my inspiration

I wanted to write a blog about cooking healthy for less.  Yes, I know there is already a million blogs and websites out there about cooking and probably a few thousand about cooking healthy and another couple of thousand about budget cooking (I know because I love a couple).  However, I have not had much luck on finding one about BOTH healthy cooking and budget cooking.  The problem with a lot of the healthy eating websites out there call for unusual or expensive ingredients.  Sorry, but as much as I love Whole Foods and wish I could do all my shopping there, my pocketbook will not allow it.  Conversely, many of the budget cooking websites rely on pasta and other white, processed foods.

I am hoping to bring you some recipes that are healthy and, for the most part, inexpensive.  Although I might sneak a couple in that lean a little more in either direction, depending on sales or other life events.  My plan is to post what each recipe would cost and some basic nutrition info (the stuff you see on the back of the box, plus any extra stuff I know about it).  Costs will vary based on where you shop and where you live.

Additionally, I am hoping to cut a lot of meat and dairy out of my recipes (when I am cooking for myself at least, my boyfriend is still stuck with the Midwest mentality that you need meat with meals).  For being only 30 years old and pretty active, I have a lot of health problems.  The more I research, it has become obvious that many of these (not all of course, some things just happen) are a result of the over-processed or high animal product diets many of us live in today's society.  Tons of articles that I have read, in addition to the movie Forks Over Knives, have made me wish I could eat a whole foods, plant based diet.  Alas, I have not made that jump yet.  Baby steps, right??

Last but not least, please don't expect my recipes to be exact.  I have never followed a recipe exactly in my life as I like to adjust levels and ingredients to my tastes.  I also wing it a lot of time with whatever I have on hand.  So measurements are not perfect, just pretty close.  A lot of times I will use you could use this or use that or use more or don't when I am writing the instructions.  I challenge you to make the recipes your own and get creative as well!