

As you write your personal mission statement, remember to keep it simple, clear and brief. Be sure to state everything in the present tense and keep it positive. If there are any negative statements, restate or redirect them to positive statements. Make your personal mission statement part of your everyday life – keep it handy and review it frequently as you schedule your daily or weekly activities. You will find that your mission statement may continue to change and evolve as you do. Revisit it often and make any necessary changes. And finally, keep in mind that you will get what you focus on. The more effort and focus you give to living your mission statement, the more results you will see in your life.

Article by:
April Mims is a life and career coach specializing in work/life balance issues and life and career transitions. Her coaching practice is Nexus Coaching Partners. She is passionate about empowering clients to balance the demands of a successful career and a strong family life. April invites you to a complimentary 30-minute coaching session to see if coaching could benefit you. To learn more or subscribe to The Nexus Connection newsletter, visit www.nexuscoachingpartners.com.

Months That End in "ber"

Can you believe we've officially seen the end of summer? The weather may still be warm (or downright hot, like here in Northern CA) but now that we have entered a month that ends in "ber" it will be a BLUR right through the holidays! That's my theory anyway. The first of witch... oops, I mean, which, is Halloween. At TopBabyPages.com We've rolled out some of the old favorites at the site celebrating this tricky and treaty time of year such as the free coloring pages, fun Halloween crafts and recipes and costume-covered little ones. We've also added some new articles to help you out with preparing for the big day and choosing the all-important costume.

And check out the darling items featured to the right... my favorite are the keepsake frames! Imagine your "fairy princess" or "ghost's" photograph in one! SO cute! The personalized trick or treat totes and sweatshirts are really neat too. You can select hair color, and from 12 costumed drawings to make it oh, so personal!

Come on over and listen to The Monster Mash...>

Girlfriends & Good Times: Top 5 Getaway Tips For Road Trips

You coming? Well slide over, Thelma and jump in the backseat, Louise! We're gassing up and escaping. When are we leaving? Right now! What's the plan? Who needs one! What will we do? Anything we want! Check out this section to get a quick rundown on all you need to know to start your roadtrip girlfriend getaway and tips to make your girlfriend getaway even more fun!

Read on...>

Happy Keester! :o)

To help you celebrate Easter we've gathered some fun activities for you!

> *FREE* Easter Coloring Pages
> Easter Craft Projects for Little Ones
> Easter Recipes and Treats
> *Free* Easter e-Cards
> Easter Shopping and more!

Get your Keester Over There...>

New Year's Resolutions

It's that time of year again. December is here, and it's time to make your New Year's Resolutions. How did you do with last year's resolutions? "My what," you ask? You remember New Year's Eve. You, dressed in your finest, holding up that glass of champagne. "THIS is the year I will..." Maybe you vowed to quit smoking. Did you swear off cookies? Perhaps you promised to exercise every day. Spend less? Save more? Whatever your New Year's Resolutions, I'll bet they were big.

Looking back on it, I guess my resolutions were a little unrealistic.

I imagined myself rising each day at 6:00 am to a cup of home-ground coffee. I would go out onto the patio and savor my coffee while consulting my day-planner. I would stroll into the kitchen and make my daughter a healthy, nutritious lunch to take to school. I would prepare her homemade pancakes with warm, maple syrup. I would then cheerfully wake up my two happy children with a song.

After dressing my children in their matching outfits, I would take my older daughter to school slightly early so she could visit with her friends. Upon my return home, I would exercise while playing with my baby. I would clean house while she napped; dress in cute L.L. Bean clothes. I would prepare gourmet meals with fresh ingredients I picked up at the Farmer's Market. Fine wine would perfectly complement my meals, and I would have a pretty nightgown to wear to my freshly laundered bed each night.

Was I dreaming or what?

Yesterday I woke up at 7:45 to the sounds of my 8 year old screaming, "Mommy! The alarm didn't go off!" Her screaming woke up the baby, who in turn, began to cry. I leapt from bed and dashed to their room with one slipper on.

In my rush to get everyone fed and dressed I skipped the home-ground coffee. I gulped some re-heated coffee leftover from the night before. I couldn't find my day-planner, so I wasn't sure if we had any appointments or not. Oh well...

Instead of homemade pancakes, my daughter feasted on Oreo cereal. Well, the box says it has vitamins and minerals, right?? Not only did my children's clothes not match each other, they didn't match themselves. Madison was wearing blue, flowered leggings and an orange striped shirt. I didn't care--she was dressed. She had brushed her own hair, and it resembled Phyllis Diller's hair. I didn't care--it was brushed. I was afraid to check her breath.

The baby didn't look much better. I hadn't had a chance to put away the clean laundry so she was wearing a polka-dotted shirt with red and green striped pants. Together, my children looked like rodeo clowns. I didn't care--they were dressed. We were good to go.

"What's in my lunch box?" asks rodeo clown number one. LUNCH! I knew I was forgetting something. "You are so lucky," I say convincingly, "because today we are driving through Jack-in-The-Box for your lunch. Your classmates will be so jealous!." The look she gave me told me she didn't buy it for a second.

After dropping her off armed with her Kids Meal, I raced back home. My exercise for the day was hauling the car seat up the stairs as fast as I could because the baby had spit up on the clown outfit. Instead of L.L. Bean, I was now wearing pukey K-Mart sweats.

I did attempt to clean my house while the baby napped. Unfortunately, I barely cleaned the dishes from last night's lasagna before she woke up. Will I ever get caught up?

Looking at my watch, I noticed that it was almost noon, and the only thing I'd had all day was the stale coffee. Time for lunch. My "healthy, nutritious lunch" consisted of canned Spaghetti O's and Diet Dr. Pepper, since I hadn't had time to stop by the Farmer's Market.

Thinking ahead to dinner I wondered, "What wine goes with Hamburger Helper"?

It was then time to go get Madison from school. The scowl on her face as she got into the back seat of the car told me that the Kids Meal didn't exactly go over too well. "I'm STARVING, mommy. The french fries were soggy, and all I got was a stupid Rugrats toy."

Racing back home, I tried to think of a healthy snack based on the ingredients in the cupboard. "OK, we have some canned peaches, some powdered instant breakfast drink mix, and some graham crackers. What can I make with that?"

"Don't worry, sweetheart. Mommy will make you a peach smoothie and some graham crackers when we get home." She shoots, SHE SCORES!!!!

Last night I laid down on my cookie-crumb filled sheets in my holey Laker shirt, and I thought about my New Year's Resolutions. Why do I do this to myself every year? Why do I set myself up for failure?

I guess it's because I like the idea of starting fresh. I think it's a good idea to re-evaluate one's life to change the things that aren't working. At this point it seems that what is not working are my New Year's Resolutions. Maybe if I scale back my expectations it might just work this time.

I could try to get to the regular grocery store once a week. They sell fruit and vegetables there, right? I might even be able to make Madison's lunch the night before--even if it is only a sandwich. Folger's coffee is OK. I might even convince myself that climbing up and down the stairs to my apartment is indeed exercise.

So, this year I'm going to make some new resolutions. I'm going to lower my standards and try again. THIS time it will work. Now where did I put that day-planner?

** Traci Vujicich (pronounced Voo-i-chich) is the author of Motherhood, Apple Pie and Other Fattening Things: http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?isbn=0-595-20723-5 She is also a Life Coach, and a wife and mother. She lives in Redondo Beach, California with her husband Dan, daughters Madison and Lea, and her cats Maggie and Sofia. Traci produces a weekly internet magazine, writes content for several websites, and is the webmaster of Ask the Life Coach.com and Lead the Field Coaching.com. Since 1993, Traci has been providing management consulting services to clients such as Johnson & Johnson, Sun Microsystems, Texaco, Nortel, Kodak, Bell South, Weyerhauser, Lockheed Martin, Union Pacific and Exxon. In addition, she conducts internet seminars on a variety of subjects.

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