Hungry Blogger

The New Year is a common time for people to change the way they eat. Last year I went on a no-sugar way of life for most of the year and found it to be very helpful for many different things, and I plan to continue this lifestyle in 2019. My rules are pretty simple: I don't do more than 20 carbs a day and I limit "cheating" to a single meal, once or twice a month, usually on special occasions. I've also added a lot of daily habits, from turmeric in my chai tea to apple cider vinegar mixed with cream of tartar and sparkling water, that have helped me with my goals. 

I think it's important to really decide WHY you want to do this. Changing the way you eat is exhausting at first while you plan ahead, learn a whole new way of shopping, cooking, and eating and basically live in a completely new way, especially if you're used to eating out a lot. If you don't really have a goal or reason why in mind, why even bother?

Here's a list of healthy recipes I found for the New Year, but I would argue that healthy means something completely different to people with allergies, asthma, diabetes, chronic inflammation, PCOS, endometriosis and other conditions that are helped (or hurt) by certain foods. It's rather arrogant for someone to claim that "eliminating a whole food group isn't healthy!" when they haven't walked in another's shoes, spoken with that person's doctor or encountered anything other than "normal" eating. 

Do you have any new eating goals for the year? What are they?

Leaving holiday dinner to the last minute can be stressful for anyone, but Aldi makes it so much easier on my family and me. For years I didn't shop there after seeing some disturbing things happen as a kid (there were weavils in some flour my family bought there once, I think), but today Aldi is clean, affordable and my favorite place to stock up on the essentials. If you're not a regular at Aldi, you probably didn't know that they also feature a TON of seasonal specials as well, making it the perfect place to pick up everything from your holiday ham to your eggnog. 

The only issue is that things aren't always guaranteed to be in stock. If you get Skinny Girl white cherry water flavor one week, it's not going to be there again the next week. Trust me, it happened a few months ago after I got addicted to the stuff. Thanks a lot, Aldi! But if you visit weekly, not only will you find the seasonal foods and spices you need for the holidays, but you'll also see an aisle of seasonal household items, gifts and sometimes even clothing and blankets a la Costco style. You never know what you might find.

Where do you go to make sure you get all the essentials at the right price? Share your shopping tips in the chat.

Many families have holiday baking traditions that span generations. My mom used to bake for Christmas, but us girls didn't really participate, so when I found out about other people's cookie-making traditions I was a bit surprised. A good friend of mine gets every sprinkle she can get her hands on and makes dozens and dozens of cookies with her daughter. My daughter and I often bake a few things, like cookies for the neighbors or some holiday bread for the house, but we don't really bake as many as my friend.

New recipes are always fun to mix in with your annual favorites, and I thought the wreath cookies in this list of fun baking recipes looked pretty good. The carmelita cookie bars also sound delicious; my mother always made cookie bars at Christmas time. She'd often make cookie cakes in the shapes of hearts, too.

What are your holiday baking traditions? What will you be baking this year? Share your ideas in the chat.

If you're cooking a big meal this Thanksgiving and expect a bunch of leftovers, now is the time to start planning your leftover menus! From bones to broth to everything in between, there's no reason for anything to go to waste when it comes to your big meal. Here are a few fun ideas for those leftovers.

Turkey soup! This warm dish is just what you need to ward off the chill, and if you've got snow on the way it's the perfect meal to keep your family fed and toasty.

Got leftover pumpkin pie? These pumpkin spice milkshakes look amazing. If you're feeling creative, the same source has recipes like turkey nachos, turkey pot pie and even turkey enchiladas! Who says leftovers need to be boring?

How about a Pioneer Panini, Turkey Croque Madam and other chef-inspired creations?

What are you doing with your Thanksgiving leftovers this year? Share your ideas in the chat!