Make Your Own!

Ever stop and read the nutrition facts and ingredient lists when you go to the grocery store? You might be surprised by some of the things you find. The majority of us are getting far more salt and sugar in our diet then is really good for us. While there are a lot of things you kind find in a store that will be good for you it is increasingly important to to read labels and know what you’re putting into your body. The best way to ensure that you’re getting only things you want is to make your own food.

jamIt is amazing how many calories, how much salt and sugar we take in each day from our condiments alone. Salad dressing, ketchup, mayonnaise, jam, these are all things that you can make your own. By taking the initiative and making it yourself you can be sure there is no high fructose corn syrup, no MSG and ensure there are good quality ingredients that you want to eat. It will still be important not to over do it.  Let your salad dressing enhance your salads rather then smother it.

For those of you who are parents with very young children, consider making your own baby food. There is a lot of material out there on how to do it and it doesn’t need to take a lot of time. Try making a large batch at once and freeze it in ice cube trays and thaw it out when you need it.

It may sound a little scary but it is surprisingly simple to make your own yogurt. All you need is milk (preferably organic) and yogurt cultures which can be found at most health food stores. Yogurt can be a great substitute for oil, butter, or sour cream. It can make a great snack and a great base for frozen yogurt.

Whatever you decide to make, enjoy!