Ten Grocery Store Staples- Part 1

Do you look forward to your weekly trek to the grocery store? The shopping, the spending, the loading, the unloading, the putting away...Maybe you try to make it a monthly event! I don't know about you, but grocery shopping usually takes me at least a couple of hours from start to finish and I'm just shopping for two. What a blessing grocery stores are, though. I am very thankful for the convenience that they bring to modern-day life.

I have found that when I make a list (you know me), it cuts back on the amount of time and money I spend. Back up. I have found that when I make a weekly meal plan and then a list, this really helps me shop with purpose and resourcefulness. 

On Saturday's, I usually sit down and come up with dinner ideas to last us through the next Saturday. I try to search a blog or website for one new recipe that I can incorporate into our weekly dinner lineup. Wednesday's and Saturday's are usually our leftover/soup/tuna days and we enjoy a meal out about once a week. After I have created my meal plan, I proceed to make my grocery list. 

Here are some of the items that I typically put in my shopping cart. You will see I am in the process of changing our diet to reflect a more wholesome/clean/natural eating style. Note I said, in the process :) It is not always easy to find the purest items without a Trader Joes or Wholefoods nearby, nor am I always willing to pay the heftier price for an organic item! Thankfully, the commissary is doing a tremendous job stocking their shelves with healthier, reasonably-priced items, which I have enjoyed hunting out and discovering.

1. Ground Beef- This ground beef is USDA organic and does not have antibiotics or synthetic hormones. The meat comes from cows who live on family farms and are pasture-raised. It's not a cow share, but this is the best I can do for now:) 

Check out WHY eating grass-fed beef is worth your moo-lah. 

2. Chicken Breasts- These chickens were raised cage-free and contain no added hormones or steroids. While this is better than most of the chicken lining the shelves, it really is not the cleanest option. If you are a chicken-eatin'-finatic like we are, I would encourage you to search your grocery store for the most natural brand you can find. 

Watch this clip from Dr. Oz on WHY you need to know what's in your chicken.

3. Chicken Broth- Speaking of chicken, look what I found in Target recently! This is a no brainer for me and the price is super reasonable!

3. Milk- I like to drink Almond Milk, but Jared prefers regular milk, so I was thrilled to find this healthier option at the commissary. This milk is from free-range cows, free of artificial hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides. Milk should be one of the first things that you research when you are striving to clean up your diet, rid yourself of stomach problems, or treat asthmatic issues. If anything, do your gut and general health a HUGE favor and switch from skim-milk to whole milk! 

                              Check out WHY whole milk is the healthier choice.

4. Turkey Bacon- Many will say no matter what the animal source, bacon is just not good for you, but Jared and I would respectfully disagree:) We love eating turkey bacon with eggs or in a whole wheat wrap for our breakfast. It also makes a yummy sandwich filler. Godshall's knocks Butterball out of the park! No slimey texture or funky aftertaste. Nice thick slices that cook up great on the griddle. MSG free too. However, I just discovered the Applegate Farms brand at Target the other day. I haven't tried it, yet, but after a quick comparison to my Godshall's brand, it has me converted.
 Farewell, Godshall...

Check out WHY I plan to say goodbye to Godshall's and hello to Applegate Farms.

5. Turkey Burgers- Have you tried these raw patties, yet? (Well, after you've cooked them of course, hah). We buy ours from Target. They are delicious! It says All Natural on the label, but Fooducate gives it a B+ for containing natural flavorings. It may be a slight compromise to some, but for us, it is a worthy one in order to satisfy our cravings for a juicy burger :) 

Check out WHY natural flavors are not necessarily natural. 

6. Chicken Sausage- Have you caught on by now that my husband is a carnivore? Alright I must admit, I really enjoy eating meat too. I was actually a consumer of chicken-sausage long before my husband ever was and now I have him hooked. We chop them up in the frying pan for breakfast or use it in a pasta dish; however, they taste the most delicious when Jared fires them up on the grill...

Check out WHY I buy this brand and all their other flavors!

7. Eggs- Since Jared and I go through two dozen eggs in a week, we want to make sure we are consuming eggcellent ingredients (yes, I did just say that). I know, organic, cage free eggs are more expensive, but why pay less for something that is not going to benefit your body and promote optimal health? At least, that's what we have to tell ourselves when making this purchase. Maybe one day we will raise our own chickens :) 

Check out WHY organic eggs are worth the cost.

8. Mayonnaise- Speaking of eggs, did you know mayo contains eggs? (You probably did, hehe). Lo and behold, this mayonnaise is made with cage-free eggs. We use it on sandwiches, in tuna salad/chicken salad, and various recipes. Oh and while we are on the topic of condiments, don't forget to look for ketchup that does not contain high fructose corn syrup. :)

9. Salad/Spinach- I bet you were wondering when something green was going to make the list. We LOVE eating salads- grilled chicken salads, Dharma Blue salads, taco salads, side salads.  I am so proud of my hubby for migrating from his traditional Iceburg + cheddar cheese + crouton mix to the salad concoction he made for himself the other day: spring mix + butter lettuce + spinach + yellow, orange, red peppers + tomato + cranberries + bacon + one whole apple + parmesan cheese + croutons + flaxseed + tumeric + chicken. Wow! Way to go, honey! I make it my aim to buy organic lettuce because it is something we eat a lot of and it is on the Dirty Dozen list. 

Check out WHY Spinach is on the Dirty Dozen List.

10. Salad Dressing- I am a honey mustard connoisseur, so when Jared disclosed to me while we were dating just how much he loved honey mustard and had it as a side for nearly everything, I knew I had found the perfect match. I am hesitant to post this picture of Caesar dressing because I feel it is being disloyal, haha. Just kidding. But seriously. You should try Bolthouse Farms brand of dressing no matter if you like honey mustard or not!

Check out WHY it's important to be extra picky when selecting salad dressing. 

To be continued...

In the process of getting rid of processed,
~Charity~


Do you have any grocery store staples that you would like to recommend? 

Six Random Kitchen Tools That Make Life Easier

1. Salad Spinner. At my house, we eat A LOT of salads. I tend to enjoy a combination of spinach and other leafy greens, while Jared loves fresh romaine. I purchased this salad spinner at Bed Bath and Beyond with a coupon, but you can find them just about anwhere. I chop up the lettuce, throw it in the colander to wash off, and then give it a whirl. It's good practice for learning how to start a mower if you don't already now how:) Ta-da! Clean, crisp lettuce that's at a much better price than the bagged kind!

Salad Spinner

2. Onion Chopper. I am an onion-lovin' gal. I could eat them sauteed in large chunks in any meal that called for them or simply suggested them, for that matter. Unfortunately, I married a man who is not as fond of them (that is an understatement) and will only eat them in minuscule pieces (that is also an understatement). Introducing, the onion chopper! I actually acquired this Pampered Chef chopper from my Mimi during her recent move. As you can imagine, it has made onion preparation much easier! It is super easy to disassemble and wash, as well--I usually just throw mine in the dishwasher. Look for it on Amazon!

Onion Chopper 

3. Cutting Mat. Call me cheap, but I love my plastic cutting mats. They come in all different sizes and colors to help designate food items for each one (meats, veggies, fruits). I really like how flexible they are, which makes it easy to transfer the food from the mat to the dish. Just bend the mat to form a scoop and pour! They also take up minimal storage space (I stick my 5 or 6 mats in the rag/towel drawer for easy access). I can't remember where I found my set, but I know Target carries a cute pack. Go figure. 

Cutting Mat

4. Kitchen Scissors. I know the ones in the picture below are not actual kitchen scissors, but they are scissors that I use only in my kitchen :) I did have some official kitchen scissors from Target, until I left them at a potluck recently. So I found an extra, unopened set of regular shears in my office and come to find out, they work like a charm in the kitchen! They are super sharp and I use them in place of a knife for cutting up raw chicken because for some reason, it's easier to handle. We also use them for slicing up our homemade pizza- that's one less gadget I have to fit in my drawer!

5. Mini Spatula. I love love love this mini spatula for so many reasons. It's not like those big plastic-made spatulas where the edges start to melt after the first few uses. It's small and durable and has a stainless steel blade to cut up chicken or sausage in the pan. It's perfect for flipping fried eggs and pancakes. I use mine every time I cook. In fact, I had to get two :) I'm pretty sure I purchased mine via an Amazon site a while back, but I did a quick search just now and found it here. 

6. Sharp Knife. I grew up hearing my Grandma and Mom stress the absolute necessity of having a good knife in the kitchen. Good=Sharp. If you have ever worked with a dull-bladed knife, you know how frustrating it makes food prep. I used to work up a sweat cutting potatoes because of how much energy I had to exert. My mom actually found the knife pictured below at a Myrtle Beach flea market and gave it to me as a 'happy'.  It glides right through those potatoes! Another great knife I would recommend is a ceramic paring knife. I have one of these too:) 

Scissors, Spatula, Knife

What's a random kitchen tool that has made your life easier?

Work is a blessing, ya'll!
~Charity~

4 Canisters in My Kitchen

                                         
1. PROTEIN POWDER! This is an all natural protein powder sweetened with stevia. It's low in calories and tastes delicious! I love the chocolate flavor best. You can find it at Vitamin Shoppe. 

2. STEVIA! I don't have sugar in the house. If we need some sweetened tea or a yummy treat, stevia always does the trick! Just remember, a little stevia goes a long way compared to sugar. (We learned that the hard way.) I buy mine from iherb.com. I know Target sells some too, just make sure it's nonbitter. Buy some. It's worth it!

3. OATMEAL! No instant oatmeal packets in this household. (Check out the nutrition info on those babies and stay clear!) While steel cut oats is best, I usually just buy Old Fashioned Quaker Oatmeal. Add some cinnamon, stevia, blueberries, and flaxseed and you have yourself a yummy breakfast! Speaking of flaxseed...

4. FLAXSEED! While there are many brands of flaxseed available to you, I have enjoyed Bob's Red Mill Kosher Whole Ground Flaxseed Meal. The texture is fabulous and although it does not carry much taste, it is packed full of nutrients and health benefits.  I add a tablespoon to greek yogurt, smoothies, protein balls, and as previously mentioned, oatmeal:)

What's in your canisters???

Eat real, ya'll!
~Charity~