Our Clean Eating Journey

If you follow me on Instagram or are friends with me on Facebook I am sure you are well aware that Jonathan and I have begun to "eat clean"

In America, we are over-eating, but are nutritionally STARVING! So if we eat more healthy foods our bodies will actually register that we are full because it is getting what it needs to be healthy.

What does that even mean!?!?!?

Well I'm so glad you asked, let me tell ya! ;)
In a nutshell clean eating is eating only what God has made. So if it grew on a tree (or bush, or in the ground), walked on land, or swam in the sea we eat it!
A clean eating diet is made up of fruits, veggies, lean meat, and whole grains, eating only MINIMALLY processed foods, if you allow yourself to eat processed foods at all.

Another key to clean eating is to eat 5-6 small meals throughout the day instead of 3 large meals. An ideal day for a clean eater would be:
Breakfast
Snack
Lunch
Snack
Dinner
Snack (if you absolutely need it)
As long as you make sure everything you eat is clean, you really stay full all day!

Why in the world would you do that!?!?

Ah, I'll share that with you too!
Many people start to eat clean for weight loss purposes, but Jonathan and I are eating clean to get healthy.

After watching the documentary Hungry for Change on Netflix processed foods completely gross me out now that I know what they actually do to my body and how they negatively impact my health. I HIGHLY suggest you check it out, it's an awesome documentary!

So after researching different healthy eating lifestyles Jonathan and I felt that clean eating was the best for us. (The weight loss that inevitably comes with the elimination of crappy food is a plus too!)

Now the hard part...what to eat!?!?

There are actually TONS of clean eating recipes, and it is super easy to "clean up" recipes you love and use regularly! Just swap out the unclean items for clean ones. You will really be surprised at how many clean items you can find in your grocery store, I know I was. (Just stay FAR away from the candy isle!)

The hardest part is eating clean when you go out, but with the rise in "healthy" options at restaurants once you know what to look for it is quite easy to find clean entrees while eating out. ;)

Now for my game plan!

Sundays will be my weekly lunch prep day where I will prepare whatever we will be taking for lunch throughout the week. This way we can have yummy lunches that are clean, and easy to fix during a busy week.

This week we will have Mexican chicken pitas. Super easy, and super yummy.
I'm cooking a chicken in the crockpot that was seasoned with homemade clean taco seasoning. Once that is cooked I will shred it and store it in the fridge. I will also cook the corn and rinse the black beans to store in the fridge.
This way each night we can prepare our lunch Tupperwares with chicken, corn, and beans and pack a whole grain pita. How easy is that!?!? (Easier than fixing a sandwich!!!)
And an added plus, for Jonathan and I to have these super yummy lunches only cost $8.50!!!
FOR A WHOLE WEEK OF GOOD LUNCHES! Whoa!

What about sweets!?!?!

Since added sugars are NOT clean, it can be difficult to find snacks to curb those sweet cravings.
This is why I am SO GLAD I found THIS RECIPE for homemade chocolate Larabar bites.
Larabars are clean, but are so expensive. But this recipe is so easy to make and they are really yummy, and clean!

I will definitely be keeping you guys posted on how our clean eating journey is going, I really think this will last with us. We are feeling better and better each day as all those gross toxins are leaving our bodies. We have more energy too! :)

If you have any questions let me know! Ill do my best to answer them, but keep in mind that I'm just a beginner! :)

Stay healthy! :)

Below is a picture of the Larabar bites as well as the chicken and ingredients thatbwill be used for the Mexican chicken pitas!

My First Kroger Trip!!

Made my first ever couponing trip to Kroger today! I LOVE it.
I wasn't able to double a coupon, but they had a great deal going on so I was still able to score!

Right now when you buy certain items you get $5 back when you buy 5.

Here is what I got:

2 Secret: $4.37 each: $8.74
Sale: $3.49 each
Mega Sale: -$2
Minus $2/2 Q
Total: $1.49 each: $2.98

2 Gillette Fusion Shave Cream: $4.34 each: $8.68
Sale: $2.99 each
Mega Sale: -$2
Minus $1/1 Q
Minus BOGO FREE Q (-$2.99)
Total: FREE!!!

Herbal Essences: $3.16
Sale: $2.79
Mega Sale: -$1
Minus $1/1 Q
Total: $.79

Total worth: $20.76
Total Spent: $3.76

Not too shabby if I say so myself! :)

My Last CVSTrip Before Going to Ohio

Jonathan and I leave for Ohio tomorrow!! By 10:30 Eastern time we will be there! I am so excited!

So I had to go to CVS one last time before leaving! After I used some of the L'Oreal alchohol free hair styler I LOVED it, so I decided for less than $.25 each, I should stock up. So I did! :)

Here is what I got:

6 L'Oreal Stylers: $6.99 each: $41.94
Clearance: $1.74
Minus (3) $3/2 Q
Total: $.24 each: $1.44

4 Herbal Essences: $4.49 each: $17.96
Clearance: $1.12 each: $4.48
Minus: (4) $1/1 Q
Total: $.12 each: $.48

Total Worth: $59.90
Total Spent: $1.92

So happy! I used POCKET CHANGE to buy $60 worth of hair care!

My Day Chasing Shampoo

Happy New Year!!!!

I spent my morning scoping out every nearby CVS and checking their hair care clearance.
The P&G that was in the papers on Sunday have several coupons that make shampoo only CENTS at CVS.

Since I only had one P&G (until mine come in the mail, hopefully tomorrow) I didn't get too much today, but rest assured that I definitely intend to pick up some more hair care! Even if my coupons don't come in tomorrow I have some printable coupons that I can use!

Here is what I got, at 3 different stores:

Herbal Essences: $4.49
Clearance: $1.12
Minus $1/1 Q
Total: $.12

2 L'Oreal Stylers: $6.99 each: $13.98
Clearance: $1.74 each: $3.48
Minus $3/2 Q
Minus $.50 ECB
Total: FREE

4 Dove Shampoo: $4.99 each: $19.96
Clearance: $1.24 each: $4.96
Minus (2) $2/2 Q
Total: $.96

Total Worth: $38.43
Total Spent: $1.08

I am super excited about the L'Oreal stylers because they are alcohol free, meaning they won't dry out hair! I got those with the printable Qs so I have 3 more of them that I definitely plan on using!

I just MADE $40 at Walgreens!

Well, that was the EASIEST $40 I have ever made....and I got $160 worth of stuff while doing it!

This week Walgreens has 2 GREAT sales. One is on a weight loss supplement and the other is on prenatal vitamins. (No I'm not pregnant, but I take prenatals because they don't make me sick like regular vitamins do).

The Simply Slim and Brainstrong Prenatal vitamins are both on sale for $10 with $10 RR!! So they are already FREE. But...the Simply Slim has a $10 Peelie Q on top of them, making them a $10 MONEYMAKER! So exciting.

This was the first time that I got up early enough on a Sunday morning to be at the store when they opened, but I REALLY wanted to get in on these deals. And trust me, I'm not done yet! I hope to score some more before the weeks end.

Here is what I did.

Transaction 1:
Simply Slim: $29
Sale: $10
Minus: $10 Q
Total: FREE
Received: $10 RR

Transaction 2:
Simply Slim: $29
Sale: $10
Minus: $10 Q
Total: FREE
Received: $10 RR

Transaction 3:
Simply Slim: $29
Sale: $10
Minus: $10 Q
Total: FREE
Received: $10 RR

Transaction 4:
Simply Slim: $29
Sale: $10
Minus: $10 Q
Total: FREE
Received: $10 RR

Transaction 5:
Brainstrong: $20
Sale: $10
Minus: $10 RR (from Simply Slim)
Total: FREE
Received: $10 RR

Transaction 6:
Brainstrong: $20
Sale: $10
Minus: $10 RR (from Simply Slim)
Total: FREE
Received: $10 RR

Total Worth: $156
Total Spent: NOTHING
Total Received: $40 RR!!!!

I am so excited about this trip and so thankful that it went smoothly!

I am going to try the diet pills, just to see what they are about. But even if I decide not to use them, they made me $40!! :)

I'm back! And so is the End of the Year Hair Care Clearance at CVS!

I am SO excited! I have been waiting for this ALL YEAR!
CVS is having their end of the year hair care CLEARANCE!!!!
They have tons of hair care up to 75% off!
I took advantage of this sale last year, and I have only just begun to take advantage of it this year!!!

Also, I found out that my CVS takes EXPIRED ECBs!!! This made me super excited! Especially since I had $5 ECBs in my purse that expired at the beginning of the month!

I went to CVS today, but didn't get much because the big money Qs that will make this sale even sweeter will be in this weeks paper!

But here is what I got:

3 Herbal Essences: $4.49 each: $13.47
CLEARANCE: $1.12 each
Minus $1/2 Q

Tresemee Split End Cream: $5.49
Clearance: $2.74

5 Clairol Hair Dye: $8.99 each: $44.95
Clearance: $2.24 each
Minus (5) $2/1 Q

Minus $5 ECB

Total Before: $63.91
Total After: $1.30

That's about $.14 per item! Whoo hoo!!

Below is a picture of all the shampoo I scored last year during this sale, all for under $5!
I hope to get as good of a deal this year too! :)

Dinner on a Dime: Cider Glazed Chicken and Spicy Brown Sugar Carrots!

Tonight's dinner on a dime was finger kicking good! I'm serious....I liked my fingers it was so delicious. And it only cost us $5!!!!

The recipe we used is actually ,east for a thanksgiving turkey, but we had a chicken so used it instead, and it turned out great! You can get the original recipes HERE and HERE.

It was like our own mini Thanksgiving dinner. I was worried that Jonathan wouldn't like it since he doesn't like apple cider, but he loved it! And of course we had a ton leftover so we will definitely get a second meal out of this!

For the chicken:
Apple cider
Whole chicken
Thyme
Savory seasoning
Poultry seasoning
Rosemary
Brown sugar
Salt & pepper
Canola oil
Ice
Water
(I just sprinkled the seasonings on until I thought it was good enough, didn't use measurements)

What to do:
Brine:

In a large pot with a lid that is big enough to fit the chicken, add all but 2 cups apple cider and bring to a boil over medium heat. Add the salt, thyme, rosemary, and Savory and stir to dissolve the salt. Remove from the heat, add 5 cups of ice, 6 cups water and stir. Put the turkey in the pot with the brine and hold it down so that the cavity fills with the brine. If the chicken is not completely submerged in the brine, add another 2 to 3 cups of water to the pot until covered. Cover the pot with a lid and refrigerate overnight or up to 24 hours.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Remove the chicken from the brine, rinse and pat dry. Arrange it, breast side up, in a roasting pan.

In a small bowl combine the canola oil, poultry seasoning and pepper. Brush the turkey liberally until completely coated. Put in the oven and roast until cooked (about 20 min per pound). About 10 minutes before the chicken is done, liberally baste the bird with the cider glaze.

Glaze:

In a small saucepan combine the reserved 2 cups of apple cider and 1/4 cup of brown sugar. Simmer until reduced to about 1/2 cup.

Now for the carrots:

2 pounds carrots, peeled and cut on the bias into 2 1/2-inch pieces (I used baby carrots)
1/4 cup apple cider
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
2 tablespoons butter
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

What to do:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium heat and add the carrots. Cook for 2 minutes, then drain in a colander and set aside.

In a medium-size pot combine all the remaining ingredients, except the parsley, and bring to a simmer over low heat. Add the drained carrots and toss to combine. Simmer on low heat for 5 minutes to incorporate flavors.

My Cost:
Apple Cider: $4
Carrots: $1

Total cost for this meal: $5!!!!

(Someone gave us the chicken, so we didn't have to buy one)