I quite often hear how it is too expensive to eat organic food. I love this little treasure of finding beets with beautiful tops! This particular bunch of beets cost $2.79. Not only does it provide a great tray of roasted beets but the greens for my green smoothie last for a week!! I think people sometimes confuse organic, PROCESSED food as expensive and it is!! Yes, the produce section takes preparation in the kitchen but the cost is very reasonable and far more healthy!

Bottom Door Shelf

I wanted to point out this door shelf in my refrigerator. As humans, we love sweet and we love to munch! I have these products on hand all the time for variations on my cravings. Coconut flakes, pumpkin seeds, dates and flaxseed are put together in many combinations. One snack consists of putting in a food processor coconut flakes, pumpkin seeds, dates, cocoa powder and coconut water pressed in a pan and refrigerated for a sweet, chocolate square that is packed with fiber and satisfying taste. Sometimes a few dates mixed with pumpkin seeds is enough to quell my sweet tooth. Pumpkin seed is filled with zinc, a vital nutrient for our immune systems. Even just a little coconut flakes work! Instead of using will power to avoid processed, sweet foods, see what you can replace those craving with to bring high level nutrition to your body!

It is amazing how common it is for people not realize the ease of cooking squash, I hear it all the time, “I don’t know what to do with them”. To me, it is a “fast” food! They have a great shelf life just sitting on the counter and can be cooked by cutting in half, removing the seeds, adding butter and salt (even cinnamon) and putting on a cookie sheet and baking until soft. If you have a pressure cooker, it only takes 20 minutes to completely cook. Butternut squash can be mashed for a replacement to white potatoes, offering more nutrition. Spaghetti squash can replace noodles for a red sauce. Besides squashes, keeping a garlic bulb and onion on the counter can give awesome flavor to any meal.