My Bountiful Basket Experiment

Is Bountiful Baskets really cheaper than the grocery store?  I have been getting a basket for a while now and I wanted to do a price comparison between Bountiful Baskets and price matching at Walmart.  The produce from Bountiful Baskets is the same as what you would find in the grocery store unless you get the organic basket.

My Friend got the following in her basket this week:

1 head Califlower
1 head Brocolli
2 heads Lettuce
2 Cucumber
8 Small Red Potatoes
4 Tomatoes
3 Onions
3 Avocados
1- 6oz case of Blackberries
1  Mango
1 Honeydew
5 Bananas

So I went to my ads and found the following price matches:  I wanted to do this for any random week, when there was any kind of sale on the above items.  I didn't really buy all of the quantities of the items, but I bought at least 1 and then multiplied the lb for 1 by how many my friend got in her basket. 

1 head Califlower  $0.88/1b   .82 lb @ $0.88/lb   = $0.72
1 head Brocolli      $0.88/lb   .82 lb @ $0.88/lb    = $0.72
2 heads Lettuce  (Romaine)    2@1.74 each         =  $3.48    
2 Cucumbers                         2@$0.50 each        = $1.00
8 Small Red Potatoes                                           = $0.74
4 Tomatoes                            1.76lb @ $0.78/lb  = $1.36
3 Onions                                1.8lb @  $0.48/lb   = $0.85
3 Avocados                                 3@ $0.68 each = $2.04
1- 6oz case of Blackberries                                  = $2.50
1  Mango                                                             =$0.68
1 Honeydew                                                        = $2.50
5 Bananas                             2.4lb@$0.52/lb      = $1.25

Total :  $ 17.84 +tax @3% =    $18.38

The Bountiful Baskets is $16.50.    So even if I got the Romaine lettuce it wouldn't be that much more than the basket.  And at the grocery store I can buy what I want and like.  I can buy specific produce for my salads and I don't get stuff I don't like or don't need.  (I really don't need 4 tomatoes this week.)

Here is what I really bought:
1 lb strawberries $1.50
1 head Romaine  $1.74
1 yellow onion     $0.28
1 red onion          $0.57
1 tomato              $0.34
5 bananas            $1.25
2 limes                 $0.40
10 gala apples      $1.82
1 mango               $0.68
3 avocados          $2.04
1 bunch cilantro    $0.29
1 lb baby carrots  $ 0.88
3 brocolli crowns  $1.04
2 Cucumbers        $1.00
5 lb bag red pot    $1.47
Honeydew            $2.50
Red Grapes          $2.50
Total:  $20.58
= 21.20 with tax.

Yes, I eat a lot of produce.  My kids are more likely to eat the carrots, grapes, and apples than the extra head of lettuce, tomatoes and onion.  I spent about $5 more than the bountiful basket and I bought some things extra just for the price matching experiment (like the mango and the honeydew). 

Cheater smoothie

I like smoothies because they are a great way to sneak in healthy veggies that I don't eat very much. But sometimes smoothies can be some work getting the fruit out and cutting it up. So on some days I use prepared smoothie bags an add some greens. I only buy the smoothies that are just fruit because i dont like the added sweeteners or yogurt. i can easily add my own greek yogurt or kefir. I like it because I already know that the fruit in the smoothie is going to taste good together. The kids like them way better than my own concoctions. They like em so much that I usually only get a sip before someone takes over my glass.
Here is my list of add-ins.
2 Tb very green powder
1/2 C plain Greek yogurt
1/2 c kefir
1 handful kale leaves
1 handful spinach leaves
1Tb ground flax seeds.

I don't use all of the add-ins. I usually add the green powder, either yogurt or kefir, and either spinach or kale depending on what I have.

PR and #1 female finisher

Wuhoo!  I ran our stake 5k in 22:50 and was the #1 women's finisher!   All those intervals paid off! 

Cherry Sorbet

Christian calls this "orange ice cream"  We've been going cherry berry crazy over here!
I used this recipe and altered it for cherries instead of strawberries. 

• 3 C cherries de-pitted
• 2/3 C honey (I added more sweet because the cherries are more sour than strawberries)
• 1 pinch salt
  
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cold water
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice

Blend the cherries in the blender until smooth.  Heat honey and cherries in sauce pan over medium-low heat until melted and bubbly.  Whisk the cornstarch into the water and then add to cherry mixture.  Whisk. Remove from heat and add lemon juice.  Pour in freezer safe bowl and keep in fridge about 2 hour or until cool.  Move to freezer and stir every 2 hours or so.  

 I thought that it might look artsy to take the picture kind of side ways but it just looks weird so turn your head!

Cherry Lemonade Popsicles

My awesome cousin Bonnie has an awesome cherry tree in her back yard.  She let us go and pick some and she even dried some for us.  yay!  I like eating them plan but Christian didn't really like that so I made some of these cherry lemonade popsicles.  First I made the lemonade and then I poured it into the popsicle molds about 3/4 full. 

Lemonade: 
juice of 1 large lemon (mine was gigantic)
2/3 cup honey
2 quarts warm water

Mix together until honey and lemon are dissolved in the water. 

After that I added some sliced cherries until my molds were full and then I put them in the freezer.  I froze them over night.  They turned out Yummy!  We can't stop eating them!  I saved the rest of the lemonade in the fridge and so we can make as much as we want until we run out. 

pop secret

I feel dumb that I never knew this. 
One of my favorite treats is popcorn.  My air popper broke a while ago so I haven't been eating it as much. 

Put 1/4 cup of kernels in a paper lunch sized bag
then fold over the top once or twice
after that put it in the microwave for about 2 minutes or until popping slows. (just like microwave popcorn)
add flavorings and enjoy!

Healthy Menu

Every week before I go grocery shopping I write down my menu.   Breakfast and lunch are less formal and I just like to know my options and then eat what I feel like.  I try to  remember what I have and eat it before it goes bad.   I like to plan out my dinners by the day, but those too are always subject to change. 

Breakfast options:    
Berry Smoothie;
White quiona almonds, raisins, real salt, honey, cinnamon;
millet cereal;
egg tortilla;
fruit and greek yogurt with peanut butter toast.

Lunch main: 
dinner leftovers
PB and honey sandwich;
Rice and 2 bean salad; t
taboulli salad;
cabbage and carrot salad;
spinach fruit and sunflower seeds salad. 

+ fruit or veggie:  baby carrots; broccoli stems, apples, bananas, blueberries, cantaloupe, watermelon, spinach, celery sticks. 

Snacks:
 fruit or veggie:  baby carrots; broccoli stems, apples, bananas, blueberries, cantaloupe, watermelon, spinach, celery sticks
Seeds and nuts: almonds, sunflower, pumpkin, chia.

Dinners
Monday:  left over baked beans,  Wild rice, rotisserie chicken (store bought) , green salad  
Tuesday:  ground turkey tacos on whole wheat tortillas, guacomole, left over rice, refried beans, corn on the cob
Wednesday:   Vegetarian Spaghetti whole wheat noodles with red quinoa,  cauliflower, brocolli,  cheese toast for kids, salad
Thurday:  Cafe Super grain Salad 
Friday:   Chicken fajitas:  chicken marinated in lemon sauted with bell peppers, cucumber, squash, onion, cilantro on top,  brown rice, left over veggies or salad
Sat:  Tilapia with miss dash lemon seasoning, couscous, steamed veggies,
Sunday:  bean tostadas with whatever veggies and salad we have left.

Here are some internet sources that I like to look at for new recipes and healthy ideas:
www.chefbrad.com   He has tons of free recipes on his fusion tv show link
www.grainmix.com     My mom's website has wonderful recipes for sprouts, whole grains, and ground grains
www. whfoods.com  This website is amazing, it will teach you the healthiest ways to make any food and has loads of recipes.