theskinnyveg









Brit | 24 | Vegetarian | Los Angeles
Obsessed with running.

SW: 252 lbs
CW: 218.0 lbs
Loss of: 34 lbs


I'm here to get fit in mind, body and soul in only healthy ways. I want to inspire and to be inspired, so let's be friends and do this together.

"My life: a constant work in progress, and I wouldn't have it any other way."

Progress Pictures (not password protected)


Feel free to ask me anything about myself, my lifestyle change, to chat, for advice or anything else you can think of. Please be advised that I am not a health professional of any kind, so please use good judgment and always consult your health provider before beginning any health or fitness regimen.
You can also email me at skinnyveg@gmail.com

I created and maintain: The Fitblr Directory

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    foodopia:

fried cauliflower rice: recipe here

    foodopia:

    fried cauliflower rice: recipe here

    (via carogetsfit)

    thefitstop:

gettingtomygoalweightby2012:

Fruit Ice Cubes.
To prepare, crush the fruit you want to incorporate (kiwi, mango, cherries, limes, watermelon …) with some homemade lemonade, for example following this basic recipe. Then fill your bucket with the mixture and freeze.
When ready, add these cubes to your lemonade and enjoy new flavors.
Source: http://www.ohsweetbabies.com/cooking-fruit-icecubes.php

THIS IS GENIUS!

Perfectly in time for summer! 8D

    thefitstop:

    gettingtomygoalweightby2012:

    Fruit Ice Cubes.

    To prepare, crush the fruit you want to incorporate (kiwi, mango, cherries, limes, watermelon …) with some homemade lemonade, for example following this basic recipe. Then fill your bucket with the mixture and freeze.

    When ready, add these cubes to your lemonade and enjoy new flavors.

    Source: http://www.ohsweetbabies.com/cooking-fruit-icecubes.php

    THIS IS GENIUS!

    Perfectly in time for summer! 8D

    (via sophspiration)

    suppressing-the-slob:

    trip-to-fitland:

    Egg muffins

    Decided to make egg muffins for my pre workout snack. Half of cooked chicken breast, red pepper, mushrooms, grated parmesan cheese and eggs. And 16 pretty looking muffins are done. According to my calculations (or to be exact, sparkpeople calculations), one muffin is 80 kcal. Awesome. You can find the recipe here.

    P.S. yes, one muffin is missing in the silicone pan, because it was tinier than his eggy brothers so I had to save him from burning. (it was yummy!)

    Basically pastry-less quiches!
    I made very similar mini quiches with the pastry the other day and it was pretty tasty. 
    This is a great idea! Will definitely try it out soon :D

    zbob-omb:

    No Flour Pancake

    This is by far the easiest thing i have ever ever made. It was really yummy and with a good protein in it a good fat and some yummy carbs it’s pretty much the perfect way to start the day! (or even a yummy snack too!)

    These yummy pancakes only had 3 ingredients.. that’s right 3!

    Banana, Peanutbutter (or nut butter of your choice) and an egg

    Directions:

    Mash the banana

    add and mix the egg well

    add in a spoonful of your nut butter

    i found it easier to flip them when i made a few small pancakes instead of one big one. Cook a few minutes on each side. and enjoy!

    File this under #ShitINeedToTry

    (via committobefit2)

    carogetsfit:

    seedsnsmiles:

    Snickerdoodle Blondies. (Vegan, 72 calories a piece!)

    -1 can chickpeas (240g drained), 3 tbsp peanut butter, 1 tbsp apple sauce, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 tsp vanilla, 2 tsp cinnamon, 3/4 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp baking soda, 1/6 cup oatbran or flour.

    • Put everything in to a food processor and blend until combined, producing a thick, fudgey consistency. Pour in to a tinfoil lined 8x8 tin and bake for 30-35 minutes at 175C/350F.
    • Allow to cool for at least ten minutes before removing from the pan, as they firm up a little when cooling. They will still be relatively gooey when you take them out of the oven. Cut in to 16, enjoy!

    These are surprisingly delicious. It just tastes like fudgey peanut-buttery cinnamon goodness. 6 people have tried them, and no one guessed there was chickpeas in there! :)

    [Edit: Don’t reduce the sugar content. I made one with 3/4 cup, one with 1/2 cup, one with 1/4 cup and 1/4 cup was too savoury.]

    Need to make these ASAP!

    Are you kidding me? These look delicious omg

    (via workingforafitfuture)

    leanmeanworkoutmachine:

Breakfast
1. Granola bars$0.48 each for homemade  | $0.69 each for Kashi brandWho doesn’t love a crunchy, chewy grab-and-go snack? But there’s no need to shell out big bucks or entrust our health to unpronounceable ingredients. Oats, nuts, berries, and honey star in this recipe and significantly cut back on costs.
2. Granola/Breakfast cereal$0.37 per ½ cup homemade| $0.41 for Arrowhead Mills brandSkip the boxed stuff and DIY it for a personalized cereal. These homemade bran flakes rival the store-bought stuff in nutrition and flavor. Add a small handful of dried fruit and roasted nuts for some extra crunch and flavor.
3. Oatmeal$0.25 for homemade | $0.28 per packet Quaker Oats brandSwap that paper package of instant oats for classic whole rolled oats. Whip up a big batch at the beginning of the week and then soup up each serving with add-ins like fruit and spices.
4. Pancakes$0.13 per pancake homemade | $0.29 per pancake Eggo brandPut down that Bisquick. Whipping up pancakes at home is an opportunity to add in whole wheat flour and raisins for fiber and a little sweetness without sugar overload. Plus, the added fiber helps us feel full and improve digestion.
5. Waffles$0.85 per homemade Belgian-style | $1.31 for two Kashi brand frozenLeggo my Eggo! Skip the refined grains of classic toaster waffles and the exorbitant price of the healthier versions. Instead, try some hand-crafted whole-grain waffles. Extra points for using fresh-cut fruit instead of corn-syrup heavy Aunt Jemima’s.
Snacks
6. Salsa$3.40 per 16 oz. homemade| $3.75 per 16 oz. jar Green Mountain Gringo brandTake a page out of Slim Shady’s book and serve up some salsa. Boiling and blending creates a restaurant-quality dip that’s way better than the jarred stuff.
7. Guacamole$0.75 per ¼ cup homemade | $0.87 for ¼ cup Santa Barbara brandGuacamole’s an easy and stove-free snack to whip up on a warm, summer afternoon. Making it at home not only ups the freshness (and flavor), but also makes it easier to control saltiness and the heat. Pair with homemade tortilla chips for even more healthy points. Ole!
8. Hummus$0.21 per 2 tablespoon serving homemade | $0.43 for 2 tablespoons Sabra brandDangerfood or not, this dip is delicious. And when restraining ourselves to a two-tablespoon serving, it costs less than a quarter. Plus, the directions are simple — just blend! No more $6 hummus tubs needed.
9. Soft Cheeses$0.63 per ¼ cup homemade (paneer or ricotta) | $0.67 for ¼ cup fresh specialty brandNo need to be a professional chef to make cheese. Paneer and ricotta are ridiculously easy to make at home, and they’ll always be fresher than what can be bought at the store.
10. Yogurt$0.43 per 8 oz. homemade | $1.07 per 8 oz. Stonyfield Farm brandIt’s like a miracle! It’s possible to turn ½ cup of yogurt into 2 quarts just by adding milk. Okay, so there’s a little more to the process than just stirring them together, but DIY yogurt saves a pretty penny and yields a fresher final product that’s easy to feel good about!
11. Fruit snacks$0.63 per roll homemade| $0.72 for Fruitabu brandHomemade fruit snacks or “fruit leather” is a steal even when buying the fruit from the grocery store. But if it’s mid-summer and that fruit tree just keeps producing more, fruit leather’s an awesome and practically free way to preserve it. Just add lemon, sugar, and spices (which are actually optional!).
12. Tortilla chips$0.31 per 12 chips homemade| $0.53 for 12 chips Tostitos brandDon’t buy the family-sized bag! Repurpose old tortillas as chips by lightly spraying with oil and baking. While any tortillas will do, we recommend the homemade ones below.
13. Tortillas$0.13 per tortilla homemade| $0.27 per tortilla for Mission brandThese Tex-Mex staples are actually a piece of cake to make. Simply combine flour, baking powder, oil, salt, and milk — no intimidating yeast! Swap in whole-wheat flour for added fiber and a richer texture. Gone gluten-free? These can also be made with corn flour.
14. Pita chips$0.41 per 2 oz. serving homemade | $0.77 for 2 oz. Stacy’s brandThe recipe for pita chips isn’t all too different from tortilla chips. Simply coat with oil and seasonings and bake. No more wasted pitas, no more wasted cash on the packaged stuff!
Lunch
15. Jam and jelly$3.04 per 8 oz. jar homemade | $3.77 per 8 oz. Sarabeth’s brandYes, it’s possible to make jam and jelly in the microwave. Seriously. All it takes is some frozen fruit, lemon, pectin, and sugar. Just remember, this doesn’t preserve the jam the way true canning does, so it has to be gobbled up within a few weeks.
16. Bread$0.40 for 2 slices homemade | $0.52 for 2 slices Arnold brandIt’s not always easy to discern which breads are masquerading as health foods and which are actually good for you. But making bread at home helps clear things up real quick, since it’s easy to control exactly what ingredients go in the bowl. Since fresh baked varieties don’t contain preservatives, remember to eat within a week, or freeze for longer safe keeping.
17. Nut butters$0.29 per 2 tablespoons homemade| $0.29 for Smuckers Natural brandIt’s peanut butter-jelly time! Homemade nut butters eliminate the need for crazy preservatives and over-the-top fat and salt content. Just grind those nuts up for any variety of nut butter imaginable!
18. Salad dressing$0.52 per 2 tablespoons homemade | $0.64 per 2 tablespoons Maple Grove Farms brandThis one’s a Greatist favorite: toss some olive oil and balsamic vinegar into a nearly empty mustard jar and shake. It’ll get out those last drops of flavor from the mustard and serve as a simple storage container for the dressing. Not to mention it’s C-H-E-A-P. Or try one of these easy recipes for some variety.
19. Soup$0.90 per 1 ½ cups homemade | $2.23 for 1 ½ cups Amy’s brandSkip the potential threat of BPA in the canned stuff by whipping up a big pot of soup at home. Combine any veggies, broth (check out how to make it from scratch below), pasta, and any leftover meat on hand. Freeze in single-serve portions for easy defrosting!
20. Chili$2.77 per 1 ½ cups homemade | $3.19 for 1 ½ cups Amy’s brandCanned chili can be seriously disappointing. Instead, control the spiciness, type of meat, and overall fat and sodium content but going homemade. Our buffalo turkey chili is surprisingly healthy and a fun twist on the traditional version. Go cheaper (and meat-free!) by using an assortment of beans instead of the turkey.
21. Baked beans$0.31 for ⅓ cup homemade | $0.38 per ⅓ cup Bush’s Original brandBaked beans are a heart- and tummy-warming recipe, that doesn’t need to be ultra-heavy or sugary. Stick with dry beans, molasses, and just a few herbs and spices to keep it cheap and healthy.
22. Croutons$0.11 per serving homemade| $0.17 per serving for Olivia’s Croutons brandThese salad toppers are notoriously dangerous since they’re typically made with refined grains and lots of oil. Instead, DIY it for guilt-free added crunch.
23. Frozen burritos$1.81 per burrito homemade| $2.99 per burrito for Amy’s brandBelieve it or not, it is possible to imitate the gooey goodness of a freezer burrito at home. Combine a homemade tortilla, cheese, roasted veggies, and leftover meats. Wrap in foil, freeze, and reheat! This is especially great for those with allergies or intolerances!
Dinner
24. Marinara sauce$0.97 per ½ cup homemade|$1.22 per ½ cup Amy’s brandPasta sauce is the original sneaky way to add veggies to a meal, so why settle for the store-bought stuff? It takes just a few minutes of active prep to get the basic ingredients together, then just let it simmer.
25. Broth$1.21 per quart homemade | $3.29 per quart College Inn brandStock and broth seem like one of those things only fancy-pants cooks make, but they’re actually super-easy and a great way to use up stuff that’s already on hand. The basic recipe is water, bones or carcass, vegetables, and seasonings. (The seasonings are actually optional. Technically, broth is seasoned while stock is just a blank slate.)
26. Pesto$0.64 per 2 tablespoons homemade| $0.72 for Buitoni brandThe crisp, green taste of pesto is best when made with ultra-fresh basil. Store-bought brands tend to compensate with loads of oil and salt. When that basil plant’s growing as quick as a weed, grab a few handfuls and combine with a touch of olive oil, cheese, pine nuts, and garlic. If basil’s out of season, capitalize on in-season greens like kale or spinach. (Bonus points for superfood greens!)
27. Pasta$0.34 per ¼ lb. serving homemade| $0.62 per ¼ lb. serving Bionaturae brandIt’s just eggs, flour, oil, and salt, and yet people tend to shy away from making their own pasta. Doing it at home makes it easy to control just how healthy and whole-wheat-filled the final product is.
28. Filled pasta$0.50 per 1 cup serving homemade| $2.15 per 1 cup serving Buitoni brandWith that stockpile of freshly made pasta dough and ricotta in the fridge, it’s easy to throw together some homemade ravioli. Combine ricotta with sautéed spinach for quick and easy healthy dinner. Better still, filled pasta can be rolled by hand and is far easier to cut than that pesky, thin spaghetti.
29. Roasted chicken$1.40 per ¼ chicken homemade| $1.75 per ¼ store-bought rotisserie chickenSure, it takes some time, but don’t be intimidated by the idea of roasting a whole bird. Making it at home eliminates all that broth-injected, unpronounceable-chemical-laced stuff that comes pre-cooked.
30. Mashed potatoes$0.76 per ¾ cup serving homemade| $2.50 per ¾ cup store-prepared potatoesMash up some cauliflower rather than chowing down on boxed or prepared mashed potatoes. We swear it tastes the same! Can’t commit all the way to cauliflower? Go half cauliflower, half potatoes. And keep it light on the butter and milk!
31. Breadcrumbs$0.11 per ¼ cup homemade| $0.16 per ¼ cup Progresso brandUnseasoned bread crumbs are ultra-easy to make. Just grind up a few slices of bread and toast. For flavored crumbs, add in dried herbs. Use whole-wheat bread for added fiber and B vitamins.
32. Ketchup$3.86 per 16 ounces homemade | $3.34 per 16 ounces Heinz brandSome of us probably already have the necessary ingredients to make ketchup right in our spice cabinets, but are still turning to the high-fructose variety. This version is especially cheap if you have the spices on hand, and entirely worthwhile to avoid additives (and impress those dinner guests!).
33. Barbecue sauce$0.09 per tablespoon homemade | $0.08 per tablespoon KC Masterpiece brandDown-home comfort food is rarely healthy, but DIY barbecue sauce could be the answer for scrapping unnecessary sugar and salt. The magic ingredient? Coffee. We’d say $0.01 is worth knowing how to pronounce all the ingredients!
34. Pizza dough$0.98 per 12″ pizza dough homemade| $0.98 for 12″ store-bought, fresh doughIt’s time to get Italian! The number one way to feel like a BAMF in the kitchen is to toss around pizza dough. Making it whole-wheat cuts back on the costs of the packaged stuff, and, say it with us, “gives us control of the ingredients.”
35. French fries$0.72 per ½ cup serving homemade| $0.90 per ½ cup serving Alexia brandSweet potato fries are basically the new Micky D’s, and this is one trend we recommend everyone get in on. Just slice up some sweet potatoes and toss with oil, salt, and spices, and bake until crispy. There’s no frying involved and the potatoes are practically the only cost.
Dessert
36. Cookies$0.32 per 2 cookies homemade | $0.35 per 3 mini Entenmann’s brandWe’d make homemade cookies just for the awesome smell, so getting to devour them is a pretty awesome bonus. Adding superfoods banana and oatmeal into the mix practically turns these cookies into a superfood themselves.
37. Brownies$0.35 per brownie homemade | $0.52 per brownie Entenmann’s brandYes, it is actually possible to make delicious brownies without any flour. The surprising stand in? Black beans, which add fiber and protein. This is an especially great for those with celiac disease, who might otherwise shell out major cash to get a flour-free recipe. (Even wheat-lovers will devour this recipe, we promise!).
38. Ice cream$2.43 per pint homemade| $4.19 per pint Ben & Jerry’s brandWho doesn’t love having a little ice cream on hand to dip into now and then? Whip up a big batch (no need for an ice cream maker) and personalize it with any flavors or add-ins desired. Of course, several of these frozen treats are fruit-based, which makes them an even healthier option in our book!
39. Ice cream sandwiches$0.52 per sandwich homemade | $1.07 per sandwich Skinny Cow brandSandwich together two small, healthier homemade cookies (from above!) and a dollop of that homemade ice cream and freeze. There’s a single-serving indulgence without the temptation of bulldozing through the whole pint of ice cream. Plus, you’ll avoid the additives and artificial sweeteners found in low-fat, reduced-sugar brands.
40. Pudding$1.22 per cup homemade| $0.97 per cup Kozy Shack brandBuckle your seatbelts, kids! We’re making pudding with avocado. Just blend with milk and honey. It may not be cheaper than a puddin’ cup, but we’ll let it slide because, heck, it’s avocado!
Drinks
41. Smoothies$1.14 per cup homemade| $1.37 per cup Naked brandSkip the watery smoothie drinks that can be packed with sugar and miss out on a lot of the fruits’ benefits. Blend together spinach, yogurt, ice, orange, banana, strawberries, and just about any other fruit for a green smoothie without any added sugar. And compared to that $7 green smoothie at the juice bar, it’s actually a deal!
42. Sparkling water$0.25 per liter for SodaStream| $0.99 per liter Poland SpringsBottled water is an easy way to flush money down the drain while also wasting lots of plastic bottles. Instead, rig up a carbonation station to add bubbles to pure, delicious water — no additional sugar or sodium.
43. Flavored water$0.37 per liter homemade| $0.99 per liter Poland Springs brandTo create flavor-infused water, simply put water in a pitcher and add slices of lemon, lime, orange, mint or other sliced fruits. Let it sit for an hour or as long as you’ve got, then strain off the fruit for a debris-free drink.
44. Drink mixers$1.31 per cup homemade Sweet and Sour mix| $1.25 per cup Mr. & Mrs. T’s brandPut down the margarita mix! But no need to go margarita-less. Just make less-sugary drink mixerswith fresh juices and honey-water instead of simple syrup or packaged mixes.
45. Lemonade$0.58 per cup homemade | $0.67 per cup Santa Cruz brandThere’s nothing more refreshing than this summer classic, but it can often be packed with sugar. Nix powdered mixes or bottled beverages and stir together water, lemon juice, mint, and just a touch of honey.
Note: Per-serving prices for homemade versions were determined by adding the common price of the portion of each ingredient used in the recipe and dividing by the number of servings. Where the “homemade” link mentions multiple recipes, an average was used.

    leanmeanworkoutmachine:

    Breakfast

    1. Granola bars
    $0.48 each for homemade  | $0.69 each for Kashi brand
    Who doesn’t love a crunchy, chewy grab-and-go snack? But there’s no need to shell out big bucks or entrust our health to unpronounceable ingredients. Oats, nuts, berries, and honey star in this recipe and significantly cut back on costs.

    2. Granola/Breakfast cereal
    $0.37 per ½ cup homemade| $0.41 for Arrowhead Mills brand
    Skip the boxed stuff and DIY it for a personalized cereal. These homemade bran flakes rival the store-bought stuff in nutrition and flavor. Add a small handful of dried fruit and roasted nuts for some extra crunch and flavor.

    3. Oatmeal
    $0.25 for homemade | $0.28 per packet Quaker Oats brand
    Swap that paper package of instant oats for classic whole rolled oats. Whip up a big batch at the beginning of the week and then soup up each serving with add-ins like fruit and spices.

    4. Pancakes
    $0.13 per pancake homemade | $0.29 per pancake Eggo brand
    Put down that Bisquick. Whipping up pancakes at home is an opportunity to add in whole wheat flour and raisins for fiber and a little sweetness without sugar overload. Plus, the added fiber helps us feel full and improve digestion.

    5. Waffles
    $0.85 per homemade Belgian-style | $1.31 for two Kashi brand frozen
    Leggo my Eggo! Skip the refined grains of classic toaster waffles and the exorbitant price of the healthier versions. Instead, try some hand-crafted whole-grain waffles. Extra points for using fresh-cut fruit instead of corn-syrup heavy Aunt Jemima’s.

    Snacks

    6. Salsa
    $3.40 per 16 oz. homemade| $3.75 per 16 oz. jar Green Mountain Gringo brand
    Take a page out of Slim Shady’s book and serve up some salsa. Boiling and blending creates a restaurant-quality dip that’s way better than the jarred stuff.

    7. Guacamole
    $0.75 per ¼ cup homemade | $0.87 for ¼ cup Santa Barbara brand
    Guacamole’s an easy and stove-free snack to whip up on a warm, summer afternoon. Making it at home not only ups the freshness (and flavor), but also makes it easier to control saltiness and the heat. Pair with homemade tortilla chips for even more healthy points. Ole!

    8. Hummus
    $0.21 per 2 tablespoon serving homemade | $0.43 for 2 tablespoons Sabra brand
    Dangerfood or not, this dip is delicious. And when restraining ourselves to a two-tablespoon serving, it costs less than a quarter. Plus, the directions are simple — just blend! No more $6 hummus tubs needed.

    9. Soft Cheeses
    $0.63 per ¼ cup homemade (paneer or ricotta| $0.67 for ¼ cup fresh specialty brand
    No need to be a professional chef to make cheese. Paneer and ricotta are ridiculously easy to make at home, and they’ll always be fresher than what can be bought at the store.

    10. Yogurt
    $0.43 per 8 oz. homemade | $1.07 per 8 oz. Stonyfield Farm brand
    It’s like a miracle! It’s possible to turn ½ cup of yogurt into 2 quarts just by adding milk. Okay, so there’s a little more to the process than just stirring them together, but DIY yogurt saves a pretty penny and yields a fresher final product that’s easy to feel good about!

    11. Fruit snacks
    $0.63 per roll homemade| $0.72 for Fruitabu brand
    Homemade fruit snacks or “fruit leather” is a steal even when buying the fruit from the grocery store. But if it’s mid-summer and that fruit tree just keeps producing more, fruit leather’s an awesome and practically free way to preserve it. Just add lemon, sugar, and spices (which are actually optional!).

    12. Tortilla chips
    $0.31 per 12 chips homemade| $0.53 for 12 chips Tostitos brand
    Don’t buy the family-sized bag! Repurpose old tortillas as chips by lightly spraying with oil and baking. While any tortillas will do, we recommend the homemade ones below.

    13. Tortillas
    $0.13 per tortilla homemade| $0.27 per tortilla for Mission brand
    These Tex-Mex staples are actually a piece of cake to make. Simply combine flour, baking powder, oil, salt, and milk — no intimidating yeast! Swap in whole-wheat flour for added fiber and a richer texture. Gone gluten-free? These can also be made with corn flour.

    14. Pita chips
    $0.41 per 2 oz. serving homemade $0.77 for 2 oz. Stacy’s brand
    The recipe for pita chips isn’t all too different from tortilla chips. Simply coat with oil and seasonings and bake. No more wasted pitas, no more wasted cash on the packaged stuff!

    Lunch

    15. Jam and jelly
    $3.04 per 8 oz. jar homemade | $3.77 per 8 oz. Sarabeth’s brand
    Yes, it’s possible to make jam and jelly in the microwave. Seriously. All it takes is some frozen fruit, lemon, pectin, and sugar. Just remember, this doesn’t preserve the jam the way true canning does, so it has to be gobbled up within a few weeks.

    16. Bread
    $0.40 for 2 slices homemade | $0.52 for 2 slices Arnold brand
    It’s not always easy to discern which breads are masquerading as health foods and which are actually good for you. But making bread at home helps clear things up real quick, since it’s easy to control exactly what ingredients go in the bowl. Since fresh baked varieties don’t contain preservatives, remember to eat within a week, or freeze for longer safe keeping.

    17. Nut butters
    $0.29 per 2 tablespoons homemade| $0.29 for Smuckers Natural brand
    It’s peanut butter-jelly time! Homemade nut butters eliminate the need for crazy preservatives and over-the-top fat and salt content. Just grind those nuts up for any variety of nut butter imaginable!

    18. Salad dressing
    $0.52 per 2 tablespoons homemade | $0.64 per 2 tablespoons Maple Grove Farms brand
    This one’s a Greatist favorite: toss some olive oil and balsamic vinegar into a nearly empty mustard jar and shake. It’ll get out those last drops of flavor from the mustard and serve as a simple storage container for the dressing. Not to mention it’s C-H-E-A-P. Or try one of these easy recipes for some variety.

    19. Soup
    $0.90 per 1 ½ cups homemade | $2.23 for 1 ½ cups Amy’s brand
    Skip the potential threat of BPA in the canned stuff by whipping up a big pot of soup at home. Combine any veggies, broth (check out how to make it from scratch below), pasta, and any leftover meat on hand. Freeze in single-serve portions for easy defrosting!

    20. Chili
    $2.77 per 1 ½ cups homemade | $3.19 for 1 ½ cups Amy’s brand
    Canned chili can be seriously disappointing. Instead, control the spiciness, type of meat, and overall fat and sodium content but going homemade. Our buffalo turkey chili is surprisingly healthy and a fun twist on the traditional version. Go cheaper (and meat-free!) by using an assortment of beans instead of the turkey.

    21. Baked beans
    $0.31 for  cup homemade | $0.38 per ⅓ cup Bush’s Original brand
    Baked beans are a heart- and tummy-warming recipe, that doesn’t need to be ultra-heavy or sugary. Stick with dry beans, molasses, and just a few herbs and spices to keep it cheap and healthy.

    22. Croutons
    $0.11 per serving homemade| $0.17 per serving for Olivia’s Croutons brand
    These salad toppers are notoriously dangerous since they’re typically made with refined grains and lots of oil. Instead, DIY it for guilt-free added crunch.

    23. Frozen burritos
    $1.81 per burrito homemade| $2.99 per burrito for Amy’s brand
    Believe it or not, it is possible to imitate the gooey goodness of a freezer burrito at home. Combine a homemade tortilla, cheese, roasted veggies, and leftover meats. Wrap in foil, freeze, and reheat! This is especially great for those with allergies or intolerances!

    Dinner

    24. Marinara sauce
    $0.97 per ½ cup homemade|$1.22 per ½ cup Amy’s brand
    Pasta sauce is the original sneaky way to add veggies to a meal, so why settle for the store-bought stuff? It takes just a few minutes of active prep to get the basic ingredients together, then just let it simmer.

    25. Broth
    $1.21 per quart homemade $3.29 per quart College Inn brand
    Stock and broth seem like one of those things only fancy-pants cooks make, but they’re actually super-easy and a great way to use up stuff that’s already on hand. The basic recipe is water, bones or carcass, vegetables, and seasonings. (The seasonings are actually optional. Technically, broth is seasoned while stock is just a blank slate.)

    26. Pesto
    $0.64 per 2 tablespoons homemade| $0.72 for Buitoni brand
    The crisp, green taste of pesto is best when made with ultra-fresh basil. Store-bought brands tend to compensate with loads of oil and salt. When that basil plant’s growing as quick as a weed, grab a few handfuls and combine with a touch of olive oil, cheese, pine nuts, and garlic. If basil’s out of season, capitalize on in-season greens like kale or spinach. (Bonus points for superfood greens!)

    27. Pasta
    $0.34 per ¼ lb. serving homemade| $0.62 per ¼ lb. serving Bionaturae brand
    It’s just eggs, flour, oil, and salt, and yet people tend to shy away from making their own pasta. Doing it at home makes it easy to control just how healthy and whole-wheat-filled the final product is.

    28. Filled pasta
    $0.50 per 1 cup serving homemade| $2.15 per 1 cup serving Buitoni brand
    With that stockpile of freshly made pasta dough and ricotta in the fridge, it’s easy to throw together some homemade ravioli. Combine ricotta with sautéed spinach for quick and easy healthy dinner. Better still, filled pasta can be rolled by hand and is far easier to cut than that pesky, thin spaghetti.

    29. Roasted chicken
    $1.40 per ¼ chicken homemade| $1.75 per ¼ store-bought rotisserie chicken
    Sure, it takes some time, but don’t be intimidated by the idea of roasting a whole bird. Making it at home eliminates all that broth-injected, unpronounceable-chemical-laced stuff that comes pre-cooked.

    30. Mashed potatoes
    $0.76 per ¾ cup serving homemade| $2.50 per ¾ cup store-prepared potatoes
    Mash up some cauliflower rather than chowing down on boxed or prepared mashed potatoes. We swear it tastes the same! Can’t commit all the way to cauliflower? Go half cauliflower, half potatoes. And keep it light on the butter and milk!

    31. Breadcrumbs
    $0.11 per ¼ cup homemade| $0.16 per ¼ cup Progresso brand
    Unseasoned bread crumbs are ultra-easy to make. Just grind up a few slices of bread and toast. For flavored crumbs, add in dried herbs. Use whole-wheat bread for added fiber and B vitamins.

    32. Ketchup
    $3.86 per 16 ounces homemade | $3.34 per 16 ounces Heinz brand
    Some of us probably already have the necessary ingredients to make ketchup right in our spice cabinets, but are still turning to the high-fructose variety. This version is especially cheap if you have the spices on hand, and entirely worthwhile to avoid additives (and impress those dinner guests!).

    33. Barbecue sauce
    $0.09 per tablespoon homemade | $0.08 per tablespoon KC Masterpiece brand
    Down-home comfort food is rarely healthy, but DIY barbecue sauce could be the answer for scrapping unnecessary sugar and salt. The magic ingredient? Coffee. We’d say $0.01 is worth knowing how to pronounce all the ingredients!

    34. Pizza dough
    $0.98 per 12″ pizza dough homemade| $0.98 for 12″ store-bought, fresh dough
    It’s time to get Italian! The number one way to feel like a BAMF in the kitchen is to toss around pizza dough. Making it whole-wheat cuts back on the costs of the packaged stuff, and, say it with us, “gives us control of the ingredients.”

    35. French fries
    $0.72 per ½ cup serving homemade| $0.90 per ½ cup serving Alexia brand
    Sweet potato fries are basically the new Micky D’s, and this is one trend we recommend everyone get in on. Just slice up some sweet potatoes and toss with oil, salt, and spices, and bake until crispy. There’s no frying involved and the potatoes are practically the only cost.

    Dessert

    36. Cookies
    $0.32 per 2 cookies homemade | $0.35 per 3 mini Entenmann’s brand
    We’d make homemade cookies just for the awesome smell, so getting to devour them is a pretty awesome bonus. Adding superfoods banana and oatmeal into the mix practically turns these cookies into a superfood themselves.

    37. Brownies
    $0.35 per brownie homemade | $0.52 per brownie Entenmann’s brand
    Yes, it is actually possible to make delicious brownies without any flour. The surprising stand in? Black beans, which add fiber and protein. This is an especially great for those with celiac disease, who might otherwise shell out major cash to get a flour-free recipe. (Even wheat-lovers will devour this recipe, we promise!).

    38. Ice cream
    $2.43 per pint homemade$4.19 per pint Ben & Jerry’s brand
    Who doesn’t love having a little ice cream on hand to dip into now and then? Whip up a big batch (no need for an ice cream maker) and personalize it with any flavors or add-ins desired. Of course, several of these frozen treats are fruit-based, which makes them an even healthier option in our book!

    39. Ice cream sandwiches
    $0.52 per sandwich homemade $1.07 per sandwich Skinny Cow brand
    Sandwich together two small, healthier homemade cookies (from above!) and a dollop of that homemade ice cream and freeze. There’s a single-serving indulgence without the temptation of bulldozing through the whole pint of ice cream. Plus, you’ll avoid the additives and artificial sweeteners found in low-fat, reduced-sugar brands.

    40. Pudding
    $1.22 per cup homemade$0.97 per cup Kozy Shack brand
    Buckle your seatbelts, kids! We’re making pudding with avocadoJust blend with milk and honey. It may not be cheaper than a puddin’ cup, but we’ll let it slide because, heck, it’s avocado!

    Drinks

    41. Smoothies
    $1.14 per cup homemade| $1.37 per cup Naked brand
    Skip the watery smoothie drinks that can be packed with sugar and miss out on a lot of the fruits’ benefits. Blend together spinach, yogurt, ice, orange, banana, strawberries, and just about any other fruit for a green smoothie without any added sugar. And compared to that $7 green smoothie at the juice bar, it’s actually a deal!

    42. Sparkling water
    $0.25 per liter for SodaStream$0.99 per liter Poland Springs
    Bottled water is an easy way to flush money down the drain while also wasting lots of plastic bottles. Instead, rig up a carbonation station to add bubbles to pure, delicious water — no additional sugar or sodium.

    43. Flavored water
    $0.37 per liter homemade$0.99 per liter Poland Springs brand
    To create flavor-infused water, simply put water in a pitcher and add slices of lemon, lime, orange, mint or other sliced fruits. Let it sit for an hour or as long as you’ve got, then strain off the fruit for a debris-free drink.

    44. Drink mixers
    $1.31 per cup homemade Sweet and Sour mix$1.25 per cup Mr. & Mrs. T’s brand
    Put down the margarita mix! But no need to go margarita-less. Just make less-sugary drink mixerswith fresh juices and honey-water instead of simple syrup or packaged mixes.

    45. Lemonade
    $0.58 per cup homemade $0.67 per cup Santa Cruz brand
    There’s nothing more refreshing than this summer classic, but it can often be packed with sugar. Nix powdered mixes or bottled beverages and stir together water, lemon juice, mint, and just a touch of honey.

    Note: Per-serving prices for homemade versions were determined by adding the common price of the portion of each ingredient used in the recipe and dividing by the number of servings. Where the “homemade” link mentions multiple recipes, an average was used.

    (Source: , via minusthesugar)

    fitnessloveaffair:

    damnshesfit:

    Very versatile! I use it in desserts, protein smoothies, lattes, ice cream, on top of bananas… Sky is the limit. I didn’t note it above but use less corn starch if you plan on using it in beverages, otherwise, it may get too thick. :)

    You can also microwave some honey and add cocoa powder. It’s higher calories but honey is really good for you.

    (Source: ellesalmanack, via soon2befit)

    justatypicalveganrunner:

kariannshealthyfoodpornrecipes:

get-healthy-feel-awesome:

Skinny Monkey Cookies
Ingredients
3 bananas
2 cups old-fashioned oats
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F.  
Mash bananas in a large bowl, then stir in remaining ingredients. 
Let batter stand for approximately 20 minutes 
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. 
Bake 10-12 minutes.
Makes about 30
Nutrition Facts
47 calories
7.5 g carbs
1.6 g fat
1.5 g protein
1.3 g fiber
1 WW PointsPlus
Source

i just made these… and these are the BOMB DIGGITY. omg. perfect clean eating cookies. highly reccommend.
these.are.amazinggg. btw, the blog i reblogged from is my recipe blog where i post healthy recipes ^__^ check it outtt.

    justatypicalveganrunner:

    kariannshealthyfoodpornrecipes:

    get-healthy-feel-awesome:

    Skinny Monkey Cookies

    Ingredients

    • 3 bananas
    • 2 cups old-fashioned oats
    • 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
    • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
    • 1 tsp. vanilla extract

    Directions

    1. Preheat oven to 350°F.  
    2. Mash bananas in a large bowl, then stir in remaining ingredients. 
    3. Let batter stand for approximately 20 minutes 
    4. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. 
    5. Bake 10-12 minutes.
    6. Makes about 30

    Nutrition Facts

    • 47 calories
    • 7.5 g carbs
    • 1.6 g fat
    • 1.5 g protein
    • 1.3 g fiber
    • 1 WW PointsPlus

    Source

    i just made these… and these are the BOMB DIGGITY. omg. perfect clean eating cookies. highly reccommend.
    these.are.amazinggg. btw, the blog i reblogged from is my recipe blog where i post healthy recipes ^__^ check it outtt.

    (via healthyfitsexy)

    nogoalweight:

    pbs-food:

    This quick and easy recipe of Falafel Burgers tastes great on a pita or crumbled over a salad with feta cheese. 

    looooooove falafel.

    Oh god, new recipe to try! Yessss

    avtexadelphia:

    veganilla:

    Vegan Sweet Potato Burgers: click here for the recipe.

    Where has this been my entire life?

    (via fuelingit)

    fitter-than-a-snicker:

healthylivingforyou:

muffintop-less:


 

Protein Cheesecake
½ cup fat-free cream cheese
½-1 scoop vanilla or chocolate protein
Stevia extract
Unsweetened almond milk
Wheat or Graham cracker (optional)
sugar-free jelly or fresh fruit (optional)
If you’re like me and have a GNARLY sweet tooth, you will be likely be extremely tempted by desserts. The trick of course, to stay on track with your diet, is to get CREATIVE in the kitchen! I mix my protein powder with just about ANYTHING to make a yummy dessert… and it does the trick! Try this simple recipe, which is under 200 calories (depending on the toppings and extras). I can eat this without the graham cracker or jelly/fruit and still be satisfied by its yummy goodness! =D

Omg. I must make this some time.

You’re welcome. ;]

Can I just live off of this? yummmmmm

    fitter-than-a-snicker:

    healthylivingforyou:

    muffintop-less:

     

    Protein Cheesecake
    • ½ cup fat-free cream cheese
    • ½-1 scoop vanilla or chocolate protein
    • Stevia extract
    • Unsweetened almond milk
    • Wheat or Graham cracker (optional)
    • sugar-free jelly or fresh fruit (optional)

    If you’re like me and have a GNARLY sweet tooth, you will be likely be extremely tempted by desserts. The trick of course, to stay on track with your diet, is to get CREATIVE in the kitchen! I mix my protein powder with just about ANYTHING to make a yummy dessert… and it does the trick! Try this simple recipe, which is under 200 calories (depending on the toppings and extras). I can eat this without the graham cracker or jelly/fruit and still be satisfied by its yummy goodness! =D

    Omg. I must make this some time.

    You’re welcome. ;]

    Can I just live off of this? yummmmmm

    (via doingnotwishing)

    runnerwithin:

healthyisclassy:

Skinny Baked Mozzarella Sticks || Quick Marinara Sauce

omg i am making these ASAP
    e-d-i-b-l-e:

vegetarian pho. click here for the recipe.

    e-d-i-b-l-e:

    vegetarian pho. click here for the recipe.

    (via fitforinfinity)

    cleaningout:

    ayzlovesfood:

    Vegan Edamame Mushroom Pea Veggie Patty Recipe

    I love veggie burgers! Whenever I am at a restaurant that makes their own homemade veggie patty, it’s always what I order. Earl mentioned how we should make our own, so I stumbled across this recipe on “Healthy, Happy, Life” (http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com/2009/07/mean-green-edamame-soy-burger-spicy.html) and changed things up a bit to create it to our own liking.

    This will create about 5 patties depending on how thick or thin you want it.

    INGREDIENTS: 

    1 cups cooked edamame beans (1 frozen shelled bag at Trader Joe’s work great)

    1 cup Brown Rice (which will be made to fried rice, used the microwavable package to save time with cooking the rice, unless you have some brown rice lying around)

    1 tablespoon soy sauce

    1 tablespoon lemon juice

    1 1/2 cups mushrooms

    1 cup frozen peas

    1 cup sesame rice crackers

    *Got all ingredients at Trader Joe’s

    INSTRUCTIONS:

    1. Boil water and cook edamame (follow directions on bag, takes about 10 minutes)
    2. While you are boiling the edamame, fry the cooked brown rice. Add soy sauce to brown rice, mix, and cook for about 5 minutes.
    3. Deshell edamame to 1 cup
    4. Mix edamame and fried brown rice, then add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, let it marinate for a few minutes
    5. Cook mushrooms till they turn light brown
    6. Microwave and heat up peas
    7. Mix mushrooms and peas, then blend in a food processor
    8. Take edamame and rice mixture, then blend in food processor
    9. Blend crackers into fine crumbs (no need to clean each time you blend)
    10. Combine veggie and rice mixture together
    11. Fold in cracker crumbs to mixture
    12. Use hands to form patties
    13. Cook patty for about 2 minutes on each side on a olive oil greased pan

    We are still trying to figure out how to keep the patty together, because it gets a little crumbly but still delicious and full of flavors!

    Enjoy with wheat bread, pita bread, or burger buns. For condiments, we used: organic ketchup, pesto, and edamame hummus.

    So I made these the other day and they don’t stick together. At all. However, they’re super delicious, so I’ve resorted to putting an avocado on bread and taking the mash from this and spreading it over the bread avocado concoction. It’s really delicious! And filling!

    (via th3skinny)

    beautifulpicturesofhealthyfood:

prettybalanced:

Black Bean and Vegetable Soup

Click hereand follow for more beautiful pictures of healthy food 
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