Money is tighter than in previous years for many of us and as the belt tightens, donations to charitable funds take a hit. How can you help others when you're having trouble making ends meet? I'm uncovering various money saving techniques to 1) improve your cash flow and/or 2) allow for easy contribution to charities.
*Improve your financial situation by bartering! Trading out time is a tax free way to get things done without hitting your checkbook. Go to http://www.timebanks.org/ to find a time bank in your area. It's a simple program, really. You make deposits by contributing hours to other members and you make withdrawals by receiving services contributed by others. For instance, if you paint you can contribute one hour of painting for someone and in return receive one hour of tax preparation. Use money saved to contribute funds to a charity of your choice! Most time banks charge a low yearly membership and most work under the rule that every person's time is created equal. You may make deductions up to the number of hours you contribute.
*Clean out your garage, closets, and attic. Not only will donating the goods to charity allow you a tax deduction, it also gives you an opportunity to live a clutter free life. Holding on to unwanted and unneeded items clutters your home and your mind. Grab a hand full of boxes or strong bags and reduce, reuse, or recycle. If you have particularly valuable items or collections you're willing to get rid of, you may also consider selling them and then donating the funds to a charity. If you want to help a charity that doesn't take used items, this is a great way to get money together for the charity. Considering a garage sell but no time? Think outside the box. Secure a metal collection box outside with items to get rid of and put up a sign allowing people to donate to your favorite charity in exchange for the item they take. You don't necessarily have to oversee collections. Just be sure to only have items out that you want taken!
*Volunteer time to your charity of choice. Again, be creative. If you want to help an animal shelter, volunteering time doesn't necessarily mean showing up on Saturday to clean out animal cages. Donate a skill (marketing, art, web design) to help fill a need for the charity. They will much appreciate not having to pay for those services. You may even build your customer base by showcasing your skills to the public in this manner.
*Give weekly with either an automatic payment or by payroll deduction. A small gift each week is less likely to be missed, but adds up to a generous gift by year end. If you don't think you can afford it, pick one thing you are willing to do without in order to stay within budget. If you can't commit to $10 a week because of money, would you be willing to drink water instead of soft drinks with lunch and donate the money saved each week? It adds up.
*Save your change and involve the whole family. Pick up a 5 gallon water jug and encourage every family member to empty their pocket change at the end of the day into the jug. At the end of the year tie a big bow around the top and deliver it to your favorite charity. Be sure to get them to empty it and send the container back home for you to do it again!
Be creative and share your tips on contributing in a tough economy in the comment section below!
Showing posts with label life tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life tips. Show all posts
Monday, February 7, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
New Year Weight Loss (Continued)
Here's the recap from the previous post:
Plan 1: You've promised yourself you'll lose that extra 10 (or 100) pounds by cutting out snacks and slashing calories.
The problem: You've cut out too much too fast. You're more likely to drop your plan when the changes are drastic.
Suggestion: Cut your intake of calories by 10-15% (about 200 calories). You can do this by making a change to just one meal each day or you can make minor changes over the course of the day. An easy way to do this is to select a few healthier alternatives to your current course of food. (See original post for more)
Plan 2: You're going to join a gym whether you can afford the membership or not.
The problem: If you don't already have a gym membership, start by joining one that allows you to pay month to month. Gym memberships can be beneficial for those that need help with motivation, especially if you have a "gym buddy" but there are other alternatives, particularly in the beginning.
Suggestion: There are dozens of ways to exercise without a membership. Try a little manual labor around the house or some isometric exercises. (See original post for more)
NEW!
Plan 3: You cut out all sweets to lose weight. Similar argument goes for cutting all fat.
The problem: There is a big difference between cutting out all sweets and in making smart choices. The delectable delightful foods we call sweets are certainly not a necessary part of our food intake, but one might argue they are some of the most enjoyable! Don't take the joy out of eating. Let's face it, we eat in part for the pleasure it brings us. If you are a fan of sweets and you cut them out altogether, sweets will be all you think about. It's like telling someone not to think about elephants. What do you think about if someone says that? Yeah, elephants. There's a better way to handle sweets.
Suggestion: Eat smarter. Don't just grab the first delectable delightful looking sweet treat you can get your hand on. Go for a treat that makes sense. If you just want a little something, start with fruit. It has plenty of sugar to give your blood sugar a boost without overdoing it. If that's just not enough, for a few calories more you can have 1/2 a cup of Lovin' Scoopful ice cream in one of 12 exciting mouth watering flavors. Lovin' Scoopful has 1/2 the fat and 1/3 fewer calories when compared to other premium ice creams. Imagine a 4 ounce scoop of Rockin' Raspberry Cheesecake (with all the creamy delight of both ice cream AND cheesecake with an added tangy twist of raspberry).
Feel free to suggest ideas of your own below!
Plan 1: You've promised yourself you'll lose that extra 10 (or 100) pounds by cutting out snacks and slashing calories.
The problem: You've cut out too much too fast. You're more likely to drop your plan when the changes are drastic.
Suggestion: Cut your intake of calories by 10-15% (about 200 calories). You can do this by making a change to just one meal each day or you can make minor changes over the course of the day. An easy way to do this is to select a few healthier alternatives to your current course of food. (See original post for more)
Plan 2: You're going to join a gym whether you can afford the membership or not.
The problem: If you don't already have a gym membership, start by joining one that allows you to pay month to month. Gym memberships can be beneficial for those that need help with motivation, especially if you have a "gym buddy" but there are other alternatives, particularly in the beginning.
Suggestion: There are dozens of ways to exercise without a membership. Try a little manual labor around the house or some isometric exercises. (See original post for more)
NEW!
Plan 3: You cut out all sweets to lose weight. Similar argument goes for cutting all fat.
The problem: There is a big difference between cutting out all sweets and in making smart choices. The delectable delightful foods we call sweets are certainly not a necessary part of our food intake, but one might argue they are some of the most enjoyable! Don't take the joy out of eating. Let's face it, we eat in part for the pleasure it brings us. If you are a fan of sweets and you cut them out altogether, sweets will be all you think about. It's like telling someone not to think about elephants. What do you think about if someone says that? Yeah, elephants. There's a better way to handle sweets.
Suggestion: Eat smarter. Don't just grab the first delectable delightful looking sweet treat you can get your hand on. Go for a treat that makes sense. If you just want a little something, start with fruit. It has plenty of sugar to give your blood sugar a boost without overdoing it. If that's just not enough, for a few calories more you can have 1/2 a cup of Lovin' Scoopful ice cream in one of 12 exciting mouth watering flavors. Lovin' Scoopful has 1/2 the fat and 1/3 fewer calories when compared to other premium ice creams. Imagine a 4 ounce scoop of Rockin' Raspberry Cheesecake (with all the creamy delight of both ice cream AND cheesecake with an added tangy twist of raspberry).
Feel free to suggest ideas of your own below!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
New Year Weight Loss
Lovin' Scoopful wants to be here for you as you work to stick with your resolutions in 2011, but in some cases we want to help you amend those resolutions to healthier alternatives that are easier to live with and stick with. A large percentage of adults vow to go on a diet to lose weight come January 1. Most of those individuals give up on this plan before the end of January because they try to make drastic changes with little thought to practicality. Here are a couple of alternatives to consider.
1. You've promised yourself you'll lose that extra 10 (or 100) pounds by cutting out snacks and slashing calories.
The problem: You've cut out too much too fast. You're more likely to drop your plan when the changes are drastic.
Suggestion: Cut your intake of calories by 10-15% (about 200 calories). You can do this by making a change to just one meal each day or you can make minor changes over the course of the day. An easy way to do this is to select a few healthier alternatives to your current course of food. Have a piece of fruit and something with whole grain for breakfast. Instead of a milk shake mid afternoon (which can have over 500 calories), eat 1/2 a cup of Lovin' Scoopful Ice Cream which has about 120 calories. When it comes to your evening meal, one of the most significant changes you can make is EAT EARLIER! Stop eating at least 3 hours before you go to bed and make sure your evening meal is NOT the largest one of the day.
2. You're going to join a gym whether you can afford the membership or not.
The problem: If you don't already have a gym membership, start by joining one that allows you to pay month to month. Gym memberships can be beneficial for those that need help with motivation, especially if you have a "gym buddy" but there are other alternatives, particularly in the beginning.
Suggestion: There are dozens of ways to get exercise without a membership. Here are a few of the ways you can start. MANUAL LABOR is a great way to get some things done around the house, build muscles, and lose weight. Rather than paying someone to do work inside and outside of your house, take care of some of the chores yourself. Try ISOMETRIC EXERCISES at your desk or even driving to/from work. Sit up straight and tighten your stomach muscles or clinch your thighs/buttocks. Do this a minimum of 15 minutes 3 times a day and you'll feel the difference quickly!
More tips over the coming days and weeks, so check back frequently.
1. You've promised yourself you'll lose that extra 10 (or 100) pounds by cutting out snacks and slashing calories.
The problem: You've cut out too much too fast. You're more likely to drop your plan when the changes are drastic.
Suggestion: Cut your intake of calories by 10-15% (about 200 calories). You can do this by making a change to just one meal each day or you can make minor changes over the course of the day. An easy way to do this is to select a few healthier alternatives to your current course of food. Have a piece of fruit and something with whole grain for breakfast. Instead of a milk shake mid afternoon (which can have over 500 calories), eat 1/2 a cup of Lovin' Scoopful Ice Cream which has about 120 calories. When it comes to your evening meal, one of the most significant changes you can make is EAT EARLIER! Stop eating at least 3 hours before you go to bed and make sure your evening meal is NOT the largest one of the day.
2. You're going to join a gym whether you can afford the membership or not.
The problem: If you don't already have a gym membership, start by joining one that allows you to pay month to month. Gym memberships can be beneficial for those that need help with motivation, especially if you have a "gym buddy" but there are other alternatives, particularly in the beginning.
Suggestion: There are dozens of ways to get exercise without a membership. Here are a few of the ways you can start. MANUAL LABOR is a great way to get some things done around the house, build muscles, and lose weight. Rather than paying someone to do work inside and outside of your house, take care of some of the chores yourself. Try ISOMETRIC EXERCISES at your desk or even driving to/from work. Sit up straight and tighten your stomach muscles or clinch your thighs/buttocks. Do this a minimum of 15 minutes 3 times a day and you'll feel the difference quickly!
More tips over the coming days and weeks, so check back frequently.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Healthy Indulgence
It's easy to overindulge in treats during the holidays, but making healthy choices doesn't mean turning to lifeless dull snacks. Take time to stock up on health conscious indulgences that will keep you on track in making life long positive changes to your food choices.
1. Lovin' Scoopful is a "good for your soul" gourmet light ice cream exploding with flavor. It has half the fat and a third fewer calories when compared to regular gourmet ice cream and it packs an added punch. With every container of ice cream you buy, 25% of profits go to Special Olympics. Several flavors have about the same number of calories as a Red Delicious Apple and will satisfy your sweet tooth.
2. Speaking of Red Delicious, stock up on fruit! Starting the day off with a piece of fruit will jump start your digestive system and give you an instant burst of energy. Having a basket of "ready to go" fruit handy (preferably organic) gives you quick options for a healthy snack you can grab on your way out the door.
3. Go nuts! Seriously. Nuts can have a bad rap because of fat content, but a handful of nuts each day can help lower cholesterol and because it takes longer to digest nuts, the energy from them sticks with you and can help curb cravings.
How to pull it all together for delicious food all day long:
Start your day off with an apple (or fruit of your choice) early in the morning. Two hours later eat a high fiber hot breakfast cereal (I like a 7 grain). To make it extra tasty top it with a tablespoon of chopped pecans, a few dried cranberries, and a smidgen of honey (or stevia) for taste. For lunch start with fresh baby spinach. Spinach is rich in vitamins and nutrients with few calories. Instead of using a salad dressing, top it with sliced strawberries, blueberries, and a tablespoon of sliced almonds. Limit the almonds, but for the rest of the salad ingredients you can eat your heart's desire. Fill up on it! Wrap up your day with a wrap, but eat early. The later you eat, the harder it is to burn those calories before you go to bed. A good way to store fat is to eat and go right to bed. Avoid it! Starting with a low fat flour tortilla pile it high with fresh (uncooked) spinach from lunch. Rather than topping with fruit and nuts, top it with 3-4 ounces of grilled meat (trim any fat) and a thin slice of avocado. In all cases, eat slowly and savor your food. Chewing improves digestion and helps you get the most of the nutrients in your food. After dinner, serve yourself a 1/2 cup serving of your favorite Lovin' Scoopful Ice Cream. With the dinner wrap above, try Rockin' Raspberry Cheesecake. The tangy raspberry works great with the wrap.
Start making healthy choices now and reap the rewards in 2011. Happy Holidays!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Lovin' the Holidays!
Make this a Lovin' Holiday by making mindful Lovin' choices every day. Our holiday season began with the celebration of Thanksgiving. Now, we mark the eight days of Hanukkah which begins tomorrow. Soon Christmas will be upon us. As we gather and celebrate life's miracles, let's celebrate the wonders in our daily lives. Think about all the things you can do to bring joy to others with small gestures of kindness.
Over the next 8 days I challenge you to an unexpected act of kindness each day. Hold a door for someone. Stop and listen to a friend that you can tell has something on his/her mind. Spend time with someone you know is lonely. These daily acts of kindness can change your life. We would love to hear about these kind acts, so let us know about them in the comment section below!
In addition to that, think about the products you purchase every week at the grocery store. There are dozens of products that donate to special causes every time you purchase. For a list of some of these products, go to www.lovinscoopful.com/documents/LovinScoopful-ShoppinWithLovin.pdf. Lovin' Scoopful donates 25% of post tax profits to Special Olympics. We believe that it's important to highlight other socio-friendly products so that you can easily find products that help you bring more love and light to the world. Show some love by sharin' some Lovin' this holiday season.
Happy Hanukkah, Season's Greetings, and Merry Christmas!
Over the next 8 days I challenge you to an unexpected act of kindness each day. Hold a door for someone. Stop and listen to a friend that you can tell has something on his/her mind. Spend time with someone you know is lonely. These daily acts of kindness can change your life. We would love to hear about these kind acts, so let us know about them in the comment section below!
In addition to that, think about the products you purchase every week at the grocery store. There are dozens of products that donate to special causes every time you purchase. For a list of some of these products, go to www.lovinscoopful.com/documents/LovinScoopful-ShoppinWithLovin.pdf. Lovin' Scoopful donates 25% of post tax profits to Special Olympics. We believe that it's important to highlight other socio-friendly products so that you can easily find products that help you bring more love and light to the world. Show some love by sharin' some Lovin' this holiday season.
Happy Hanukkah, Season's Greetings, and Merry Christmas!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Livin' a Lovin' Lifestyle
Lovin' Scoopful Ice Cream is a delicious gourmet light ice cream and we very much want you to give it a try. Today, however, this blog is about a Lovin' Lifestyle. Our product was created to help empower the human spirit and I hope for this blog to do the same.
From some aspects it's been a tough year and now the holidays are upon us. Money's tight, tensions are high, guests are in, the house is a mess, and we just don't know WHERE to pull the money from to budget for Christmas gifts. If this has been your year, take a deep breath, close your eyes for a moment, and know that you're not alone. First, I've found that it takes effort to change your mindset so that you think of positive things before negative. Here are some things I've found that have helped raise my spirits over the long run. These have changed my life.
1) Live in the moment. When you're feeling horribly stressed and the world is crashing in, I ask myself "Am I OK right now?". Forget about what happened yesterday, last week, last month. At this moment am I OK? Forget about tomorrow, next week, next month. Right at this very moment I know that I'm OK. Love the moment that you're in. If you can love the moment that you're in, you'll find you can be happy most of the time.
2) Do what you can. We often spread ourselves too thin financially and let guilt drive us to buy more than we intended. Buying gifts on a tight budget is so difficult. Here are some things I've found to help ease the burden.
* Draw names rather than buying everyone a gift.
* Re-gift or give gifts you spend little or no money on. Now before you throw this one out completely, this has worked wonderfully in our family. If everyone agrees to do it, it's works like a charm. Rather than going and buying more stuff when we all have so much more than we need already, walk thru your own home and shop for others from what you have. This can be even more of a sacrifice than pulling out a credit card and spending money you don't really have. Do you have something of your Grandmother's that your sister always wanted? Do you have a talent you can share? If you're a great cook, gift catering a dinner for someone who likes to entertain. Can you babysit? Give 12 certificates for babysitting to allow a friend or family member some time out on their own. You get the idea. Shop from your own possessions and talents. You'd be amazed at what wonderful gifts you can come up with.
* Agree to exchange ornaments.
* Give each other time and attention. This can even work with the kids. It can be taking them to the park or skate park even and watching them play. Maybe you can even join them!
*Give lessons. Can you teach someone one of your talents?
* Barter! Trade some of your free gifts with others to expand what you have to give! Want to give your niece piano lessons but you can't teach? Is there a piano teacher in your life that you can barter with in order to take care of those lessons?
* Do a "Toy Exchange" with the kids. Within the family pair up the kids with similar interests and have them exchange a box full of toys that are in good working order. It's not about having something brand new. It's just fun to have different toys to play with.
* Do a "Movie and Game" exchange between the families. You can label them if you want to exchange back in a few months.
* If you can't afford to donate to the charity or non-profit that you support every year, consider volunteering your time instead. This is especially beneficial if you've lost your job. It's amazing how many potential job leads you can find, too, when you're out in a crowd and you're open to the possibility that you may meet someone who can change your life situation. Another good way to help non-profits is to buy products that support those organizations, especially if they give a percentage of sales or profits. At Lovin' Scoopful, we donate 25% of our post tax profits (a minimum of $50K annually) to Special Olympics.
3) Appreciate what you have. Look around you and see the good. Acknowledge it verbally. A positive attitude is contagious and most people enjoy being around others with a positive attitude. Do you usually call your friends when something bad happens to vent? Call them today. Wish them Happy Thanksgiving and tell them how grateful you are to have them as a friend. Be happy for your job, your home, your family, and each breath that you take. We are all very fortunate.
I hope you've found an idea or two that is helpful. Please comment if you have other ideas for Livin' a Lovin' Lifestyle and I'll include those in future posts. Now step away from the computer, go hug a family member (or pet) and have a very happy Thanksgiving.
From some aspects it's been a tough year and now the holidays are upon us. Money's tight, tensions are high, guests are in, the house is a mess, and we just don't know WHERE to pull the money from to budget for Christmas gifts. If this has been your year, take a deep breath, close your eyes for a moment, and know that you're not alone. First, I've found that it takes effort to change your mindset so that you think of positive things before negative. Here are some things I've found that have helped raise my spirits over the long run. These have changed my life.
1) Live in the moment. When you're feeling horribly stressed and the world is crashing in, I ask myself "Am I OK right now?". Forget about what happened yesterday, last week, last month. At this moment am I OK? Forget about tomorrow, next week, next month. Right at this very moment I know that I'm OK. Love the moment that you're in. If you can love the moment that you're in, you'll find you can be happy most of the time.
2) Do what you can. We often spread ourselves too thin financially and let guilt drive us to buy more than we intended. Buying gifts on a tight budget is so difficult. Here are some things I've found to help ease the burden.
* Draw names rather than buying everyone a gift.
* Re-gift or give gifts you spend little or no money on. Now before you throw this one out completely, this has worked wonderfully in our family. If everyone agrees to do it, it's works like a charm. Rather than going and buying more stuff when we all have so much more than we need already, walk thru your own home and shop for others from what you have. This can be even more of a sacrifice than pulling out a credit card and spending money you don't really have. Do you have something of your Grandmother's that your sister always wanted? Do you have a talent you can share? If you're a great cook, gift catering a dinner for someone who likes to entertain. Can you babysit? Give 12 certificates for babysitting to allow a friend or family member some time out on their own. You get the idea. Shop from your own possessions and talents. You'd be amazed at what wonderful gifts you can come up with.
* Agree to exchange ornaments.
* Give each other time and attention. This can even work with the kids. It can be taking them to the park or skate park even and watching them play. Maybe you can even join them!
*Give lessons. Can you teach someone one of your talents?
* Barter! Trade some of your free gifts with others to expand what you have to give! Want to give your niece piano lessons but you can't teach? Is there a piano teacher in your life that you can barter with in order to take care of those lessons?
* Do a "Toy Exchange" with the kids. Within the family pair up the kids with similar interests and have them exchange a box full of toys that are in good working order. It's not about having something brand new. It's just fun to have different toys to play with.
* Do a "Movie and Game" exchange between the families. You can label them if you want to exchange back in a few months.
* If you can't afford to donate to the charity or non-profit that you support every year, consider volunteering your time instead. This is especially beneficial if you've lost your job. It's amazing how many potential job leads you can find, too, when you're out in a crowd and you're open to the possibility that you may meet someone who can change your life situation. Another good way to help non-profits is to buy products that support those organizations, especially if they give a percentage of sales or profits. At Lovin' Scoopful, we donate 25% of our post tax profits (a minimum of $50K annually) to Special Olympics.
3) Appreciate what you have. Look around you and see the good. Acknowledge it verbally. A positive attitude is contagious and most people enjoy being around others with a positive attitude. Do you usually call your friends when something bad happens to vent? Call them today. Wish them Happy Thanksgiving and tell them how grateful you are to have them as a friend. Be happy for your job, your home, your family, and each breath that you take. We are all very fortunate.
I hope you've found an idea or two that is helpful. Please comment if you have other ideas for Livin' a Lovin' Lifestyle and I'll include those in future posts. Now step away from the computer, go hug a family member (or pet) and have a very happy Thanksgiving.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Thanksgiving just 2 days away!
As we get older, time just seems to go faster and faster. Time is so precious and too often we waste time, effort, and money on the wrong things. Economize in all 3 areas this week in preparing for your holiday feast.
Save time on the day of your event! Prepare a dessert you can put together ahead of time like an ice cream pie made with Lovin' Scoopful Gourmet Light Ice Cream. Put your favorite flavor in either a regular or graham cracker or chocolate crust and top with whipped topping.
Save effort by creating a delicious dessert that only takes a few minutes to prepare. Whether you create an ice cream pie or simply have a few flavors of Lovin' Scoopful and serve by the scoopful, you'll find it's a crowd pleaser. Try Lovin' Scoopful Rockin' Raspberry Cheesecake or Oh My Blueberry Pie if you want your ice cream to contain the pie within!
Save Money on the west coast by picking up Lovin' Scoopful 2/$7 at Ralphs in Southern California and Nevada. On the east coast Bi-Lo has Lovin' on BOGO, so take the opportunity to try new flavors at both chains!
Save time on the day of your event! Prepare a dessert you can put together ahead of time like an ice cream pie made with Lovin' Scoopful Gourmet Light Ice Cream. Put your favorite flavor in either a regular or graham cracker or chocolate crust and top with whipped topping.
Save effort by creating a delicious dessert that only takes a few minutes to prepare. Whether you create an ice cream pie or simply have a few flavors of Lovin' Scoopful and serve by the scoopful, you'll find it's a crowd pleaser. Try Lovin' Scoopful Rockin' Raspberry Cheesecake or Oh My Blueberry Pie if you want your ice cream to contain the pie within!
Save Money on the west coast by picking up Lovin' Scoopful 2/$7 at Ralphs in Southern California and Nevada. On the east coast Bi-Lo has Lovin' on BOGO, so take the opportunity to try new flavors at both chains!
Monday, November 22, 2010
3 Days until Thanksgiving!
With only 3 days remaining until Thanksgiving it's time to get the early prep items out of the way to allow for an easy holiday. See our "Early Planning Makes Thanksgiving a Breeze" blog entry from November 15th for ideas.
With the heavy feast upcoming, plan a delicious dessert made with Lovin' Scoopful gourmet light ice cream. It has 1/2 the fat and 1/3 fewer calories compared to other premium ice creams. Not many ice creams allow you to stay on track with your weight goals while still enjoying all the taste you're looking for.
If you're on the east coast, Bi-Lo has Lovin' on BOGO. Buy one at regular price and get a second 56oz container for FREE. For our friends in California and Nevada, Ralphs has Lovin' on sale 2/$7. Don't forget, 25% of our post tax profits go to Special Olympics!
With the heavy feast upcoming, plan a delicious dessert made with Lovin' Scoopful gourmet light ice cream. It has 1/2 the fat and 1/3 fewer calories compared to other premium ice creams. Not many ice creams allow you to stay on track with your weight goals while still enjoying all the taste you're looking for.
If you're on the east coast, Bi-Lo has Lovin' on BOGO. Buy one at regular price and get a second 56oz container for FREE. For our friends in California and Nevada, Ralphs has Lovin' on sale 2/$7. Don't forget, 25% of our post tax profits go to Special Olympics!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Early planning makes Thanksgiving a breeze!
Every year we crash on the couch or our favorite chair after the last guest has left from the Thanksgiving feast and we recognize how exhausted we are. Your time with family and loved ones is so precious. Find even more joy in the season by reducing your stress and your work load the day of your Thanksgiving dinner.
1. Plan a simple menu- As much as you may like to have a dozen dishes laid out, consider limiting the food YOU prepare to the basics. A turkey OR ham, dressing of choice, 3 veggies (each a different color), a simple salad (gives people an option to top the salad with a small portion of meat and stay on course with their diet) with two salad dressings (one light, one rich), and a dessert (or two if you keep it really simple).
2. Consider purchasing a smoked ham or turkey fully prepared from a reputable restaurant.
3. Prepare the dressing NOW! When it's cooked outside of the bird it's dressing rather than stuffing. Now, freeze it. Move from freezer to refrigerator one day in advance. Move from fridge to oven the day of. Easy! Take it a step further and bake it in a disposable metal container. Either buy a cheap aluminum one at the grocery store or pick up a cheap find at a flea market.
4. Use simple frozen veggies for 2 of your 3 vegetables. Add water, a pat of butter, salt and pepper (or your seasoning of taste) to the frozen ones and cook those the day of your dinner. For the third veggie, consider something like green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, or some other favorite that requires a little more work. Prepare it the night before, though!
5. For your salad use a ready mix. Buy one that has everything in it that you like or select a couple of extra "ready to use" items (like shredded carrots) to add to the mix with no effort.
6. Dessert- We always over-do it with dessert. Keep it simple. Make a Mud Pie simply by adding "Lovin' Scoopful's Mad About Mud Pie" to a chocolate pie crust and top with whipped topping. You can garnish it with chocolate sprinkles to remind you which flavor in case you decide to have more than one. Another delicious option is to take a graham cracker crust and fill it with "Lovin' Scoopful's Rockin' Raspberry Cheesecake". Again top it with whipped topping and this time garnish with raspberries if you have some available.
7. Here's the fun part... If your guest asks if they can bring something, let them know you have it covered but they're welcome to bring along a favorite dish if they'd like. If no one brings anything, you're already covered. If everyone brings something you've got a huge feast, but those dishes with the leftovers will go home with the loved one that brought them.
With this plan, on Thanksgiving Day all you have to do is:
1. Warm up the turkey or ham that was prepared for you.
2. Put the dressing into the oven.
3. Heat up the veggies (two that you just add water to and a third that goes in the oven but was prepared the night before).
4. Empty the salad into the bowl and set out the dressings.
5. After dinner take the pie or pies out of the freezer.
You can take care of those 5 steps Thanksgiving Day stress free. Your kitchen will be clean when guests arrive because there was no last minute heavy cooking. No mixing bowls or messy prep areas to clean up. Relax and enjoy your family, your friends, and your easy Thanksgiving Dinner!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Summer is wrapping up. Wrap up your ice cream in a delicious "Ice Cream Taco"!
School is back in full swing and kids come home hungry. Prepare this quick and delicious snack as an after school treat and the kids may actually look forward to school days! Jot down this fun recipe and check back for other tips, recipes, and news.
1 scoop Lovin' Scoopful Ice Cream of choice (I like Cozy Vanilla)
1 small low fat flour tortilla
butter flavored non-stick cooking spray
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup chopped fruit (I like fresh ripe mango)
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Spray front and back of tortilla with butter flavored non-stick cooking spray. Place tortilla on cookie sheet and sprinkle top of tortilla with cinnamon and sugar. Bake until sugar begins to melt and caramelize and tortilla begins to turn golden brown. Remove from oven, put one small scoop of ice cream inside tortilla, and fold in half like a taco. Top with chopped fruit and enjoy immediately!
This tasty treat is under 250 calories and will be a huge hit! Go to www.lovinscoopful.com/findastore.aspx to find a store near you.
1 scoop Lovin' Scoopful Ice Cream of choice (I like Cozy Vanilla)
1 small low fat flour tortilla
butter flavored non-stick cooking spray
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup chopped fruit (I like fresh ripe mango)
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Spray front and back of tortilla with butter flavored non-stick cooking spray. Place tortilla on cookie sheet and sprinkle top of tortilla with cinnamon and sugar. Bake until sugar begins to melt and caramelize and tortilla begins to turn golden brown. Remove from oven, put one small scoop of ice cream inside tortilla, and fold in half like a taco. Top with chopped fruit and enjoy immediately!
This tasty treat is under 250 calories and will be a huge hit! Go to www.lovinscoopful.com/findastore.aspx to find a store near you.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Fight Childhood Obesity
According to the CDC, childhood obesity has more than tripled in the last 30 years. Convenience foods have certainly had a negative impact and has contributed to a health crisis with our children. Lovin' Scoopful created an incredible premium light ice cream to help support Special Olympics, but it's not just any ice cream. Lovin' created a delicious treat that can be enjoyed in moderation without guilt. Lovin' Scoopful Ice Cream has half the fat of premium brands and 1/3 fewer calories. Spend more time outside being active with your kids and give them the Lovin' they deserve.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
HOLIDAY TREAT THAT CAN'T BE BEAT
Simplify your holiday by taking along a half gallon of Lovin' Scoopful Gourmet Light Ice Cream in your favorite flavor INSTEAD of baking another pie for that family gathering. An average holiday plate of some ham, a bit of turkey breast, cornbread dressing with giblet gravy, green peas, candied yams, a roll, cranberry sauce, ambrosia salad, and pecan pie has about of 1,843 calories and 95 grams of fat. A serving of Lovin' Scoopful ice cream has about 130 calories in a 1/2 cup serving. Try "Oh My Blueberry Pie" and enjoy all the creamy delight of a luxurious dessert and no guilt! Go to http://www.lovinscoopful.com/ for store locations near you!!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Shoppin' With Lovin'
Shoppin' with Lovin' is a program we are developing to help families find great products that contribute to various good causes. We like to call them socio-friendly products. When money is tight it's even more important to remember how many other things we can do to better our world other than just writing a donation check. We make choices in our day to day life that have a tremendous impact on the world around us. Be it making a conscious effort to purchase socio-friendly products or deciding to let that next car in line out ahead of you before you move on with your day, we have an outstanding opportunity to make the world a better place by making mindful choices. We hope you will use our Lovin' List to shop for socio-friendly product! Visit http://www.lovinscoopful.com/ or http://www.shoppinwithlovin.com/ for more information.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)