Food Budgeting ~ How to eat well, but save more!

Think your food dollar doesn't go as far as it used to? You're right. In fact, for many people, rising food costs are creating a significant household hardship. It would be one thing if skyrocketing costs meant that we needed to forgo extravagant delicacies at the family dinner table. Unfortunately, staples like bread, milk, cereal, meat, poultry, and eggs are hardest hit.

There are a number of reasons for the crunch, including oil prices that cause the cost of food production and transportation to rise significantly. It's also a factor that corn prices have more than doubled and soybean prices nearly tripled recently, thanks in part to the boost in ethanol and biodiesel. Weather disasters have devastated some crops, and a weak U.S. dollar and high global demand for food all figure into the higher bottom line.

The outlook for food prices isn't promising, but that doesn't mean you need to sacrifice at the dinner table. While you may need to make some minor adjustments in your menu planning, shopping, and cooking habits, there's no need to forgo either flavor or health while tightening your food budget. In fact, by stocking up on some basic staples, seasonal produce, and spices, you can serve your family meals that are delicious, healthful, and frugal.

Eat fresh:

Fresh fruits and veggies are economical, not to mention good for you! Shopping on Wednesdays are a great way to save as most retailers come out with their sale ad. 

Stock up when on sale:

Buy in bulk when cheap. Make room in your pantry. In the end it will save you $ and allow you to mix and match different dishes for variety.

Clip coupons:

Many times it is worth spending extra time to clip the Sunday paper's coupons. Another way to save money, but also buy brands of items you wouldn't normally purchase.

What are some ways you save money for your family?

Happy New Year Brothers Lovers!

Here is to an awe inspiring and memorable new year! We can't wait to see what 2012 has in store for us and for all of you. 

Food Allergies - Do you or do you know someone who suffers?

Food allergies trigger more than reactions. They can also initiate misinformation and misconceptions that may discourage food allergy sufferers from seeking help or inspire them to blame any ailment they may have on food allergies. 

Here are the most common food allergy myths:

Any negative reaction to a food is a food allergy.

• Adverse reactions to food can have many causes. If something does not "agree with you," it does not necessarily mean you are allergic to it. Food allergy is a very specific reaction involving the immune system of the body, and it is important to distinguish food allergy from other food sensitivities. Whereas food allergies are rare, food sensitivities are more common.

Just a small taste can't hurt.

• To your immune system, even a tiny amount of a problem food is enough to trigger an all-out attack. People with severe allergies can have life-threatening reactions. For example, a person allergic to peanuts can have a severe reaction when a spatula is used to serve them a peanut-free cookie was previously used to make a peanut-containing cookie.

All food allergies in children resolve as they get older.

• As a child grows older, some may tolerate foods that previously caused allergic reactions. This is more likely to happen in the case of allergies to milk, eggs, and wheat, in which the symptoms may decrease by late childhood. It is not clear in all cases, however, if the improved symptoms are an indication that the allergy has disappeared or the child really wasn't allergic in the first place. On the other hand, children rarely outgrow allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish.

Some people are allergic to food additives.

• Although some food additives-- sulfites and tartrazine—have been shown to trigger asthma or hives in individuals, these reactions do not follow the same pathway observed with food.

If you were not allergic to it before, you can't be allergic to it now.

• The onset of a food allergy is brought on by a genetic susceptibility and exposure to the problem food. The more exposure to the problem food, the higher the risk of developing an allergy to it if you are susceptible.

People with food allergies are allergic to many foods.

• Most people with food allergies are allergic to fewer than 4 foods.