Rainy Day Collards and Rhubarb Smoothie

As you can see in the background, it is pouring here in Orlando!  This kind of day called for a special smoothie, one that honors two of the traditional southern foods in African American cooking- Collards and Rhubarb!  While listening to Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a Dream Speech" and writing down our own dream for America, we are having this "Rainy Day Smoothie". 

Here's the recipe:
1/2 cup frozen organic Rhubarb
1 ripe banana
2 Collard leaves, washed and stems removed
1/2 cup raw almond milk (you can use unsweetened Almond Breeze)
1/3 cup frozen organic cherries
1/4 cup filtered water

Put all in the blender except greens.  Blend on high and then add greens.  Enjoy! Works best in a high powered blender (Vitamix or BlendTec) or food processor.

Here's the frozen rhubarb in case you were wondering where I got it.  It's made by Stahlbush Farms and Whole Foods carries it...

Whole Foods raising money to put Salad Bars in Local Schools!

I was shopping at the local Whole Foods in Winter Park and noticed at the checkout line that my bag refund can now be donated to the Great American Salad Bar Project! This project is taking donations and using the money to install salad bars in local schools who apply for a grant to receive the salad bar. 

Whole Foods in Winter Park has already raised $7,600, which is enough to install three salad bars at local schools who have applied for the program. 

I am super excited about this program but at the same time I believe we need to also have a program in the schools where kids have more exposure to plant based nutrition curriculum that will help them understand the importance of fruits and vegetables in their diet.  Just because we put a salad bar in a school doesn't mean the kids will appreciate it or eat from it.  So once I find out which three schools get the salad bars I will be contacting them about teaching Super Plant Eaters Club classes to the students.

Salad bars are a positive and needed step toward better nutrition in the schools.  Studies show that when kids are properly nourished with whole plant foods they excel in academics and have improved behavior at school. Please shop at Whole Foods or donate money online to the Great American Salad Bar Project!

Champagne Grapes Make a Fun Snack

Aren't these beautiful!?  Champagne Grapes are in season and you can get them at Publix and Whole Foods right now.  They are a fun snack for the kids because they are small and easy for them to handle.  They have a very mellow, sweet taste.  Definitely pick some up on your next shopping trip.

Couponing for Health Food? Can it be done?

I took a couponing class from a friend back in April after a group of my health conscious friends had taken the same class and raved about how much money they were saving. I viewed many store receipts from those friends and wondered how on earth they were able to save so much....with coupons?!

Well, I've learned a lot in the past few months...that's one of the resons I've been absent! I've been busy coupon collecting from every website I can find that offers Organic products.

I will admit, in the past I never paid attention to sales flyers or coupons simply because I thought it would take too much time and effort only to save very little money. But, when I found out you really can save up to 50% while buying organic foods, bath and body products, I have decided it is SO worth my time. The food budget at our house had been out of control for several years, starting from the days my babies became toddlers. I'm happy to report as of last month our total food and dining out expense has gone from $1200 a month down to $750 and I'm expecting it to go down to $600 this month.  (Of course a piece of this equation has to do with an amazing harvest from our garden this spring.  Lots of beans, lettuce, eggplant, squash, oakra, tomatoes, onions...we have been well stocked on the veggies!)

Some of the things I can think of off hand that I have saved 80%+ on are Organic Frozen Cascadian Farms Fruit and Vegetables, Seventh Generation Products, Jason Organics Products, Kiss My Face Products, Almond Breeze, Blue Diamond Almonds, and Silk Organic Soymilk! I have also found coupons for Eden Organics products, San-J Organic Tamari, Honest Kids Juice, Earth Friendly Cleaning Products, Rice Select, Publix Produce, and Restaurant coupons!

I was a big Whole Foods shopper, now I am at Publix every week and only once a month at Whole Foods, Chamberlin's Market or Hoover's Essential Health Market to pick up things I cannot find at Publix and catch any monthly sales...with coupons!!

You can get the best deals at Publix because they have the BOGO deals and you can use both a competitor store coupon and a manufacturer's coupon on BOTH the item you buy and the free item!

My favorite blog to follow for the latest deals at Publix is iheartpublix.com. The blog owner will post the Publix sales flyer three days prior to the sale with coupon "matchups" (she tells you exactly where to find the coupons to get the deals).

My favorite blog to follow for Organic Deals is Organic Deals and Coupons.

And lastly, if you'd like to take couponing classes in Central Florida you can join Couponing with Regina on Facebook. If you are outside the Central Florida area you can take classes online at Becentsable.com.

You have been enlightened! Now please do not ignore this post...go SAVE some money!!!