Unwanted Prescription take away program


Do you have old prescriptions left in your _____ (fill in Blank, Kitchen, Bath room, bedroom,) just taking up valuable stock pilie space? I thought so, I do to. Don't throw them away let the nice people working with IPA (Iowa Pharmacy Association) dispose of them properly! Go here for a list of places you can drop them off at. Too learn more about this service or if you have questions go to the Iowa Pharmacy Association's website

If you live here in Iowa Falls, Gary at your local Iowa Falls Hy-Vee pharmacy can help you dispose of you unwanted prescriptions. This is a free service, and a very handy service, as you don't want your kiddo's or your pets to get into your old, unwanted, or expired prescriptions.

Hy-Vee 3day sale 8-25 / 8-26 / 8-27


Seedless Watermelon $3.68
7-Up Products 2 Liter Bottles $0.69
Hunt's Snack Pack Pudding 5/ $4.00
Hy-Vee Natural Spring or Purified Drinking Water 4/ $10.00
Hy-Vee Split Top Bread $0.99
Fresh Chicken Leg Quarters 39¢ lb
Right Guard Sport or Soft & Dri Antiperspirant or Deodorant 5/ $5.00
Charmin Bathroom Tissue $3.99

Free Grandparents Day Greeting Card

Papersnaps.com is offering a FREE Grandparents Day Greeting Card with the code GDAY11. Shipping is also FREE. This offer is available to the US, for a limited time.

Florida’s Natural Instant Win Game




Alright, so what can you win?! A super awesome and super rare coupon valid for $1/1 59oz or larger Carton of Florida’s Natural Orange Juice! Yay! And or even better, win FREE juice for a year! Just hop on over to the
Florida’s Natural Facebook page, click on the “Instant Win” tab and choose a tree to shake. You can play 3 times per day. Good Luck!

Sweepstakes of the Day - Club Tyson's Back 2 School Prizewheel

Play the Back 2 School Prizewheel on the Club Tyson Facebook page for your chance to win a HP Mini Netbook. You could instantly win lots of other prizes. I won a pencil sharpener and eraser the first time I played. You can enter daily through September 15, 2011. Good luck and be sure to let me know if you win!

Homemade Carpet Steamer Shampoo

Homemade Carpet Steamer Shampoo

3/4 cup very hot Water
1/2 cup White Vinegar*
1 Tablespoon liquid Castille Soap (available at most health food stores)
30 drops Thyme Essential Oil (also available at health food stores)- this provides antibacterial properties and a very refreshing scent


Pour all ingredients into a container with a pour spout (or you can use a funnel) and blend well. Add the formula to the appropriate compartment on your steam cleaner and clean your carpet according to the manufacturers directions.

*Vinegar can sometimes slightly bleach dark-colored carpets. Test this formula on an inconspicuous area first.

thanks, http://cuttingcouponsinkc.blogspot.com/

Mark Your Calendar for a Day Out With Thomas





Have you heard the news? Thomas the Train is currently touring the nation and he will be in Iowa a month from today for a Day Out with Thomas! You can catch the The Leader of the Track Tour 2011 at Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad & Museum September 17, 18, 23, 24 & 25.

A Day Out with Thomas includes a 25 minute ride with a full size Thomas the Tank Engine, meeting Sir Topham Hatt plus storytelling, live music, building with Mega Bloks and much more!

My son is toddler and is huge Thomas the Train fan. I know he would love the train ride with Thomas! We tried to go last year but my son was sick, and it was to cold out. If we go this year I hope that we have nice weather. He would be so excited!

To find out more information about the event and to reserve your tickets head over here for a Day Out With Thomas 2011.

HY-VEE 8-17 / 8-22 deals

Don't forget the 2 day sale too!


California Jumbo Princess Seedless Green Grapes, price per lb. $0.99

Fresh Cilantro 2/ $1.00

California Black Diamond Plums 99¢ lb.

Hy-Vee Frozen Vegetables $0.69

Hi-C Juice Drink or Minute Maid Coolers $1.77

Budget Saver Pops $2.19

Hy-Vee 100% Natural Value Pack Fresh Split Chicken Breast 88¢ lb.

Hy-Vee 100% Natural Whole Fryers 99¢

Pillsbury Frosting 12 - 16 oz. $1.68 ($0.40 06-12 RP) = $1.28

Girly hair bows

I have been on a mission to keep my little toddler's growing hair under control,  not having a budget for hair accessories, I thought, a bit of ribbon and embellishments would be enough for cute hair bows so I made my own!

hair accessories are so easy to make, and there are a ton of tutorials out there, watch some videos on youtube, and search for ways to make home made hair bows, I just thought I would post an introduction to hair bows. you can save a ton of money on hair accessories if you make your own.


Here are some great youtube clips on how to make hair clips, what would I do with out you tube?

Ribbon roses, are so beautiful, go here for the video

What you need are

Hair clips, and barrettes you can find them at Hobby Lobby in the jewlery section,( use a 40% off coupon if they are not on sale for 50% off)

Ribbon, I like all sizes and colors find what will work out best for your style.

Embellishments, my favorite are the plastic gems you find in the scrapbook section and in the jewelry section, also buttons work well too.

a hot glue gun and glue

needle and thread


I like to cover my clips with ribbon before I glue on the bow, or the embellishment but what ever works is going to look just fine.

you can see that some of the clips just have gems on them, all I did was cover my clip with ribbon, hot glue the gems on that was it! so simple and cute!

Have fun they really are a fun project to do during nap time or watching Rella (Cinderella) with your daughter for the 20th time this month!

Homemade baking mix (jiffy Mix, bisquick)

photo credit
Do you go through a tom of baking mix at your house? I thought so, I will admit I love pancakes! So instead of waiting another two months to get our baking mix on sale (I am all out of baking mix.)  instead of having my family deprived of pancakes I would make a batch or two of  home made baking mix at a fraction of the cost. Since a 5 lb bag of Flour was on sale a couple weeks ago for .99 I stocked up, and now I hope I got enough until November when flour will go on sale again.

Go here for more information on the recipe

Ingredients

  • 6 cups All-purpose Flour
  • 3 Tablespoons Baking Powder
  • 1 Tablespoon Baking Soda
  • 3 Tablespoons Sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon Salt
  • Preparation Instructions

    1. Sift all your dry ingredients into a mixer bowl. note: Add 2 Table spoons of vegetable oil to every 2 cup mix when using the mix.
    I like to keep this in a large tupperware container in the fridge. Use it just like you would Bisqui … your favorite baking mix!

    I used a 21 cup Rubber Maid air tight canister, and doubled the recipe.

    Go here for Jiffy  recipes to use with your baking mix (my favorite resource)
    Go here for bisquick recipes to use with your baking mix

Millionaire Muffin MIx

go here for photo credit
Tired of buying expensive muffin mix when you really want real blue berry muffins instead of that other stuff that is on the shelf that is over price? Look no further! I just made a muffin mix that you store in ziplock bags, when you want to make muffins all you have to do is add the wet ingredients and your favorite add ins, like apple sauce, blue berries, chocolate chips, and strawberries

The Mix will make about 10 bags/batches of mix About 12 muffins each, use  quart ziplock bags to store them individualy, or use an air tight canister to store mix
Go here for more information

Ingredients

  • FOR THE MUFFIN MIX:
  • 20 cups Flour
  • 2-½ cups Sugar
  • ¾ cups Baking Powder
  • 1-½ Tablespoon Salt

  • TO BAKE ONE BATCH OF MUFFINS:
  • 2 cups (Generous Cups) Muffin Mix
  • 1 cup Milk
  • 1 whole Egg
  • ⅓ cups Oil
  • 1 cup Flavor Add-in, Such As Mini Chocolate Chips Or Blueberries
  • Preparation Instructions

    Whisk together in a VERY large bowl the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Portion this into 10 Ziploc baggies, a generous 2 cups into each bag. Put the bags into your pantry or freezer.
    When you are ready to bake a batch of muffins, take out one bag of mix. Add in the milk, egg, and oil. Also mix in the flavor add-ins, such as mini chocolate chips or blueberries. Spoon into 12 greased muffin cups.
    Bake at 400ºF for 18 minutes.

    Other tips: instead of using milk use 6 oz. of sour cream or yogurt (your muffins will be a bit more moist) I like using lemon yogurt when making Blue berry or strawberry muffins, it adds a bit of citrus flavor to the muffin. If you use Apple sauce for your add in, ommit the oil, or only use 1 Table spoon of oil if you need the oil to help your muffins not stick to your pan! 

Awesome 2 day sale at Hy-Vee

Hy-Vee is having a 2 Day sale this week, Thursday and Friday,  go here to see the rest of the 2 day sale If you have a Hy-Vee fundraiser coupon book, the coupon for .50/1 Hy-Vee cereal would make it only .50!

Welcome

Hello, If you have seen our article in the Iowa Falls Times Citizen, and are wondering how to save some money with grocery shopping, then you came to the right spot for deals in the Iowa Falls area. Our blog shows you ways to save you money, deals that we think are worthy to take advantage of, and of course coupons! This is a fairly new blog that two stay at home mom's have started we hope to share the skills and talents of saving money on your grocery bill one post at a time. Our favorite thing to write about is how to simply save money if you coupon or not go Here to see our post's on how to save money

If you like our blog we would love to have you as a follower, (a way to get emails when we post so you know when we have updated our blog) Or just leave a comment if you have questions or something you have been wanting to know! We hope that this will be a great resource for the community to share their deals they came across.

Hy-vee 8-10/8-16


Ripe'n Ready Nectarines $.97 lb
Green peppers $.50 each
red peppers $.77 each
Yoplait Multipack yogurt $2 (lots of coupons out there)
Huggies little swimmers $8.98
Barilla Pasta 12 - 16 oz. select varieties $1.18(coupon valid on Piccolini variety only if included 06-26 S $0.55/1 = $0.63


Save $5 with in ad coupon when you buy any 10 participating Box Top of Education products in a single shopping visit.
:GM cereals, Green Giant Vegetables, Betty Crocker fruit snacks, Crescents, and others... gohere for coupons to ad to this deal

Online Deals:
Mangos $.69 each
Yellow Onions $.88 lb
luigi's Italian Ice $2 (coupon out there somewhere, if you find it let me know!)

2 Day Sale (8-11 8-12)
Green Seedless Grapes $.88 lb
Aim or Pepsodent Toothpaste $.88 each

FREE Gooseberry Patch Fall Favorites Cookbook!

This is a great way to get some wonderful Fall recipes, I love Gooseberry Patch cookbooks, look for them at Hobby Lobby.  FREE Gooseberry Patch Fall Favorites Cookbook fill out the short form. Allow 4 weeks for delivery and enjoy!
Thanks, Mommy Savers

Homemade Febreeze

Homemade Febreeze

1/8 cup Liquid Fabric Softener
2 Tablespoons Baking Soda
Hot Tap Water to fill 32oz. Spray Bottle to the top (I used an emtpy Febreeze bottle.)

Add all ingredients to the spray bottle & shake. Now spray away all of those stinky odors!

FREE Sandwich Keeper with purchase of 2 Welch’s Products

Right now you can receive a FREE sandwich keeper when you buy any 2 Welch’s jams, jellies, spreads or preserves!  All you need to do is mail in the completed FORM along with your purchase receipts.
Offer is valid on purchases made thru 9/30/2011.  Requests must be received by 10/15/2011.  While supplies last.

Thank You krazycouponlady.com

Tax Free Weekend

Click here for a pdf of all the things that are included in the tax free weekend some things might surprise you, like a Bridal Dress, what? cheek it out and stock up on the essentials like socks, underwear, pj's belts, shoes and jeans.  Go Here for some great money saving tips when buying clothes, you will be glad you did

Does Any one know if School Supplies like markers, crayons, and so on also tax free? if that's the case do lab tops count? we could use a "cheep" one..

Homemade Bath Crayons

http://www.mommag.com/blog/2010/8/23/homemade-bath-crayons


This sounds like a great way to use my stock pile!

1 1/4 cups hot water
1 bar of soap/Ivory is the best, also free with coupons at times
Food coloring or soap dye
Essential oils, if desired
Soap molds
Cookie cutters/knife

Grate the bar of soap in to fine pieces. Use a knife to cut the soap in to small chunks if a grater is not available.

Place the soap and the warm water in to a bowl and mix until the soap is dissolved and the soap has begun to thicken.

Add 5 to 10 drops of food coloring or soap dye and essential oil, as desired, to the soap mixture and stir until combined. NOTE: Food dye could potentially stain. I’d recommend using soap dye. You can find it at your local craft store, such as Hobby Lobby or Michael’s.

Pour the soap mixture in to soap molds. You could also use old plastic dishes, cookie sheets and baking tins if you do not have soap molds.

Allow the crayons to harden for one to two days before removing from the mold. Use the crayons to draw, write and color pictures on the bath tub and shower wall.

Hy-Vee coupon Match up 7/20-7/26 Free Pasta!

Ronzoni Garden Delight Pasta, $0.99
Use $1/1 Ronzoni Garden Delight Pasta 5/15/2011 SS Insert (exp 9/10/2011)
Final Price: FREE


For more coupon match ups go to
http://www.pennypinchinmom.com/2011/07/hyvee-weekly-matchups-720-726/#more-39556

Yearly Sale Cycle

I thought I would post this calendar of sales cycles, and what is on sale during the calendar year, it's always nice to know when items go on sale when you want  to stock pile.


January

National Oatmeal Month: Quaker
Diet Foods including: Healthy Choice, South Beach, Lean Cuisine, Special K, Kashi, Smart Start, 100 Calorie Packs, Yogurt
Super Bowl Sunday: Pepsi, Coke, Chips, Dips, Cheese, Sandwich Items, Crackers, Snacks, Wings
Seasonal Produce: Oranges, Pears, Grapefruit, Tangerines, Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Collards, Kale, Kiwi, Avocado, Cabbage, Spinach
Clearance: Christmas Decorations, Toys, Wrapping Papers,
Winter Health: Cold Medicines and Vitamins

February

National Canned Food Month: Canned Fruit, Pie Fillings, Vegetables, Meats: Tuna, Chicken, Salmon
National Hot Breakfast Month:  Malt O Meal, Oatmeal, Eggo Waffles, Syrup
Valentines:  Chocolate, Hershey’s, KY Lubricant, etc
Chinese New Year: Soy Sauce, Teriyaki Sauce, Noodles, Canned Water Chestnuts
Seasonal Produce:  Artichoke, Asparagus, Raspberries, Potatoes, Strawberries, Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Collards, Kale, Kiwi, Avocado, Spinach

March

Frozen Food Month: Ice Cream, Frozen Vegetables (Boxed, Bag, or Steam), Frozen Meals, Foster Farms Chicken, Waffles, Pizza
Seasonal Produce: Artichoke, Asparagus, Haas Avocado, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Collards, Fennel, Kale, Leek, Lemon, Lime, Mushrooms, Spring Onions, Orange, Peas, Radish, Rhubarb, Spinach, Strawberries, Tangerine

April

Easter:  Ham, Eggs, Spices, Baking Supplies: Sugar, Spices, Baking Mixes, Chocolate Chips, Butter, Coconut, Marshmallows, Brownie Mix, Cake Mix
Earth Day: Organic Foods, Energy Saver, Reusable Totes
Seasonal Produce: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbages, Carrots, Grapefruit, Haas Avocado, Mushrooms, Onions, Peas, Rhubarb
Clearance: After Easter sales

May

Memorial Day: BBQ Sauce, Condiments, Charcoal, Salad Dressing, Potato Chips, Dips, Grilling Meats, Hot Dogs, Hamburger Meat, Marinade, Salad Greens
Paper Products: Plates, Utensils, Insect Repellant, Sunscreen
Cinco De Mayo: Salsa, tortillas
Seasonal Produce: Artichokes, Asparagus, Avocado, Beans, Green, Beets, Blackberries, Carrots, Sweet Vidalia Onions, Peas, New Potatoes, Raspberries, Strawberries

June

National Dairy Month: Eggs, Milk, Ice Cream, Cheese, Cream Cheese, Butter, Yogurt, Whipping Cream, Whipped Cream, Cool Whip
End of June is Fourth or July Sales: Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, BBQ Sauce, Ketchup, Condiments, Charcoal, Salad Dressing, Potato Chips, Dips
Seasonal Produce: Apricots, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cherries, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Grapes, Honeydew, Nectarines, Peaches, Potatoes, Raspberries, Red Onions, Squash, Summer, Strawberries, Sweet Vidalia Onions, Tomatoes, Watermelon

July

National Ice Cream Month
More 4th of July BBQ Sales: Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, BBQ Sauce, Ketchup, Condiments, Charcoal, Salad Dressing, Potato Chips, Dips
End of July: Back to School Sales Begin: Crayons, Pencils, Folders, Binders
Seasonal Produce: Asian Pears, Bartlett Pears, Beans, Green, Blueberries, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Figs, Garlic, Grapes, Nectarines, Onions, Red, Valencia Oranges, Peaches, Sweet/Bell Peppers, Plums, Potatoes, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Watermelon

August

Back to School: Pudding cups, Lunch meat, Lunchables, Bread, Cold Cereal, Waffles, Lunchboxes
Disinfectant:  Clorox, Purell
Clearance:  Insect Repellant, Sunscreen, charcoal
Seasonal Produce: Gravenstein Apple, Haas Avocado, Green Beans, Beans, Berries, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Figs, Grapes, Melons, Onion, Peaches, Bartlett Pears, Bell Pepper, Plums, Raspberries, Squash, Summer, Tomatillo, Tomato

September

Back to School Sales through Labor Day:  Crayons, Pencils, Folders, Binders
Diabetes: Bayer Glucose Meters, Glucerna Cereal
Seasonal Produce: Apples, Artichokes, Beans, Bell Peppers, Chili Peppers, Cucumber, Eggplant, Grapes, Onion, Valencia Orange, Asian Pears, Bartlett Pears, Pomegranate, Squash, Tomatillo, Tomatoes, Winter Squash
Baby Items: Major Baby Equipment, Baby Safety

October

Halloween: Candy, Fresh Pumpkin
Beginning of the Baking Sales: Canned pumpkin, Evaporated Milk, Baking Chips
Daylight Savings Time Ends Promotions: Alarm Clocks, Batteries, Safety Equipment, Smoke Detectors
National Seafood Month
Adopt a Shelter-Dog Month: Pedigree, Purina
Seasonal Produce: Almonds, Apples, Artichokes, Arugula, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbages, Chard, Chestnuts, Cranberries, Lemons, Parsnip, Pears, Pomegranate, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Pumpkin, Spinach, Squash, Winter, Turnips, Yams

November

Hot Cocoa, Coffee, Tea
Baking Sales in Full Swing: Nuts, Chocolate Chips, Evaporated Milk, Sweetened Condensed Milk, Coconut, Cake Mixes
Canned foods: Soup, Broth, Vegetables, Fruits, Spaghetti Sauce
Thanksgiving Items: Turkey, Canned Pumpkin, Stovetop Stuffing, Betty Crocker Boxed Potatoes, Gravy Mixes, Frozen Pies, Cranberry Sauce, Jello, Marshmallows
Seasonal Produce: Anjou Pears, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbages, Carrots, Celery, Comice Pears, Cranberries, Kiwi, Lemons, Orange, Potato, Squash, Yams
Clearance: After Halloween Sales

December

Holiday Dinner: Egg Nog, Deli Platters, Instant Potatoes, Gravy Mixes, Frozen Pies, Cranberry Sauce, Jello, Marshmallows. Sour Cream Dips, Crackers, Chips, Soda, Ham
Baking: Flour, Sugar, Butter, Cream, Cake Mix, Brownie Mix, Muffin Mix, Breads, Pie Crust, Marshmallow, Whipped cream
Canned Foods: Soup, Broth, Condensed Milk, Vegetables, Fruits, Spaghetti Sauce
Seasonal Produce: Anjou Pears, Bok Choy, Bosc Pears, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Dates, Grapefruit, Haas Avocados, Kale, Kiwi, Kumquat, Lemon, Napa Cabbage, Oranges, Sweet Potatoes, Red Cabbage, Rutabaga, Savoy Cabbage, Spinach, Winter Squash, Yams, Turnips, White Potato
Clearance: After Thanksgiving and After Christmas Sales

Hy-Vee 2 day sale June 2ed and 3rd


pork chops $1.99 lb
Ken's Salad Dressing $.99 (limit 3) use 05-08 SS to get it free!!!!
Hy-Vee cottage cheese $1.28 24oz
Kraft Mac & Cheese $.59 each
Driscoll's red Raspberrries $1.48 6oz

10 Secrets for Healthier Grocery Shopping

Not only do we want to get the deal we want to to be healty, hope this helps you think about what your buying. It gave me a lot to think about!

1. Look for short ingredient lists
When you find a packaged food in the supermarket with a long list of ingredients on the label, just set it back on the shelf and look for a simpler version of the food. (We're talking here about the "Ingredients" part of the label. "Nutrition Facts" is another part, and more about that later.) The alarming truth is, many of those ingredients are various kinds of sugars and chemical additives, and they're not put there for you — they're there to benefit the company that processes the food. They "enhance" the looks, taste, or shelf life — which is all about marketing and shipping and not at all about your health. Most additives aren't known to be harmful (although the health effects of some are still open to question), but they aren't about nutrition or taste as nature intended taste to be. In fact, one of their main purposes is to make up for a lack of those things. So check the list of ingredients every time. Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition at New York University, says that almost always, the shorter the better.

2. Think twice about "no cholesterol" claims
Cholesterol is a fat that occurs only in animal products (meat, fish, eggs, milk, and butter, for instance). So why do some plant-derived products claim in large letters that they contain no cholesterol? Because the food companies know that people care about their cholesterol levels, and they know that most people probably have forgotten or never knew that plants don't contain any. Some of the offenders are cereal, bread, cookies, salad dressings, and, especially, oils and margarine. Oils are obviously fats, so the makers think you'll be reassured to see that there's no cholesterol in the corn oil, safflower oil, or olive oil. Next time you see the claim, just say to yourself, "Duh! It's a plant product! Of course it doesn't contain cholesterol."

3. Learn what "organic" really means
There's considerable confusion about the use of the word "organic" on food labels, just as there is about almost everything having to do with labeling. For starters, the organic label is earned through a certification process, and it means the producer adhered to a strict set of rules and procedures.
• For organic fruits and vegetables, U.S. Department of Agriculture rules — and virtually identical regulations in Canada — say that they must be grown without any of these things: genetically modified seeds, fertilizers made from chemicals or sewage sludge, chemical pesticides or herbicides, and irradiation. Growers are also required to keep records and present them upon demand by accredited inspectors. Foods may also be labeled "100 percent organic," "organic" (95 to 99 percent organic), "made with organic ingredients" (74 to 94 percent organic), or, for organic content of lesser amount, the specific organic ingredients may be listed.
• On meat, the organic seal means the animals may be fed only certified organic feed and no by-products of other animals. The animals can't be given hormones or antibiotics. They must be allowed access to the outdoors and treated humanely.
All organic farms must keep records and be inspected by accredited inspectors. There isn't enough organic food being produced to meet the demand for it, but its availability is increasing all the time. Many supermarkets now carry some organic food, and there is at least one chain (Whole Foods Market) that sells mostly organic. In addition, farmers' markets, health food stores, and individual farms are good sources of organic food.

4. Be suspicious of "natural" labels
The food labels "natural" and "organic" are pretty much interchangeable, right? That's exactly what food companies want you to think. But here's the truth: Use of "natural" on labels is a much more loosey-goosey affair than use of the term "organic." There's no single set of requirements for products claiming to be natural, but such labels are supposed to be accurate. If, for example, meat is claimed to be natural because the animal was not fed antibiotics or hormones, the label should say that and it should be true. Farmers or food companies that use the "natural" label are not subject to inspections as a condition of using the label. You just have to take their word for it.

5. Be wary of the serving size
Many "Nutrition Facts" labels are designed to make you think you're getting fewer calories than you really are. For example, labels list the nutrients on a per-serving basis. But be sure to check the "serving size" and "servings per container" lines. The candy bar that most people would eat all by themselves in a single sitting may say that it contains two servings. If you saw "100 calories" on the label, you must make a mental adjustment — you're actually eating two servings, so you're getting 200 calories.

6. Use a pocket calculator to compare items
A calculator is the best tool for helping you figure out what the food industry doesn't want you to know: the actual value of the nutrients in the food you're buying. For example, say you're trying to find out which breakfast cereal is more nutritious, General Mills' Multi Grain Cheerios or Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats (the whole-grain version). The Cheerios serving size is listed as one cup, but the Mini-Wheats serving is "about 24 biscuits." You can't really open the box in the store to see how that stacks up against the one cup, so the only way to compare unit to unit is to use grams, which are listed on both packages. The 59-gram Mini-Wheats serving is almost twice the size of the 29-gram Cheerios, so you have to cut in half the nutrients listed on the Mini-Wheats label. Gram for gram, their nutrients are very similar: roughly the same calories, fiber, carbs, protein, and fat. Even the amount of sugars is about the same, despite the fact that the Cheerios box proclaims the contents to be "lightly sweetened" and the Mini-Wheats have frosting! This might come as a surprise to a lot of nutritional gatekeepers.

7. Get the "whole" story
Marketers know that nutrition-conscious shoppers are interested in whole grains these days. Don't be deceived into buying a product that's labeled "wheat bread," however. What you really want is "whole wheat" or "whole grain" bread

8. Don't confuse cereal hype with facts
If you want a healthy breakfast cereal, not one that just claims to be, ignore the large-type claims on the package and go right to the labels. Look for a short list of ingredients. Look for a whole grain as the first ingredient. Look for one that has no sugar. (You can always add sugar yourself if necessary.) Then look at the per-serving nutrients on the nutrition label. Look for a cereal with a lot of fiber in each serving. Highly sweetened cereals, when fed regularly to young children, condition their taste for sugar at an early age, forming habits that are hard to break. Nutrition professor Marion Nestle says that most breakfast cereals are now processed and sugared to such a degree that "they might as well be cookies — low-fat cookies."

9. Don't get soaked for watery foods
Water is the magic ingredient in prepared foods, and if it's first on the list of ingredients, that's a clue that there's a long list of additives to follow to give that water some taste and texture. You might not be surprised to see water at the top of the list of ingredients in soups. After all, soup does take a lot of water. It's more surprising to find it so prominent in SpaghettiOs. Many, many salad dressings contain more water than anything else, and since oil and water don't mix, it takes a bunch of additives to hold everything together. Water is cheap, so the food industry likes it.

10. Scan the can for MSG
Check out the ingredient list on the labels of prepared foods — on soups, for example. Keep reading, because it's pretty far down on a long list (although if there is no MSG, that's usually prominently mentioned at the top). MSG (monosodium glutamate) is sometimes listed under its own name but often under other names, among them hydrolyzed soy protein, autolyzed yeast, and sodium caseinate. MSG is a synthetic version of the substance umami, as it is known in Japan, which occurs naturally in some foods, including Parmesan cheese, soy sauce, and mushrooms. MSG, widely used in Asian cooking, went out of favor when it became associated with headaches and other unpleasant symptoms. Now many Asian restaurants proudly advertise "No MSG" on their menus, but the food industry still sneaks it in as a flavor enhancer. So if you're concerned about MSG, look for it under all of its names.

15 Foods You Should Never Buy Again

1. 'Gourmet' frozen vegetables.
Sure, you can buy an 8-ounce packet of peas in an herbed butter sauce, but why do so when you can make your own? Just cook the peas, add a pat of butter and sprinkle on some herbs that you already have on hand. The same thing goes for carrots with dill sauce and other gourmet veggies.

2. Microwave sandwiches.
When you buy a pre-made sandwich, you're really just paying for its elaborate packaging — plus a whole lot of salt, fat, and unnecessary additives. For the average cost of one of these babies ($2.50 to $3.00 per sandwich), you could make a bigger, better, and more nutritious version yourself

3. Premium frozen fruit bars.
At nearly $2 per bar, frozen 'all fruit' or 'fruit and juice' bars may not be rich in calories, but they are certainly rich in price. Make your own at home — and get the flavors you want. The only equipment you need is a blender, a plastic reusable ice-pop mold (on sale at discount stores for about 99 cents each), or small paper cups and pop sticks or wooden skewers.

To make four pops, just throw 2 cups cut-up fruit, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1 teaspoon lemon or lime juice into a blender. Cover and blend until smooth. You might wish to add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water so the final mix is a thick slush. Pour into 4-ounce pop molds or paper cups, insert sticks, and freeze until solid

4. Boxed rice 'entree' or side-dish mixes.
These consist basically of rice, salt, and spices — yet they're priced way beyond the ingredients sold individually. Yes, there are a few flavorings included, but they're probably ones you have in your pantry already. Buy a bag of rice, measure out what you need, add your own herbs and other seasonings, and cook the rice according to package directions.

5. Energy or protein bars.
These calorie-laden bars are usually stacked at the checkout counter because they depend on impulse buyers who grab them, thinking they are more wholesome than a candy bar. Unfortunately, they can have very high fat and sugar contents and are often as caloric as a regular candy bar. They're also two to three times more expensive than a candy bar at $2 to $3 a bar. If you need a boost, a vitamin-rich piece of fruit, a yogurt, or a small handful of nuts is more satiating and less expensive!

6. Spice mixes.
Spice mixes like grill seasoning and rib rubs might seem like a good buy because they contain a lot of spices that you would have to buy individually. Well, check the label; we predict the first ingredient you will see on the package is salt, followed by the vague 'herbs and spices.' Look in your own pantry, and you'll probably be surprised to discover just how many herbs you already have on hand. Many cookbooks today include spice mix recipes, particularly grilling cookbooks. But the great thing about spice mixes is that you can improvise as much as you want. Make your own custom combos and save a fortune.

7. Powdered iced tea mixes or prepared flavored iced tea.
Powdered and gourmet iced teas are really a rip-off! It's much cheaper to make your own iced tea from actual (inexpensive) tea bags and keep a jug in the fridge. Plus, many mixes and preparations are loaded with high fructose corn syrup and other sugars, along with artificial flavors. So make your own, and get creative! To make 32 ounces of iced tea, it usually takes 8 bags of black tea or 10 bags of herbal, green, or white tea. Most tea-bag boxes have recipes, so just follow along. If you like your tea sweet but want to keep calories down, skip the sugar and add fruit juice instead.

8. Bottled water.
Bottled water is a bad investment for so many reasons. It's expensive compared to what's coming out of the tap, its cost to the environment is high (it takes a lot of fossil fuel to produce and ship all those bottles), and it's not even better for your health than the stuff running down your drain!

Even taking into account the cost of filters, water from home is still much cheaper than bottled water, which can run up to $1 to $3 a pop.

If you have well water and it really does not taste good (even with help from a filter), or if you have a baby at home who is bottle-fed and needs to drink safe water, buy jugs of distilled or 'nursery' water at big discount stores. They usually cost between 79 cents and 99 cents for 1 gallon (as opposed to $1.50 for 8 ounces of 'designer' water). And you can reuse the jugs to store homemade iced tea, flavored waters, or, when their tops are cut off, all sorts of household odds and ends.

9. Salad kits.
Washed and bagged greens can be a time-saver, but they can cost three times as much as buying the same amount of a head of lettuce. Even more expensive are 'salad kits,' where you get some greens, a small bag of dressing, and a small bag of croutons. Skip these altogether. Make your own croutons by toasting cut-up stale bread you would otherwise toss, and try mixing your own salad dressing

10. Individual servings of anything.
The recent trend to package small quantities into 100-calorie snack packs is a way for food-makers to get more money from unsuspecting consumers. The price 'per unit' cost of these items is significantly more than if you had just bought one big box of cheese crackers or bag of chips. This is exactly what you should do. Buy the big box and then parcel out single servings and store them in small, reusable storage bags.

11. Trail mix.
We checked unit prices of those small bags of trail mix hanging in the candy aisle not that long ago and were shocked to find that they cost about $10 a pound! Make your own for much, much less with a 1-pound can of dry roasted peanuts, 1 cup of raisins, and a handful of almonds, dried fruit, and candy coated chocolate. The best part about making your own is that you only include the things you like! Keep the mixture in a plastic or glass container with a tight lid for up to 3 weeks.

12. 'Snack' or 'lunch' packs.
These 'all-inclusive' food trays might seem reasonably priced (from $2.50 to $4.00), but you're actually paying for the highly designed label, wrapper, and specially molded tray. They only contain a few crackers and small pieces of cheese and lunchmeat. The actual edible ingredients are worth just pennies and are filled with salt

13. Gourmet ice cream.
It's painful to watch someone actually pay $6 for a gallon of designer brand ice cream. Don't bother. There's usually at least one brand or other on sale, and you can easily dress up store brands with your own additives like chunky bits of chocolate or crushed cookie. If you do like the premium brands, wait for that 3-week sales cycle to kick in and stock up when your favorite flavor is half price.

14. Pre-formed meat patties.
Frozen burgers, beef or otherwise, are more expensive than buying the ground meat in bulk and making patties yourself. We timed it — it takes less than 10 seconds to form a flat circle and throw it on the grill! Also, there's some evidence that pre-formed meat patties might contain more e. coli than regular ground meat. In fact, most of the recent beef recalls have involved pre-made frozen beef patties. Fresh is definitely better!

15. Tomato-based pasta sauces.
A jar of spaghetti sauce typically runs $2 to $6. The equivalent amount of canned tomatoes is often under $1. Our suggestion: Make your own sauces from canned crushed tomatoes or fresh tomatoes — particularly in the summer, when they are plentiful, tasty, and cheap. The easiest method is to put crushed tomatoes (canned or fresh) into a skillet, stir in some wine or wine vinegar, a little sugar, your favorite herbs, and whatever chopped vegetables you like in your sauce — peppers, onions, mushrooms, even carrots — and let simmer for an hour. Adjust the flavorings and serve. Even better: Coat fresh tomatoes and the top of a cooking sheet with olive oil and roast the tomatoes for 20 to 30 minutes at 425˚F before making your stovetop sauce. Delicioso!

(For me this give me some thing to think about but some times its nice to have the convenients of these products.For 'Gourmet' frozen vegetables, its so easy to make your own and that way it cheeper and better for you. I'm not sure the spaghetti sauce is on-target. I can get a jar of spaghetti sauce (i.e. think "Ragu") for less than one dollar on sale . It contains more sauce than 1 can of tomato sauce (which can be $1 or more per can...can you believe that?!?!) , Don't get me wrong I have made my own sauce before and will do it again. I always keep a look out for can tomato's on sale. As for spice mixes I only buy them if I have a coupon for them and can get them cheep or free, that is the only way for it to be worth the money. Premium frozen fruit bars, I love the idea of making my own, that would be fun for the kids! Powdered iced tea mixes or prepared flavored iced tea might cost lots if you don't use a sale and a coupon, so I stock up when I can, I like to use this sort of stuff when I'm running around. )

Great Condiment Debate

You like to keep your peanut butter in the fridge. Your spouse says it’s fine on the shelf. Who’s right? Actually, you both are, as long as you plan to finish the jar within a few months. Put an end to the “Great Condiment Debate” with this handy list of storage and shelf life tips for your favorite dressings and spreads:

Ketchup Like many condiments, ketchup can be stored either in the refrigerator or on the shelf even after it’s been opened. If you don’t use it regularly, however, opt for the fridge. Unopened ketchup will last at least a year. Once opened, it should be used within a month if stored in the cabinet or within six months if stored in the refrigerator.

Mayonnaise Unopened mayonnaise stored in the pantry should ideally be used by the “Best By” date on the package (but in most cases will still be good for up to four months after that date). Mayo is made from eggs, so it must be refrigerated once it’s been opened. A jar will last up to three months in the refrigerator and should never be left on the counter for more than an hour or two.

Mustard One of the heartier condiments, unopened mustard can still be used after two years on the shelf. Once opened, a jar can be stored for up to two months in the cabinet and a full year in the fridge.

Peanut butter Unopened jars can be stored in the cabinet for up to nine months. Opened jars are fine for at least a month on the shelf, and considerably longer in the refrigerator.

Jams, jellies, and preserves Unless they’re homemade or the label instructs otherwise, unopened jars can be stored for at least a year on the shelf, though they will last longer and taste better if refrigerated. Once opened, they’ll last another year in the fridge.

Soy sauce When it comes to condiments, soy sauce goes the distance. An unopened bottle will last up to three years on the shelf, while an opened bottle can remain in the fridge for up to two years. (Opened soy sauce can be stored on the shelf for a short time, but it lasts far longer when refrigerated.)

Barbeque sauce BBQ sauce can remain in the cabinet for a year unopened. Once opened, bottles can be stored up to a month on the shelf and up to four months in the refrigerator.

Capers Unopened jars of capers packed in brine can be stored on the shelf for up to three years before opening, and up to a year in the refrigerator after opening.

Cocktail sauce Store unopened cocktail sauce in the pantry for up to a year and a half. Opened jars can remain on the shelf for up to a month, but will last four months or more in the refrigerator. (Note: Never dip seafood directly into the jar or pour sauce that has come in contact with seafood back into the jar.)

Vegetable oil sprays Handy spray cans of most varieties of oil will last up to two years in the pantry.

Salsa Bottled salsa will last up to 18 months on the shelf and up to a month in the refrigerator. If transferred to a freezer bag or air-tight container, it can be frozen for another two months. Fresh salsa should be opened within two weeks or frozen for up to two months. Once opened, eat it or freeze it within a week (ditto for homemade).

Sources: StillTasty.com, WebMD.com
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