Nutrition on a budget project- local finds

After a few nights of getting creative with what’s left in the fridge, ignoring your craving for take out gets tough. Local favorites aren’t a good solution for every night, but your waistline and wallet can benefit from giving in now and then.

My sister told me about her use of local favorites when she is cooking. If you’ve got a favorite salsa, humus or dish at a favorite restaurant, order out and mix it with your own food to stretch your dollar. Use the takeout dish as a side dish, and pair it with different sides of veggies or rice for a full meal.

If you’re not so sure about those local favorites, check out the Eat this, Not that section of Men’s Health Magazine. Also in book form, it compares any national/international chain you can think of and give you the low down on what your best options are when out to eat.

Local favorites are a great way to stimulate your neighborhood economy and also to stimulate ideas for dinner throughout the week. Don’t let your quest for a healthy lifestyle stop your exploration of your area. Become familiar with what your local restaurants carry, and keep in mind backup plans for ways to utilize their side dishes throughout the week.

Check my earlier entry here on how to win a free bike!
Contest open from now until June 5.