1. Nurture Safe Friendships: This is the most important affair-preventer in my life.
No marriage can give you everything.
No marriage can give you everything. A husband is going to have interests that his wife will never care about like fishing, hunting, or golfing. So he's less likely to stray if he can find some good guy buddies with whom to fish, hunt, and golf.
2. Recognize the Drug: Depressives and addicts are especially prone to affairs because of the head rush that comes with infatuation. The spikes in dopamine and norepinephrine we experience upon connecting with someone new fools us into thinking that the sexy man or attractive woman at the bar holds the key to our nirvana and the end to our problems. This is the same as, say, the high from cocaine. Recognizing that that rush is not real, meaningful, or lasting, can help a married person to "just say no."
3. Keep Dating: I'm serious here. Visiting with your spouse with some regularity--just the two of you and no one else--will bring some very definite rewards to a marriage. By dating, you will learn how to talk to each other again.
In her book, "Mating in Captivity," Esther Perel urges a client to imagine her spouse as if she has just met him, to put him into that mysterious category again. This is really hard when you got a little one screaming, "Wipe me!" from the bathroom. However, when you can pull it off, I find her theory very effective.
4. Find a Creative Outlet: People get lured into emotional and physical affairs because the infatuation provides an exciting, stimulating place where they are energized.
So to stay affair-proof, you have to find other sources of stimulation and excitement. For me, my blog is that outlet. I can't wait to log on each day to see what all of my dear readers have to say. When I get overwhelmed by the domestic chaos of our lives, Beyond Blue provides me that outlet where I can create something new, where I can run away, however temporarily, from the stress.
5. Hang Out with Happy Couples: If you're hanging with a bunch of guys (or girls) that see nothing wrong with sleeping around, you are much more likely to do it yourself. The good news is that the opposite is also true. If you have a set of friends committed to their marriages, you will be less likely to cheat on your spouse.
6. Learn How to Fight: Wait before saying something really ugly, and make sure you weren't tired or hungry, or in a stressful situation. I'm not saying that you can't confront your spouse if you're tired, hungry, or stressed, because then we'd live in a silent world. But, it's a good idea to recognize situations that tend to accelerate arguments.
7. Be Nice and Listen: "Duh," you're saying to yourself. But think about it. This is the hardest part about marriage. Listening. Keeping your mouth closed when the other person is talking.
In my conversations with men and women who have had affairs, the number one reason for pursuing the affair was this: "She listened to me. I mattered to him."
8. Remember These Tools: Never forget that you have a toolbox of resources to draw on when you feel tempted by an extramarital affair. Here are some tools offered to me by those healing from affairs, insights to keep in mind when you feel that familiar head rush and are tempted to abandon logic for a thrill: Don't go there: Don't put yourself in a threatening situation. Skip the conference in Hawaii with the colleague who flirts with you. If you absolutely have to go, avoid all opportunities to be alone with him. You've got mail: When you don't know if your email crosses the line into appropriate language, send it to yourself first. Read it again, and ask yourself: would I feel comfortable showing this to my husband? Dress with intentions: One woman told me that she saved her lingerie for her husband, and wore the ratty old underwear to the high-school reunion where she'd see a flame from the past. Talk about your spouse: A guy friend told me that whenever he is alone with a woman he finds attractive and things are getting uncomfortable, he'll start talking about his wife--what her hobbies are, and how much he loves her. It immediately kills the mood
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
6 gas saving myths
6 gas-saving myths
Sure you want to save gas, but there's a lot of bad advice on how to do it. Some of it makes no difference, and some of it can wind up costing you.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- With gasoline prices hitting record levels, it seems everyone has a tip on how to save fuel. Much of the advice is well-intentioned, but in the end, much of it won't lower your gas bill.
Here's a look at a few misconceptions:
#1. Fill your tank in the morning
You may have heard that it's best to fill your gas tank in the early morning while the fuel is cold. The theory goes that fluids are more dense at lower temperatures, so a gallon of cold gas actually has more gas molecules than a gallon of warmer gas.
But the temperature of the gasoline as it comes out of the nozzle varies little during the course of the day, according to Consumer Reports, so there's little, if any, benefit, to getting up early to pump gas.
#2. Change your air filter
Maintaining your car is important, but a clean air filter isn't going to save you any gas. Modern engines have computer sensors that automatically adjust the fuel-air mixture as an increasingly clogged air filter chokes off the engine's air supply.
While engine power will decrease slightly as the air filter becomes clogged, a lack of performance or an increase in fuel consumption will be negligible, Consumer Reports says.
#3. Use premium fuel
With prices already over $4.00 a gallon, premium gasoline is a hard sell these days. But a lot of drivers think because their owners' manual recommends premium, they'll get better fuel economy with it. Really, they may be paying more money for nothing.
Newer cars for which premium is "recommended" - but not "required" - won't suffer with regular fuel. Modern engine technology comes to the rescue again. When sensors detect regular instead of premium fuel, the system automatically adjusts spark plug timing. The result is a slight reduction in peak horsepower - really, you'll never notice - but little or no reduction in fuel economy.
Always check your owner's manual before putting anything into your car. And if your car runs badly on regular, by all means, go back to the pricey stuff. (See editor's note at bottom)
#4. Pump up your tires
Proper tire inflation is important for a number of reasons. Under-inflated tires are bad for handling and can even cause a crash. Improper tire inflation also causes tires to wear out faster and to heat up more, which could trigger a dangerous high-speed blow-out.
According to on-the-road driving tests by both Consumer Reports and auto information site Edmunds.com, underinflated tires reduce fuel economy, so proper inflation is key.
But you should never over-inflate your tires. They'll get you slightly better fuel economy because there will be less tread touching the road, reducing friction. But that means less grip for braking and turning. The added risk of a crash isn't worth the extra mile a gallon you might gain.
#5. To A/C or not A/C
There's no question air-conditioning makes extra work for the engine, increasing fuel use. But car air conditioners are much more efficient today than they used to be. In around-town driving, using the A/C will drop fuel economy by about a mile a gallon.
Meanwhile, driving at higher speeds with the windows down greatly increases aerodynamic drag. As speed increases, drag becomes more of an issue, making A/C use the more efficient choice at high speeds.
At most speeds and in most vehicles, A/C use drains slightly more fuel than driving with the windows down, contends David Champion, head of auto testing for Consumer Reports. "My final take on is that it's very close," says Phil Reed, consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com. "It's hard to measure the difference and every vehicle is different."
The best choice - if temperature and humidity allow - is to keep the windows rolled up and to turn the A/C compressor off. You can keep the fans running to blow in air from the outside, but your car will be as aerodynamic as possible while still letting you breathe. You will save gas, but the fuel economy improvement will be slight.
#6. Bolt-ons and pour-ins
Before you buy a device that's supposed to make your car more fuel-efficient or pour in an allegedly gas-saving additive, ask yourself this: Don't you think oil and car companies aren't doing everything they can to beat their competitors?
If BP (BP) could add something to its gasoline that made cars go farther on a gallon, cars would be lining up at the company's pumps. Sure, people would burn their fuel-saving BP gas more slowly, but then they'd drive right past rivals' gas stations to come back to BP for more. BP stations could even charge more for their gas and still sell tons of the stuff.
So if there really was an additive that made gas burn up more slowly, it wouldn't be sold over the Internet one bottle at a time.
Likewise, car companies are already spending big bucks to increase fuel mileage. If General Motors could make its cars go significantly farther on a gallon simply by putting a device into the fuel line, don't think for a second it wouldn't be doing that. GM's car sales would go through the roof.
"There are a number of these gas-saving devices that are generally useless," says Champion.
But drivers who try them will swear they work. In reality, it's probably an automotive placebo effect, says Reed. Buy one of these devices or additives, and you're like to pay extreme attention to your fuel economy and how you drive.
Sure you want to save gas, but there's a lot of bad advice on how to do it. Some of it makes no difference, and some of it can wind up costing you.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- With gasoline prices hitting record levels, it seems everyone has a tip on how to save fuel. Much of the advice is well-intentioned, but in the end, much of it won't lower your gas bill.
Here's a look at a few misconceptions:
#1. Fill your tank in the morning
You may have heard that it's best to fill your gas tank in the early morning while the fuel is cold. The theory goes that fluids are more dense at lower temperatures, so a gallon of cold gas actually has more gas molecules than a gallon of warmer gas.
But the temperature of the gasoline as it comes out of the nozzle varies little during the course of the day, according to Consumer Reports, so there's little, if any, benefit, to getting up early to pump gas.
#2. Change your air filter
Maintaining your car is important, but a clean air filter isn't going to save you any gas. Modern engines have computer sensors that automatically adjust the fuel-air mixture as an increasingly clogged air filter chokes off the engine's air supply.
While engine power will decrease slightly as the air filter becomes clogged, a lack of performance or an increase in fuel consumption will be negligible, Consumer Reports says.
#3. Use premium fuel
With prices already over $4.00 a gallon, premium gasoline is a hard sell these days. But a lot of drivers think because their owners' manual recommends premium, they'll get better fuel economy with it. Really, they may be paying more money for nothing.
Newer cars for which premium is "recommended" - but not "required" - won't suffer with regular fuel. Modern engine technology comes to the rescue again. When sensors detect regular instead of premium fuel, the system automatically adjusts spark plug timing. The result is a slight reduction in peak horsepower - really, you'll never notice - but little or no reduction in fuel economy.
Always check your owner's manual before putting anything into your car. And if your car runs badly on regular, by all means, go back to the pricey stuff. (See editor's note at bottom)
#4. Pump up your tires
Proper tire inflation is important for a number of reasons. Under-inflated tires are bad for handling and can even cause a crash. Improper tire inflation also causes tires to wear out faster and to heat up more, which could trigger a dangerous high-speed blow-out.
According to on-the-road driving tests by both Consumer Reports and auto information site Edmunds.com, underinflated tires reduce fuel economy, so proper inflation is key.
But you should never over-inflate your tires. They'll get you slightly better fuel economy because there will be less tread touching the road, reducing friction. But that means less grip for braking and turning. The added risk of a crash isn't worth the extra mile a gallon you might gain.
#5. To A/C or not A/C
There's no question air-conditioning makes extra work for the engine, increasing fuel use. But car air conditioners are much more efficient today than they used to be. In around-town driving, using the A/C will drop fuel economy by about a mile a gallon.
Meanwhile, driving at higher speeds with the windows down greatly increases aerodynamic drag. As speed increases, drag becomes more of an issue, making A/C use the more efficient choice at high speeds.
At most speeds and in most vehicles, A/C use drains slightly more fuel than driving with the windows down, contends David Champion, head of auto testing for Consumer Reports. "My final take on is that it's very close," says Phil Reed, consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com. "It's hard to measure the difference and every vehicle is different."
The best choice - if temperature and humidity allow - is to keep the windows rolled up and to turn the A/C compressor off. You can keep the fans running to blow in air from the outside, but your car will be as aerodynamic as possible while still letting you breathe. You will save gas, but the fuel economy improvement will be slight.
#6. Bolt-ons and pour-ins
Before you buy a device that's supposed to make your car more fuel-efficient or pour in an allegedly gas-saving additive, ask yourself this: Don't you think oil and car companies aren't doing everything they can to beat their competitors?
If BP (BP) could add something to its gasoline that made cars go farther on a gallon, cars would be lining up at the company's pumps. Sure, people would burn their fuel-saving BP gas more slowly, but then they'd drive right past rivals' gas stations to come back to BP for more. BP stations could even charge more for their gas and still sell tons of the stuff.
So if there really was an additive that made gas burn up more slowly, it wouldn't be sold over the Internet one bottle at a time.
Likewise, car companies are already spending big bucks to increase fuel mileage. If General Motors could make its cars go significantly farther on a gallon simply by putting a device into the fuel line, don't think for a second it wouldn't be doing that. GM's car sales would go through the roof.
"There are a number of these gas-saving devices that are generally useless," says Champion.
But drivers who try them will swear they work. In reality, it's probably an automotive placebo effect, says Reed. Buy one of these devices or additives, and you're like to pay extreme attention to your fuel economy and how you drive.
Fill your grocery cart without busting your budget
(MSNBC) Food prices are soaring. Find out how to save without sacrificing nutrition.
The weekly trip to the grocery store is getting more expensive and there’s no relief in sight, experts say. Many shoppers are wondering how to save on their food bills, without sacrificing nutrition.
There are some strategies you can follow to help avoid grocery sticker shock, says Phil Lempert, TODAY food editor. Here's what he suggests:
List it:
Shopping with a list can save you 10 percent on unnecessary items like junk food.
Buy in bulk:
But don’t buy more than you’ll use. Waste is costly too.
Simpler is better:
The more processed the food, the more it costs—and, generally, the less healthy it is.
Dodge impulse traps:
Stores are set up to spur impulse buying. Focus on staples such as milk, eggs, bread and canned or frozen veggies and avoid tempting cookies and cakes in the deli section.
Use coupons:
Store discount programs and supercenters such as Wal-mart and Costco can also help generate significant savings. By being flexible and planning meals around what’s on sale, you can lower your grocery bills. “To save money, you need to switch brands and types of foods,” substituting less expensive meats or fish, and trading beans and eggs for meat, says Phil Lempert.
--------------------------------------
Milk
Buy store brands
Milk’s price has climbed 13 percent in the past year, according to the USDA, so it’s worth saving as much as a dollar on a store-brand gallon. Even at 25 cents a cup, milk is loaded with calcium, magnesium and Vitamin D so it's still a pretty good deal. As always, choose 1 percent or skim milk, which is the same price as whole milk and healthier for your heart.
Try powdered or evaporated
To lower the cost and retain the nutritional value, consider powdered versions. If you don’t like the taste, add the reconstituted milk to mashed potatoes, soups or casseroles.
Rather than cutting back on healthy staples, click on the items at the left to learn how to get the most nutrition bang for your grocery buck.
----------------------------------------
Eggs
Go for bulk
A dozen eggs costs 75 cents more than it did two years ago, so seek sales and buy eggs in economical 18- or 24-packs if you’re planning to use a lot of them. Even if you don't finish them quickly, eggs are still good for up to a month after the expiration date. Be aware that while organic eggs have the same levels of cholesterol and nutrition as regular eggs, they can cost up to twice as much.
Not just for breakfast
At an estimated 20 cents a serving, eggs make for a much cheaper source of protein than meat. Substitute frittatas, omelets and other such egg-based foods for meat at main meals. There’s controversy over how many eggs a week can be eaten safely, but nutrition experts say an egg a day can be part of a heart-healthy diet. If you're watching your cholesterol, avoid the yolk and just use the whites.
-----------------------------------------
Pasta
Buy Italian
Brands from Italy such as Torino and La Molisana are often cheaper because the Italian government subsidizes pasta, and they’re just as healthy as domestic brands.
Stay dry
Fresh pasta can cost twice as much and is no better nutritionally than the good quality dried varieties.
Make your own sauce
Buy a can of crushed tomatoes, then add herbs and a little olive oil. You’ll have a quick-and-easy sauce that’s half the price of prepared brands and lower in calories because it isn’t sweetened with heavy corn syrup.
-----------------------------------------
Bread
Buy second day
With a 15 percent price hike in the past year and a short shelf life, bread is no bargain. But stores want it sold before it spoils, so try to time your purchase with clearance price-slashing. You can stock up and freeze it for later use.
Change it up
Whole wheat bread’s fiber and grains make it the choice of nutritionists, but it can cost up to a dollar more than white bread. If the cost is a problem, consider alternating whole wheat with white bread that is enriched with folic acid.
------------------------------------------
Cereal
Go basic
Pick old fashioned oatmeal or cornflakes over fancy commercial cereals. Oatmeal typically contains fewer additives, can help lower bad cholesterol and is less expensive per pound than higher-priced cereals.
Choose store brands
You’ll save around a dollar a box and get the same nutritional value as a more expensive brand.
------------------------------------------
Rice
Choose raw
You’ll get more for your money than with precooked brands such as instant rice.
Buy brown
Though it costs about 25 percent more, brown beats white for its valuable fiber and fatty acids. Brown rice will turn rancid over time, so refrigerate it for storage up to six months. By purchasing brown rice in bulk and refrigerating it, you can save significantly.
Try barley
If rice prices have skyrocketed in your area, consider dry barley. It's packed with even more nutrients than brown rice and is about 40 percent cheaper. Use it like rice in soups or casseroles. Toss it into a salad with tomatoes and almonds.
-------------------------------------------
Produce
Be seasonal
Produce is the most flavorful and economical when it is in season. In the summer, corn, peaches and plums are most plentiful, so that’s when they’re cheapest — and also at their most fresh and nutritious. For a guide to what’s in season throughout the year, visit the Produce for Better Health Foundation Web site. Click here for the seasonal list.
Choose locally grown
In general, produce grown closer to you will cost less and be fresher because it has traveled less. The same isn’t true for organic produce though; it’ll cost up to twice as much no matter where it’s grown.
Think frozen
Frozen produce is preserved at its nutritional peak, yet sells for a quarter of what it costs fresh. So stock up on frozen to save money and reap nutritional benefits.
Pick canned
Canning also preserves nutrition and cuts costs — just beware of fruits packed in heavy syrup or veggies soaked in sodium. Look for reduced sugar or salt options, or drain and rinse items before serving.
----------------------------------------------
Fish
Don’t be a fish snob
Lower-end fish like catfish and mullet can offer cost savings over the likes of grouper or salmon — without sacrificing nutrients.
Fresh isn’t all that
Once caught, all fish is iced. So fish on the frozen aisle is really fresher and cheaper than what the store thaws and peddles as fresh.
Pick canned
Canned tuna or herring is cheaper than fresh or frozen and equally packed with healthy omega-3s. Varieties canned in water are lower in fat and calories than those packed in oil.
----------------------------------------------
Meat
Buy whole and store
Skin and de-bone a whole chicken to save between $1.50 and $4 a pound. Or buy 10 chicken breasts and freeze them in individual bags, but use them within a year before freezer burn sets in.
Rethink your cut
With beef, for example, downgrade from tenderloin and rib-eye cuts to chuck or shanks, a good choice because it’s lean. Less expensive cuts should be cooked longer to maximize tenderness.
Marinate it
Tenderize and add flavor to your less expensive cuts by soaking them in marinade. But skip sugary store-bought marinades and make your own with vinegar and tomato for more tender, healthful meat.
Stretch it
Make your meat go further by slicing it into stews or salads. That way you get your veggies too.
------------------------------------------------
Beans
Boost your intake
Whether canned or dried, beans pack valuable protein, fiber, folate and iron for a cost effective $1 per 16-ounce can or bag, often much less when on sale. They’re a healthy substitution for, or addition to, meat in any hot dish or salad.
Save time
If you don’t have time to soak dried beans overnight and then cook them for an hour or more, canned varieties are as nutritious and take only minutes to heat. Black beans or lentils can be added to pasta sauces, soups and casseroles for an affordable, nutritious meal. Chickpeas add low-fat protein to green salads.
The weekly trip to the grocery store is getting more expensive and there’s no relief in sight, experts say. Many shoppers are wondering how to save on their food bills, without sacrificing nutrition.
There are some strategies you can follow to help avoid grocery sticker shock, says Phil Lempert, TODAY food editor. Here's what he suggests:
List it:
Shopping with a list can save you 10 percent on unnecessary items like junk food.
Buy in bulk:
But don’t buy more than you’ll use. Waste is costly too.
Simpler is better:
The more processed the food, the more it costs—and, generally, the less healthy it is.
Dodge impulse traps:
Stores are set up to spur impulse buying. Focus on staples such as milk, eggs, bread and canned or frozen veggies and avoid tempting cookies and cakes in the deli section.
Use coupons:
Store discount programs and supercenters such as Wal-mart and Costco can also help generate significant savings. By being flexible and planning meals around what’s on sale, you can lower your grocery bills. “To save money, you need to switch brands and types of foods,” substituting less expensive meats or fish, and trading beans and eggs for meat, says Phil Lempert.
--------------------------------------
Milk
Buy store brands
Milk’s price has climbed 13 percent in the past year, according to the USDA, so it’s worth saving as much as a dollar on a store-brand gallon. Even at 25 cents a cup, milk is loaded with calcium, magnesium and Vitamin D so it's still a pretty good deal. As always, choose 1 percent or skim milk, which is the same price as whole milk and healthier for your heart.
Try powdered or evaporated
To lower the cost and retain the nutritional value, consider powdered versions. If you don’t like the taste, add the reconstituted milk to mashed potatoes, soups or casseroles.
Rather than cutting back on healthy staples, click on the items at the left to learn how to get the most nutrition bang for your grocery buck.
----------------------------------------
Eggs
Go for bulk
A dozen eggs costs 75 cents more than it did two years ago, so seek sales and buy eggs in economical 18- or 24-packs if you’re planning to use a lot of them. Even if you don't finish them quickly, eggs are still good for up to a month after the expiration date. Be aware that while organic eggs have the same levels of cholesterol and nutrition as regular eggs, they can cost up to twice as much.
Not just for breakfast
At an estimated 20 cents a serving, eggs make for a much cheaper source of protein than meat. Substitute frittatas, omelets and other such egg-based foods for meat at main meals. There’s controversy over how many eggs a week can be eaten safely, but nutrition experts say an egg a day can be part of a heart-healthy diet. If you're watching your cholesterol, avoid the yolk and just use the whites.
-----------------------------------------
Pasta
Buy Italian
Brands from Italy such as Torino and La Molisana are often cheaper because the Italian government subsidizes pasta, and they’re just as healthy as domestic brands.
Stay dry
Fresh pasta can cost twice as much and is no better nutritionally than the good quality dried varieties.
Make your own sauce
Buy a can of crushed tomatoes, then add herbs and a little olive oil. You’ll have a quick-and-easy sauce that’s half the price of prepared brands and lower in calories because it isn’t sweetened with heavy corn syrup.
-----------------------------------------
Bread
Buy second day
With a 15 percent price hike in the past year and a short shelf life, bread is no bargain. But stores want it sold before it spoils, so try to time your purchase with clearance price-slashing. You can stock up and freeze it for later use.
Change it up
Whole wheat bread’s fiber and grains make it the choice of nutritionists, but it can cost up to a dollar more than white bread. If the cost is a problem, consider alternating whole wheat with white bread that is enriched with folic acid.
------------------------------------------
Cereal
Go basic
Pick old fashioned oatmeal or cornflakes over fancy commercial cereals. Oatmeal typically contains fewer additives, can help lower bad cholesterol and is less expensive per pound than higher-priced cereals.
Choose store brands
You’ll save around a dollar a box and get the same nutritional value as a more expensive brand.
------------------------------------------
Rice
Choose raw
You’ll get more for your money than with precooked brands such as instant rice.
Buy brown
Though it costs about 25 percent more, brown beats white for its valuable fiber and fatty acids. Brown rice will turn rancid over time, so refrigerate it for storage up to six months. By purchasing brown rice in bulk and refrigerating it, you can save significantly.
Try barley
If rice prices have skyrocketed in your area, consider dry barley. It's packed with even more nutrients than brown rice and is about 40 percent cheaper. Use it like rice in soups or casseroles. Toss it into a salad with tomatoes and almonds.
-------------------------------------------
Produce
Be seasonal
Produce is the most flavorful and economical when it is in season. In the summer, corn, peaches and plums are most plentiful, so that’s when they’re cheapest — and also at their most fresh and nutritious. For a guide to what’s in season throughout the year, visit the Produce for Better Health Foundation Web site. Click here for the seasonal list.
Choose locally grown
In general, produce grown closer to you will cost less and be fresher because it has traveled less. The same isn’t true for organic produce though; it’ll cost up to twice as much no matter where it’s grown.
Think frozen
Frozen produce is preserved at its nutritional peak, yet sells for a quarter of what it costs fresh. So stock up on frozen to save money and reap nutritional benefits.
Pick canned
Canning also preserves nutrition and cuts costs — just beware of fruits packed in heavy syrup or veggies soaked in sodium. Look for reduced sugar or salt options, or drain and rinse items before serving.
----------------------------------------------
Fish
Don’t be a fish snob
Lower-end fish like catfish and mullet can offer cost savings over the likes of grouper or salmon — without sacrificing nutrients.
Fresh isn’t all that
Once caught, all fish is iced. So fish on the frozen aisle is really fresher and cheaper than what the store thaws and peddles as fresh.
Pick canned
Canned tuna or herring is cheaper than fresh or frozen and equally packed with healthy omega-3s. Varieties canned in water are lower in fat and calories than those packed in oil.
----------------------------------------------
Meat
Buy whole and store
Skin and de-bone a whole chicken to save between $1.50 and $4 a pound. Or buy 10 chicken breasts and freeze them in individual bags, but use them within a year before freezer burn sets in.
Rethink your cut
With beef, for example, downgrade from tenderloin and rib-eye cuts to chuck or shanks, a good choice because it’s lean. Less expensive cuts should be cooked longer to maximize tenderness.
Marinate it
Tenderize and add flavor to your less expensive cuts by soaking them in marinade. But skip sugary store-bought marinades and make your own with vinegar and tomato for more tender, healthful meat.
Stretch it
Make your meat go further by slicing it into stews or salads. That way you get your veggies too.
------------------------------------------------
Beans
Boost your intake
Whether canned or dried, beans pack valuable protein, fiber, folate and iron for a cost effective $1 per 16-ounce can or bag, often much less when on sale. They’re a healthy substitution for, or addition to, meat in any hot dish or salad.
Save time
If you don’t have time to soak dried beans overnight and then cook them for an hour or more, canned varieties are as nutritious and take only minutes to heat. Black beans or lentils can be added to pasta sauces, soups and casseroles for an affordable, nutritious meal. Chickpeas add low-fat protein to green salads.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)