Food

Romantic Dinner on a Dime or a Last-Minute Valentine

A night out on the town for Valentine’s Day is a tad overrated. Not only do busy parents feel the pressure to find a babysitter and beat the crowds to the restaurant, but they also have a weighty tab to contend with at the end of the night. Or maybe you just forgot and need to pull a quick night of romance together.

Beat the Valentine Budget blues by preparing a quiet, yet romantic meal at home. This 850+ word article includes suggestions for a romantic dinner at home. Recipes and images are included.

Filed Under: 500-1000 words, Budget Living, Food, Gift Ideas, Holidays, Romance, Seasonal, Valentines, Winter Holidays

Good and Cheap Eats? How Healthy Food Choices and Frugality Can Coexist

It would seem that the healthy food is the expensive food. Most parents I know want to feed their children the best possible nutrition, but doing so can often be cost-prohibitive. Is it possible to feed a family healthy choices on a frugal budget? I believe it is — with a little know-how and savvy shopping.

At just under 1200 words, this article provides helpful suggestions for the parent who wants to feed her family healthy, budget-friendly food. Frugal recipes that kids will gobble up are also included.

Filed Under: 1000 - 1300 words, All reprints, Budget Living, Cooking with Kids, Food, Home Management, Nutrition

Wanna Be a Coupon Queen?

Years ago I would clip a coupon here or there and use them only for items that I would buy anyway. It was great justification to buy fancy or organic items. I didn’t see how clipping coupons really saved me any money since the generic was usually cheaper anyway. What I didn’t know was that there is a trick to using coupons wisely.

Since our family started shopping with coupons in a more effective way, we’ve reduced our grocery bill by about $200 a month! I have become a coupon queen, I guess.

Any grocery shopper can save big on food costs. With simple directions and lots of helpful links, this 1200 word article will equip your readers to win the Battle of the Budget. A 110-word sidebar is included.

Filed Under: Budget Living, Finances, Food, Home Management

Veg Out! How to Get Your Children to Eat Fruits and Vegetables

I recently had lunch with a registered dietician. I let her order for me! What better way to know that I was eating the right thing? Our conversation led to her dispelling many of the food myths I’d heard over the years. She conceded that nutrionists differ on everything but one thing – fruits and veggies. We need a lot of both, but most Americans are not eating enough.

Many a parent struggles to eat the right foods. How much greater is the challenge to feed our children what’s best. This article outlines creative and practical suggestions for parents to solve that dilemma. Parenting six young children of my own, I am all to familiar with the mantra, “Eat your veggies.” Illustrated here are some clever solutions, including a sidebar of helpful resources and recipes. (858 words + 190 word sidebar)

Filed Under: 500-1000 words, All reprints, Cooking with Kids, Food, Nutrition

Diary of a Grocery Geek: One Mom's Journey Toward Supermarket Savings

What would you think if I told you that I regularly pay 50 cents or less for a box of breakfast cereal? Or that I buy organic tomato paste for 5 cents? Or that I’ve reduced my family’s grocery spending from over $800 a month to less than $500? You might be wondering, “What planet is she living on?!”

Well, I’ve been on an incredible journey toward saving money at the supermarket. This article provides more than just anecdotal evidence. At 1238 words, this piece gives tried and true tips for families to follow in order to reduce their grocery spending. The accompanying sidebar provides a wealth of both online and print resources to help parents put food on the table all the while keeping money in the bank. One-time rights are available.

Filed Under: 1000 - 1300 words, All reprints, Budget Living, Finances, Food, Home Management

Cooking Out with the Kids

Graduations, Father’s Day, Fourth of July, Post-Baseball Game get-togethers, these are the events that signify summer. They are also occasions that scream for a BBQ. What a perfect time to do some cooking (out) with the kids! Featuring kid-friendly Fruit Sparkly Coolers, Cheesy Taters, Homemade Ranch Dip, Garlic Bread, a great Soy-Ginger Marinade, and Easy Ice Cream Sandwiches, this article covers all the bases. (One-time rights are available. Article word count is 683, additional sidebar is 135.)

Filed Under: 500-1000 words, Afterschool Enrichment, All reprints, Cooking with Kids, Food, Holidays, Party Ideas, Seasonal, Summer

Viva La Fiesta! A Cinco de Mayo Meal from the Kids' Kitchen

What kid doesn’t like Mexican food? Tacos, tostadas, tortillas — there’s something for everyone. And a family doesn’t have to pay a high price at a full-service restaurant or settle for the drive-thru pseudo-taco stand. Parents and kids can prepare easy Mexican food at home. And what better time to try it than Cinco de Mayo?

Featuring a brief history of Cinco de Mayo and enrichment activities as well as several kid-friendly recipes, this piece is sure to bring a festive flair to any home. (706 words)

Filed Under: 500-1000 words, All reprints, Cooking with Kids, Family-Friendly Activities, Food, Holidays, Seasonal, Spring

Summer Snack Attack? Make It Easy, Make It Healthy

Remember summer vacation and the endless trips to the pantry, the frig, the freezer in search of a snack? Kids can drive their parents to distraction trying to keep them fed during that three month hiatus called summertime. And if we’re not careful, our kids can consume 2 tons of Cocoa Covered Sugar Bombs and Cheesy MSG Puffies. The time has come to prepare for the snack attack!

This article presents easy and creative tips for parents to help their children learn good snacking habits. At 800 words, it explores nutrition, healthy pantry options, and implementing regular exercise into the summer schedule.

Filed Under: Food, Nutrition, Summer

Breakfast in Bed: Step By Step Tips for Dads and Kids

Sometimes Dads need a little nudge in the right direction. Especially when it comes to Mother’s Day. It’s not a birthday. It’s not an anniversary. It’s not Christmas. However, it is Mother’s Day, for pete’s sake! And most mothers desire a little acknowledgement for nine months of aches, pains, nausea, vomiting, not to mention whatever happened in the delivery room, and the years of diaper changes, nose wipes, and homework helps that follow.

At 948 words with a sidebar complete with checklist, this article offers that little bit of encouragement to Dad. Not only does it provide easy breakfast recipes for Dad and kids to prepare together, but it also suggests presentation ideas that will bring a smile and a surprise to any mom. All of this told in a light-hearted way.

Filed Under: Budget Living, Dads, Food, Gift Ideas, Mother's Day, Spring

Summertime….and the Cookin' is Easy

Summer is full of fun — and wild and crazy schedules. We parents are tempted to beat a path to the nearest fast food joint rather than hassle with cooking on hot days. But, there must be a better way.

Take one rotisserie chicken, add a few prepared ingredients, and voilà! a quick and easy dinner for four. At 521 words, this article presents a number of simple, quick, and delicious menu ideas based on prepared ingredients. Each menu’s ingredient list guarantees access to the quick check line. Now we’re cookin’!

Filed Under: 500-1000 words, All reprints, Food, Managing Mealtime series, Seasonal, Summer

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