Save Your Money and Health

Healthy food (and what is the other food called – disease food?) doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, if you stick to food instead of trendy health products, you’ll save money in so many ways. Here are some tips to get you started.

And remember, in the long-run, food, exercise and fun are your true health insurance.

Crock Pot Hearty Veggie Soup

Winter is at the tail end of its cycle. Here’s a recipe that will give you enough servings to get you through it…while keeping you warm and nourished. It’s my Mom’s and whenever I make it, I think about her and how much I love her.

Feel free to add in other veggies and make it your own – and start some great memories of your own!

Crock Pot Hearty Vegetable Soup

2 lb cross-cut beef shanks (I use any cheap cut of organic meat but something with a bone in it adds a lot of flavor)—also I only use about ½ lb of meat, but the more meat you use the tastier it is)
1 tablespoon salt
1 ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
Dash pepper
2 tsp dried parsley flakes
1 medium onion
1 pkg frozen cut green beans, thawed
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup sliced pared carrots
1 cup diced peeled potatoes or turnips
1 can (16 oz. whole tomatoes)
2 cloves garlic

Combine all ingredients in Crock-Pot.
Add water to cover barely (about 2 cups); stir well.
Cover and cook on low setting for 12 to 18 hours (on High setting for 5 to 7 hours. Remember all crock-pots vary in their cooking time)
Before serving, remove meat and bones; cut meat into bite-size pieces and stir into soup.

6 servings (about 3 qts.)

5 Tips to Save Your Money & Your Health

Do you feel like you are just hanging on right now?

Between the economic news and the harsh weather, I hear from a lot of people who are ready to throw in the towel. And I’m not talking about the Steeler Terrible Towel I’ll be waving manically today during the Super Bowl.

I can’t give you any advice on dealing with the weather because frankly, I’m over it too. I tried to appreciate the season for the slower pace, sleeping and relaxing more but, at this point, I’d rather relax in the some warm weather.

The sun will come out again and so I’m providing details on a Boot Camp program myself and the talented Dr. Lipkin will host starting Wednesday, March 11th for women in the Philadelphia region who want a head-start on getting their bodies and minds into shape. Space is limited and based upon how quickly our past workshops have filled up, the sooner you sign up, the better. Check out details on my blog here under “Events”.

Now onto five simple and easy ways to save money in terms of your health-care spending. By that I mean your groceries and lifestyle habits:

1. Replace your store bought cereal with whole grains. Boxed cereal can cost upwards of $5.00. It’s more expensive than steel cut oats, quinoa or buckwheat (all economical whole grains that average $2.50 per pound) and you aren’t getting real vitamins and minerals. This leaves you hungry and cranky because you have to eat and spend more to feel satisfied.

2. Add chickpeas to your diet for a protein source. Chickpeas = Cheap. At about 99 cents a can, you can’t lose. They are great to make hummus, add to salads or throw into soups to make them more hearty. You can even grind uncooked chickpeas to use as flour.

3. Buy vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, kale, potatoes, carrots and onions. These vegetables last longer in the fridge and won’t spoil as quickly as other foods—although I hear a McDonald’s meal doesn’t decay for six years! And because vegetables contain so many filling nutrients (like fiber), you eat less when they are a staple in your diet.

4. Try a free online yoga class. Stress sends off a flurry of hormones in your body that fuels your appetite and inflammation, which means more money on food and medication. By integrating stress management techniques like yoga into your routine, your body becomes more efficient at using the food you eat and cooling down, thus lowering your grocery and medical bills. Not to mention you are just more fun to be around and then, who knows, maybe someone will even treat you to dinner. Check out yogatoday.com or freeyogaonline.com for classes that range from 20 minutes to an hour.

5. Integrate gentle ways to detox your body. Many people spend uber amounts of money on drastic detoxing or flying off to spas. The spa part I get, but for those of us who don’t have that option, there are great ways to do this at home. Check out my TV clip, posted under “Media Appearances” here on my blog for easy and effective ways to detox daily.

If the Steelers lose today, I may fall of the cliff. If they win, I’ll jump off in excitement. Either way, I’m making a move. I hope you will too…with just one simple change that will get you closer to your best, most healthy self.

Be well,

Ali