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midwest FEBRUARY PRODUCE guide

1/20/2021

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Yes, it's still cold, but the promise of spring is closer for us Midwesterners!  Some of February's produce is the same as January, but this month we have the lovely addition of Endive and Radicchio.

Want to learn more than what's on the images below?  After clicking the button below, I'll send you the full video training PLUS 2 recipes that use these seasonal ingredients.
VIDEO TRAINING & SEASONAL RECIPES
Seasonal produce guide midwest, seasonal produce guide february, seasonal produce guide, midwest seasonal produce, midwest food, midwest foodie blog, midwest food recipes, midwest food main dishes, ohio food recipes, ohio food recipes taste of home
Seasonal produce guide midwest, seasonal produce guide february, seasonal produce guide, midwest seasonal produce, midwest food, midwest foodie blog, midwest food recipes, midwest food main dishes, ohio food recipes, ohio food recipes taste of home
Seasonal produce guide midwest, seasonal produce guide february, seasonal produce guide, midwest seasonal produce, midwest food, midwest foodie blog, midwest food recipes, midwest food main dishes, ohio food recipes, ohio food recipes taste of home
Seasonal produce guide midwest, seasonal produce guide february, seasonal produce guide, midwest seasonal produce, midwest food, midwest foodie blog, midwest food recipes, midwest food main dishes, ohio food recipes, ohio food recipes taste of home, radicchio recipes, radicchio salad, radicchio al forno, radicchio recipes pasta,
Seasonal produce guide midwest, seasonal produce guide february, seasonal produce guide, midwest seasonal produce, midwest food, midwest foodie blog, midwest food recipes, midwest food main dishes, ohio food recipes, ohio food recipes taste of home

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Yes, it's still cold, but the promise of spring is closer for us Midwesterners!  Some of February's produce is the same as January, but this month we have the lovely addition of Endive and Radicchio. Seasonal produce guide midwest, seasonal produce guide february, seasonal produce guide, midwest seasonal produce, midwest food, midwest foodie blog, midwest food recipes, midwest food main dishes, ohio food recipes, ohio food recipes taste of home
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improve your nutrition without cutting calories

1/16/2021

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Seriously, it can be done!  Eating healthy is NOT just about calories and you CAN overhaul your nutrition without starving.  What you are going to learn today is the easiest way easiest way to improve your nutrition.

First of all, if you are new to the realm of cooking, and you're thinking, "I only have like two recipes that I know how to make", I promise you that skill of being able to cook and not need a recipe, it will come with time. But in the meantime, I want you to rely on recipes.  There is no shame in that.  Because really, they're just serving as inspiration for you. They're teaching you about new food pairings about new spice blends. They're teaching you all of those basic skills. And then over time, once you get better at making those tried and true recipes, you will finally start to feel like a home chef or a foodie.

Now on to my actual tip that I have for you.  You need to eat seasonally.  Think back to summertime, I'm assuming that every single one of you has probably had a homegrown tomato, and you know how much better that tastes, then which then the tomatoes that you buy at the grocery store. I think we all know that right? Now part of that does have to do with like the dirt that the tomato was grown in. It does have to do with that. But the biggest part is that that tomato was picked off the plant at its peak of freshness. What does that mean? Well, it means that that tomato had as much time as it needed to gain all of the nutrients and vitamins and minerals from the dirt from the sun from everything from the water. It had all of that time to get as nutritious as it can.

So obviously, you don't have to make your entire diet out of seasonal produce, but if you include at least some of the things that are seasonal, you can totally increase the nutritional value in your diet WITHOUT without having to take any extra time, or really take away any calories because who wants to be on a diet? No one.

The other reason that it is so great to eat seasonally is because it saves you money.  Why?  Because it is so much harder to grow things when they are not in season when they are just not naturally growing.

Get monthly seasonal recipes:

LEARN MORE
So I know I threw a lot at you. And especially if you are one of those people who is new to cooking, you're probably thinking, "Oh my gosh, this is a lot".  This website (US only) allows you to search by your specific area and by the month to see what's in season:

www.seasonalfoodguide.org

You can search on Pinterest or Instagram for recipes that include seasonal ingredients, but in my opinion, I think that ends up becoming a major time suck, because I don't know about you, but when I go on Pinterest, I don't end up doing what I went on there for... I end up like designing my dream house or renovating my laundry room... Or if I'm on Instagram, I get sucked into videos of chickens.

So instead of wasting your time researching seasonal recipes, I recommend having a trusted source on hand.  I've created this exact thing actually, a seasonal recipe membership where every single month you get 15 new recipes that are completely seasonal.

This recipe membership is only $7 a month (and you can get your first month free) PLUS you get a video training that covers all the produce that is in season, and it gives you tips on how to store and prepare those items.

This recipe membership is for you if you are someone who is just starting out in the kitchen. All have detailed instructions on how to create them, and they have beautiful pictures. And the recipes are just delicious. 

​Get your first month FREE:

GET DISCOUNT CODE
Learn how to eat healthy without counting calories, how to eat healthy, save money on healthy food, save money on healthy groceries, how to eat more vegetables, how to eat healthy, how to eat clean on a budget, how to improve nutrition.
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2019 foodie friend holiday gift guide

11/25/2019

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Fit foodie finds foodie holiday gift guide. Best gifts for foodie under $85. Click for foodie shopping list
Somehow...  the holidays are already here.  This means you are super busy and probably stressed, so let's just get you straight to the "add to cart" button.  And yes, most of these are Amazon items to make your life easier!  

​Here's 15 of my top picks for your foodie friend sorted by price, with a couple "big spends" all the way at the bottom.

UNDER $25

organic spice set ($18):
Spices can make or break a dish.  I buy Simply Organic spices off Amazon all the time and have been very impressed by them.  This specific set has "uncommon" spices that your friend will most likely NOT have already!
CSA shopping tote ($20):
Is your friend a member of a CSA?  If so, they'll be the trendiest member with this organic cotton reusable bag.
gravy whisk ($13):
When you're making a gravy or deglazing a pan, you want as much of the whisk scraping the good stuff off the bottom of your pan.  This one does that perfectly!
cute coffee and collagen mug ($22):
Does your friend use collagen peptides in their coffee?  Then this is perfect for them!
fish spatula ($14):
No, you don't have to use this JUST for fish, but the super thin bendy blade is super useful for flipping delicate foods like fish or fritters.  It's also useful for stuck items because it's metal and super strong!

under $35

santoku knife ($30):
Most people have a chef knife, but few people have santoku knives.  These are special because they have divots on the sides of the knife to reduce "suction" of food sticking to the blade.
electric salt and pepper grinder ($30):
My husband got these for us and I have to admit, I was a little skeptical at first.  But think about it, how easy would it be to have a one handed grinder when it comes time to season the second side of a raw steak?
mortar and pestle ($30):
Does your friend grow their own herbs?  If so, this is a great tool to grind those fresh herbs with some coarse salt to make delicious rubs for meat!

UNDER $50

knife sharpener ($30):
Sharp knives are the most critical part of a kitchen.  And the reality is, the sharper they are, the safer they are.  This is the ceramic sharpener my hubby uses to sharpen my knives and we have gotten this as gifts for our family members!
food dehydrator ($40):
Does your foodie friend seem to have EVERYTHING already?  I doubt they have a food dehydrator!  This is the same one I have that I received as a gift a few years back.  Kale chips are super easy to make with it!
cast iron dutch oven ($40):
This thing is the trick to my crispy chicken thighs and was a present I received last year.  The high sides and lid help to prevent splattery messes!  It can also be transferred from the stove right to the oven!

UNDER $85

Snapware glass containers ($57):
Convince your foodie friend to get rid of their plastic containers with these leak proof Pyrex containers.  These are what I trust our leftovers in when I need to reheat them in a microwave.
huge Calphalon skillet ($80):
All our stainless cookware is by Calphalon and I absolutely adore them.  This is what I got for my mom (and myself) last year as a Christmas gift.  They're super indestructible and I love that this one has a lid!
KitchenAid immersion blender ($60):
This is a kitchen item that doesn't get used often, but without it I wouldn't be able to make some of my favorite things.  I use my immersion blender to make homemade mayo, tomato bisque, blend coconut milk, make a quick salsa, etc.

BIG SPENDS

CSA membership ($ depends):
I am a big advocate for Community Supported Agriculture.  If you happen to be in the Dayton OH area, here's two that I use myself (Mile Creek Farm & Three Trees Farm).  If you are not, here's a website that can help you find one:  www.farmmatch.com

Have others to shop for?  Check out my other gift guides:

fit friend
green living

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foodie gift ideas under $85. Click for 15 foodie gifts for 2019 holiday season.
Click for 15 food lover gift basket ideas for the 2019 holiday season. fit foodie gift guide.
Fit foodie finds foodie holiday gift guide. Best gifts for foodie under $85. Click for foodie shopping list
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how our deep freezer changed our lives

3/24/2019

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Learn deep freezer organization tips to help with meal planning and healthy eating. Get better at meal planning on a budget by using a deep freezer to buy meat in bulk! #liftyourlifewithlaura #eathealthy #deepfreezer #eatprotein #diettips #diet #healthyonabudget
I know, that sounds a bit extreme right?  A deep freezer changing your life?  Well, it did for us.

Years ago when I started my fitness journey, I learned the importance of protein in a muscle building diet.  In my opinion, meat is the best way to get protein because it has all the amino acids your body needs.  I am a true believer that humans were designed to eat meat (please do not take offense to this if you are a vegan or vegetarian).  Meat also gives you more protein for less calories than most plant based options can give you.  Anyway, I knew that meat was an important part of my diet, but I also knew it was the most expensive part. 
 

​I am an avid Costco shopper, so our regular freezer would get full FAST.  My husband is also a hunter, so once the freezer was full of venison, there was basically no room for anything else...  Not even a frozen pizza!

After a few months of deliberating, I finally convinced my husband to get on board with a deep freezer.  
It was about a $300 investment up front, and it was a pain to get it into our basement because of our skinny stairs, but it was totally worth it.  We even loved it so much that we moved it to our next house!

how to organize your deep freezer

Let me preface this organization part by stating that our deep freezer is ONLY used for meat.  Yes, only meat.  Yes, we DO have that much meat to store. Remember how I said that I am an avid Costco shopper and have a hunter husband?  Well, in addition to those two budget friendly meat sources, we also belong to a few meat CSAs.  In my opinion, buying meat in bulk from a CSA is the absolute BEST option when it comes to getting high quality meat that doesn't break the bank.  By buying directly from the farmer, you avoid the middle man.  Buy buying in bulk you save even more money.  By buying local, you're helping out a small business and doing you part to make a difference in the world.  You can read more about the number crunching I did about CSAs in this article.  

SO, the ability to BUY AND STORE MEAT IN BULK is why a deep freezer is so life changing.

Maybe this will sound like you: You are trying to eat healthy, so your meals are centered around a protein, vegetable and/or starch.  Meat is the most expensive part of your meal, so it seems like it's the hardest thing to keep on hand, especially when you are limited to only a small freezer.  You plan your meals based off what meat you buy at the store every single week, maybe even multiple times a week.  You worry about those small sized packages going bad in the fridge if your social plans change throughout the week (like going out to eat unexpectedly), etc.  Maybe you can store some bulk items in your small freezer, but you quickly run out of space and get frustrated. 

With a deep freezer, all you would need to do is take a trip down to the basement (or wherever you put it) and it's like you have a fully stocked meat counter at your fingertips.  Sound nice?  I promise, the investment up front will pay off in the long run both financially and mentally.  


On to the organization part.  Our deep freezer is 7.0 cubic feet...  That's BIG.  Luckily, it came with two baskets that slide across the top rail.  These baskets were a big selling point for the freezer because it helps to keep all the small items from falling down into the depths of the freezer.  I will say though, my freezer is not the best organized at the moment and some extra bins would be nice!  Maybe that will be another blog post some day?  I think it will!
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Currently, I store small items in the two sliding bins.  One contains breakfast meats (bacon from Costco, sausage from CSAs) and smaller cuts from our CSA, while the other contains smaller cuts of meat that I have portioned out on my own (either from CSAs or Costco).  The bottom of the freezer is where things are currently the most disorganized and where I do need to improve!  What is down at the bottom is venison (from my husband hunting), large cuts from our CSA, and bags of seafood from Costco.  Ideally, I would have shallow stacking bins that I could pull out easily and see my entire stock.  But like I said, that organization overhaul will be a post for another time!

main takeaways:

If you struggle to eat healthy because you feel like time is working against you and that making multiple trips to the store in a week is just NOT convenient (it's not, no shame there) then I strongly urge you to consider a deep freezer BECAUSE:

  • it will save you money in the long run
  • it allows you to keep healthy options on hand at all times
  • it gives you less excuses to eat out or rely on fast food
  • it lets you buy in bulk which is better for the environment and your wallet
  • and because it takes some meal planning stress away

Who doesn't want all those things?  Do you already have and love your deep freezer?  Comment below if you have any organization tips!

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Learn food storage organization to save time when cooking dinner and meal prepping. Save time and money by buying in bulk and keeping health food on hand.
Eat healthy on a budget with a deep freezer. Learn how to eat more protein daily by meal planning with a deep freezer. #liftyourlifewithlaura #eathealthy #deepfreezer #eatprotein #diettips #diet #healthyonabudget
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How to detox your fridge

3/22/2019

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How to detox your fridge and start your unprocessed food diet. Learn how to spring clean your fridge and eliminate toxins from your home! #liftyourlifewithlaura #detox #springcleaning #springcleaningtips #fridgecleanout #cleankitchen
What is the central hub of your home? Your kitchen right? And what’s the most visited place in the kitchen?

Dishwasher? No (I wish)... 

Sink? No... (unfortunately)

​Fridge? Yup, the fridge.

Your fridge can can be a source of amazing fuel for your family, but it can also be a source of... germs, stress, overwhelm and potentially expired and processed food. Here’s my tips on how to “spring clean” your fridge so that it helps you along your journey of unprocessed eating!

1. get in the zone

The first thing you need to do is accept the fact that this might be a very big change for you and your family. Emptying out a fridge and only keeping the good stuff is hard and can be emotional. So, I ask you to turn up your favorite music and plan at least half a day to embark on this journey and just get excited!  Yes... cleaning out the fridge is a lot of work, but it will be so worth it in the end! Being an appliance we see and use multiple times a day, it’s easy to overlook what piles up in it and just let it become the norm.

So, maybe this idea of clean eating is new to you, maybe it’s not. Either way, the health benefits you will gain from it cannot be found in any other health habit.

2. empty it out

Out with the old and in with the new right? You can’t start fresh without seeing all you have to work with. A lot of times, we get frustrated with our fridges because they just seem to fill up so fast! The reality is, they are probably just poorly organized and full of things we don’t need...

I am probably the biggest anti-food-waster out there, it makes me physically hurt to throw out food, but sometimes, it just has to happen. If you’re like me, ask yourself something like this: “would I rather have a half full jar of store bought Alfredo sauce OR space to fit a block of grass fed butter?” I think you know the answer to that one.

While you are emptying out the fridge, make two piles on your counter:

1. Food that came from grocery store aisles
2. Food that came from grocery store perimeter
​3. Leftovers

That's it for now, leave the food on the counter and proceed to step 3!

3. start fresh

Now that your fridge is totally empty, it's time to deep clean.  You don't want to put your sorted and nice fresh food in a dingy fridge right?  Here's some tips to make that process suck a little less:
  1. ​Take out all the bins: it will be easiest to clean if you take out every bin and leave the empty shell of your fridge.  This shell can be wiped down easily, and the bins can be hand washed in the sink.  Make sure to let the bins dry COMPLETELY.  To help the bins dry you can take them outside if the weather is nice to let the wind and sun speed up the process!  If it's cold out, you can set them near a vent if you have the heat running.
  2. Use a non-toxic cleaner: pick a cleaner that won't contaminate the food you put back in the fridge.  My pick for a spray on and wipe off cleaner is Branch Basics, you can read more about why I love it so much here.  My pick for regular dish soap is Attitude Living because it is synthetic fragrance free!
  3. Use paper towels & microfiber cloths:  if you have any particularly messy spots on the fridge shell, wipe them down first with paper towel and toss out the majority of the gunk.  THEN, follow up with microfiber.  Microfiber picks up so much more than a paper towel, and you can reuse them forever!
  4. Clean all the nooks and crannies: don't focus only on the large faces of your fridge, make sure to get the seals and door hinges too.  These areas can easily trap dust and germs and tend to be touched more than you think!  Spray them down with some Branch Basics and you are good to go!
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4. sort

Now that the interior of your fridge is clean and your bins are drying in the sun, it's time to tackle those piles of food.  You currently have three piles (food from grocery store aisles, food from the perimeter, and leftovers) and it's time to refine those further. 

Before we begin, think about the real purpose of a fridge: it keeps food with a short shelf life COLD.  Again, it's for food with a SHORT shelf life.  Haven't we heard the advice of staying at the perimeter of the grocery store while we shop?  All the foods at the perimeter NEED the fridge right off the bat right?  The following organization will help to solidify this notion:
  1. leftovers: this will be the easiest pile to sort through because the rule here is simple...  Toss what is over a week old, and keep everything else if it is still good.  Just make sure to eat it!
  2. food from the perimeter: not EVERYTHING from the perimeter of a store is good for you, but it tends to be where you find food that is the least processed.  Take a look at your pile, what's in it?  Produce?  Meat?  Dairy?  Eggs?  Again, throw out anything that has gone bad.  Keep everything that is still good.  If possible, keep only things with minimal ingredients, or at least ingredients that you understand.  
  3. food from the aisles: the items that fall into this category the most are condiments, like salad dressings, sauces, etc. and canned/bottled beverages.  Please, throw out anything that contains vegetable oil or any hydrogenated oils.  I know these items can make your life easier (bottled dressings/jarred sauces), but they are also extremely inflammatory to the body and the taste just doesn't compare to something homemade!  Throw out anything jarred/bottled that's over a year old, and again look at the ingredient labels.  Throw out the things that you can't pronounce!

5. organize

Now that you are left with only the “good food”, it’s time to organize so that you can make the most of it! You want your fridge to be visually pleasing so that when you open it up, you’re not left feeling overwhelmed. I organize my fridge similar to how a grocery store is organized, and these five categories are: PRODUCE, “DAIRY”, DRINKS, LEFTOVERS and “CONDIMENTS”.  Each category has its own space and I try to keep similar shapes of items together too. I encourage you to stick to these categories as best you can and I will explain the quotes later. Let’s start from the bottom of the fridge and work up.
  1. Produce should generally go in the big bins at the bottom of the fridge. Here you can keep things temperature and humidity controlled. In order to prevent food from being lost in there, try this trick that comes from the fact that small things tend to get lost and fall down in between bigger items.  It's true right?  Just like how socks get lost in the dryer?  Maybe...  Anyway, when you are nearing the end of an item, whether it be broccoli or an onion, take that small bag or those small odds and ends OUT of the bin and put them on a shelf right in front of your face.  When the food is right there in front of you, you will remember to use it!
  2. Moving on up: my fridge has a special drawer above the two bottom bins and this is where I keep “dairy”. I put “dairy” in quotes because yes, this is where I keep cheese, sour cream and butter, but it is also where I keep prepared meats (lunch meat), my homemade mayo, and other items that fit that general shape (short packaging).  Again, the smallest items get lost the easiest, so once you are near the end of an item, put it on a shelf so that it’s right in front of your face.
  3. Honestly, we don’t keep many drinks in our fridge because we have a second fridge in our basement, but if you keep drinks in yours, try to use height to your advantage. Arrange your shelves so that you can eliminate dead space above cans or above milk jugs. The drink space is also where I keep jarred items like pickles, homemade sauerkraut, etc because they are a similar shape.
  4. Leftovers can be tricky... In my opinion, it is always best to transfer leftovers to containers with stackable lids. Yes, plastic wrap is convenient, but a bowl covered in plastic wrap cannot have anything stacked on top of it so you end up wasting valuable space. Also, never put a pot or pan in the fridge, transfer the food into a container! Think of all the space being wasted by the handles!  Also, make sure all your leftover containers are clear because again, the more you see something in your fridge, the more likely it will be eaten.
  5. ​“Condiments” is another one of those categories that is in quotes because condiments are only part of this. I keep condiments and snack items in the doors of our fridge (because they fit perfectly in the small shelves).  For us, condiments are more so ingredients, like soy sauce, Worcester sauce, lemon juice, etc.  The snack section of the fridge door has things like guacamole cups, avocados, snack bars, etc.  I would be lying if I said we don't have ketchup, mustard and jams in our fridge, WE DO, but just like the snacks we keep in there, the ingredient lists are short and pronounceable.  Again, items in the doors tend to be forgotten, so if you do have anything in there that’s on the verge of going bad, make sure to put it front and center on the main shelves so that you don’t forget about it!​

6. restock

This is the fun part!  Take inventory of what you have and plan a few meals using what is already in your fridge.  If there is anything else you need, buy it and take a second to see if there are ways to make some parts from scratch, like sauces or sides.  If that is overwhelming, just remember that the more you cook, the better you get!  

what about the freezer?

Congratulations, you tackled your fridge!!!  Freezers are just as important, so stay tuned next week for the next part of this post!

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Learn why you need to detox your fridge and detox your food. Eat unprocessed food easily with this step by step guide! #liftyourlifewithlaura #detox #springcleaning #detoxdiet #cleanhome
Step by step guide to detox your kitchen and give yourself a fridge makeover. Eat unprocessed food easily with these spring cleaning tips. #liftyourlifewithlaura #springcleaning #detox #healthdetox #cleaningtips
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how to (easily) add protein to your diet

1/28/2019

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How to easily add protein to your diet with collagen peptides. You might like to try collagen supplements because of the amazing benefits they have, especially when you are a busy woman! Lift your LIFE with LAURA blog. #protein #collagen #collagenworks

"bro"-tein

Nope, guys aren't the only ones who need protein.  We as women do too!  You need it even more-so if you are an active woman (as I assume you are if you are reading this post)!

time restraint

So we know we need protein, but we also know it can be hard, so let's get to the point of this post...  I promised you a way to add protein into your diet quickly, without meal prep.  I know, this sounds hard to believe!  Of all the macronutrients (fat, protein and carbohydrate) PROTEIN is the one that most often needs to be cooked, so how the heck do you get it in easily? 

Supplements.

I know what you're thinking, "ew gross protein powder"...  Believe me, I was there too...  In my early days of weight training, I guzzled whey protein shakes after my workouts and just dealt with the terrible...  "belly problems" if you know what I mean...  I promise you, there IS an alternative!

enter: collagen

Like most of the world, I love coffee (or some sort of hot beverage) and that is something that is part of my morning, NO MATTER WHAT.  I am going to make it, I am going to drink it, it's definitely happening.  More often than not, I also drink my coffee black.  If you've ever tried adding whey (or pea, egg white, brown rice, etc) protein to black coffee, you know how gross it is.  It doesn't dissolve well, it clumps, the taste is overpowering, it's just nasty.  All those things made me give up on protein powders for a long time and try to eat it only from real food sources only.  This can be VERY hard if you are trying to get almost 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight.  That's a lot of food to eat!  During that time, I am pretty sure I noticed a loss in muscle mass because it was just so hard to eat that much protein from real sources without constantly cooking or sitting down for a real meal.  We all know that sitting down and eating is hard to do 3+ times a day!

This brings us to the amazing supplement that is collagen peptides.  You might end up liking it so much that you buy it in bulk at Costco like I do!  Instead of having to make a special shake as you would with a typical protein powder, all you have to do is add the collagen peptides to your daily cups of coffee.  The collagen dissolves so smoothly and gives you (almost) NO weird taste.  I say almost because there I feel there is a slight taste when I add two scoops (a full serving) to ONE cup of coffee, but if I only add one scoop to that ONE cup of coffee I don't notice a taste at all.  This means that your first cup of coffee has one scoop, your second cup has the second scoop.  From those two cups of coffee (that you were going to drink anyway) you get 20 grams of important muscle building protein in your diet with no extra time required.  Try it out, there's even single serve packets!  You will love how filling it is and your growing muscles will thank you!
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How to easily add protein to your diet with collagen peptides. You might like to try collagen supplements because of the amazing benefits they have, especially when you are a busy woman! #liftyourlifewithlaura #protein #collagen #collagenworks #collagenpeptides #weightlifting #workouttipsforwomen
How to easily add protein to your diet with collagen peptides. You might like to try collagen supplements because of the amazing benefits they have, especially when you are a busy woman! Lift your LIFE with LAURA blog. #protein #collagen #collagenworks
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you are worthy of spending money on better food

1/16/2019

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Why you deserve to join a CSA. Click through to see how Community Supported Agriculture is a way to eat organic on a budget! Lift your LIFE with LAURA
"Organic", "Free-Range", "Pastured", "Non-GMO", "Natural", "Grass-Fed", "Wild Caught", "Local", "Fresh"...  at first glance, these words tend to mean EXPENSIVE.  We go through the aisles of the grocery store and see the high dollar amounts on the products labeled these things.  Money is a definite influencer, but I urge you to sit down and do some math with me before you think that the money isn't worth it.  Or even worse, that YOU and your family are not worth it.

Yes, shopping solely at Whole Foods is an easy option because everything is laid out in front of you, but it will probably create a big dent in your credit card bill...  Please know that I am NOT encouraging you to go into debt to buy food.  I just want us all to be aware that the closer to nature we can eat, the less processed food we can buy, the more we cook for ourselves, the better off we are.

I promise you though, there IS A WAY to do this without breaking the bank.  Think of it as investing in your health NOW and decreasing paying for it at the doctor LATER...
This is where CSAs (short for Community Supported Agriculture) comes in.  When you participate in a CSA, you are essentially paying a farmer in advance for their product whether it be produce, meat, honey, eggs, etc.  By paying them in advance, you are giving them a BIG BENEFIT by offsetting some of their upfront costs from running a farm.  Think about it, by the time you get to their farm stand or their produce gets to Whole Foods, they already have had A LOT OF WORK TO DO.  Farmers don't get paid all year...

So...  let's move on to the math...  I participate in two different CSAs (one is for produce and one is for meat).

produce CSA breakdown

CSA SHOPPING TOTE:

Why you deserve to join a CSA. Click through to see how Community Supported Agriculture is a way to eat organic on a budget! Lift your LIFE with LAURA
I was able to sign up for 2019's growing season early (which got me a discount) and paid the cost up front (another discount).  That payment gives us 12 deliveries, one every other week.  Each delivery lasts us 2 weeks (just two of us at home) for a total of 24 weeks.  My purchase price (with discounts) was $285.  So:

$285 / 24 weeks = $11.88 per week for certified ORGANIC and FRESH as can be produce.  UM HELLO.  Major win.  Could you spend $12 at Whole Foods or even Walmart for all your weekly organic produce?  I think not.  

meat CSA breakdown

My meat CSA works a bit differently.  Instead of signing up for a "growing season" you pay for meat in 10 lb increments to get a "bulk price".   10 lbs of meat is $85.  On top of that, you get a free dozen of eggs from pasture raised chickens ($6 value at the Whole Foods near me).  If we subtract the $6 from $85, that leaves us with $79 towards the 10 lbs of meat.

$79 / 10 lbs = $7.90 per pound for free-range, pastured, grass fed/finished meat!  I know that price might seem high for ground meat, but that's not all you get...  I get filet mignon, bacon and whole chickens in my mix too!
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final notes

Again, I am not telling you that you need to go broke to get the best food you can.  What I am telling you to do is think outside retail grocery stores.  I want you to do your research and find a local farmer/CSA who needs your support.  CSAs are great opportunities to feed your family the best food you can get and to learn about so many new ingredients.  I had no idea what a kohlrabi was before our CSA, and now it's one of my favorite foods!   These CSAs have been huge time savers for me too.  Imagine stopping somewhere only every other week to get all your produce for the week?  Imagine going to the freezer and pulling out anything you'd like?  For the variety, the price and the value of their food, CSAs are always a win and you are ALWAYS deserving of that value.

-always lifting your life, Laura
csa recipes, organic grocery list, buying organic on a budget, save money on groceries, save money on groceries, community supported agriculture food, community supported agriculture
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the correct way to use a knife

12/17/2018

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Learn knife skills like a pro chef so you can create health meals at home with confidence! Lift your LIFE with LAURA #healthyrecipes #cookingtips
Knife skills are probably THE MOST important thing you need to know as a home chef. 

But, before you start chopping away, you need to have SHARP knives, the sharper the better.  Think about it this way...  a sharp knife goes where you want it to go: THROUGH the food.  A dull knife slips and goes where you don't want it to be: YOUR FINGERS.


Learn knife skills like a pro chef so you can create health meals at home with confidence! Lift your LIFE with LAURA #healthyrecipes #cookingtips
By pinching the knife blade, you have much better control over the direction of the knife blade. It's also a more secure way to hold it!
Learn knife skills like a pro chef so you can create health meals at home with confidence! Lift your LIFE with LAURA #healthyrecipes #cookingtips
Holding the knife handle only (instead of the blade and the handle) gives the handle and your wrist more "wobble"... Not good!

​
Once you have nice sharp knives, it is important to hold a knife correctly.  As shown in the images below, you want to grip not only the handle of the knife, but also the blade.
Now go forth and chop those veggies with CONFIDENCE!
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Learn knife skills like a pro chef so you can create health meals at home with confidence! Lift your LIFE with LAURA #healthyrecipes #cookingtips
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    My name is Laura and I help overly tired 20something women overhaul their lives, energy and confidence without overwhelm.

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    DISCLAIMER:
    Although I am a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and write to the best of my knowledge on fitness, nutrition and lifestyle practices, I cannot be made liable to know all information on a particular subject.  Knowledge gained through this blog is to be used at your own risk and all lifestyle changes should be discussed with a doctor before starting.
     
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