food Archives - 3 Kids and Us

Feeding a Family of Four? Here’s How You Can Reduce Your Grocery Bill

June 30, 2022 by admin

It takes a lot to feed a family of four—or more—each and every week, and with the way kids grow, you’ll be running back and forth just to keep food on the table. But all that grocery shopping can begin to add up in the money department, even if you have a good-paying job at a place like ThriveMD or a law firm.

Luckily, there are a few easy ways you can reduce your grocery bill without going above and beyond.

Drop Name Brands

There’s nothing wrong with name-brand items, and many of them are actually pretty decent, but not all of them are worth spending the extra money on. Instead, try going for the generic equivalent of whatever item you need. In many cases, you and your kids won’t even be able to tell a difference, and in the event that the name brand is considerably superior to the cheaper version, you can always shell out a few extra bucks for that specific item.

By settling for the off-brand items, you’ll start to rack up the savings in no time.

Budget for the Necessities

If you’ve ever gone shopping with your kids, you’ll know how easy it can be to wind up with a mountain of unnecessary items in your cart, and they’re not the only guilty ones—we’ve been there, too.

While there isn’t anything bad about getting the occasional treat or junk food, getting too many of these kinds of items can put you over your budget and really isn’t that good for you anyway. Instead, create a shopping list and only budget for the items that are absolutely required, such as milk eggs, bread, whatever you plan to eat for dinner, etc. No chips, cookies, or cases of soda, but we won’t tell if you want to get one little treat.

Take Advantage of Deals and Rewards

Many stores offer reward cards that you can get if you are a loyal customer, and all it takes is in most cases is giving them your email address. While this can be frustrating and seem like a waste of time when they ask you and all you really want to do is get your stuff and get out, taking those two minutes to fill out your information can save you a good chunk of change in the long run. These reward cards can grant you deals on items, earn you exclusive rewards, and build points every time you shop which can then be used for more groceries.

Spend a Little, Save a Lot

By sticking to these tips, you’ll find that saving money on your routine trips to the grocery store can actually be remarkably simple. You’ll be able to keep the fridge stocked, bellies full, and your wallet a little thicker.

Easy School Lunch Ideas Your Child Will Actually Eat

June 23, 2022 by admin

Packing your child’s lunch shouldn’t be stressful, but for many busy moms, it is just one more task that needs to be done on a busy morning. While adults can easily prepare lunch for the week using a meal prep service like Lean Kitchen, little ones are usually pickier and require smaller, fresh options for each day of the week. Whether you’re packing a lunch for school, daycare, camp, or anywhere else your child might be headed for the day, it is important to pack enough food that will keep them full, while also preventing food waste by only packing what they will eat. If you’re looking for some new ideas for school lunches that your child will actually eat, keep reading!

1. Sandwiches

You are likely already packing some kind of sandwich for your child’s lunch since they are a relatively quick and inexpensive meal option. The great thing about sandwiches is that they are often kid-friendly, with ingredients that even the pickiest eaters like or can easily modify. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a classic, but if your child is tired of eating them, you could also try:

Hummus and veggies
Cream Cheese (add salmon for protein if your child likes it)
Cold cuts – ham, roasted chicken, and turkey sandwiches are all high in protein and will keep your child full for the rest of the school day!

2. Filling Sides

In addition to a sandwich or other “entree,” be sure to give your child a filling side dish. This could include some kind of rice or pasta dish depending on the entree, or a cheese and meat spread. You could also try:

Chips and salsa
Salad
Veggies (broccoli, miniature corn cobs, carrots, and cauliflower are all filling options that most children like, and can be eaten cold)

3. Snacks

Once your child has been given a filling and healthy entree and side dish, it is time to pack snacks that they will enjoy. Popular and filling snacks include:

Pretzels – try a soft pretzel cut into bite-sized pieces for a fun take on this classic snack
Apples and peanut butter (or chocolate/hazelnut spread)
Fruit Slices
Crackers

4. Dessert

Reward your child for eating a healthy lunch and give them a fun snack to look forward to with dessert. This could include:

Cookies
A slice of cake or pie
Fruit salad
Mini chocolate bars

5 ingredients that should not be in your baby’s organic formula

November 12, 2021 by admin

When choosing baby formula for your baby, the first thing you should pay attention to is the product’s composition, especially ingredients to avoid in it. Many parents prefer organic formula as a source of clean ingredients in a baby’s diet.

What ingredients should not be in the organic formula?

1. Sugar in baby formula

Sugar is a hazardous product for babies and toddlers. It was found that sugar causes children to be deficient in B vitamins, which are extremely important for babies’ digestion and their growing bodies.

2. Soy

There are debates about the benefits and harms of soy in baby formula. But one thing is clear: baby food should not contain genetically modified soy!

Natural soy can be used in a baby’s diet only as a therapeutic measure and prescribed by the pediatrician.

3. Palm Oil

Unfortunately, palm oil is prevalent in baby food production, mainly because it contains palmitic acid found in mother’s milk. At the same time, the palmitic acid molecule of breast milk is structurally different from that of palm oil. This acid in palm oil binds with calcium, making it insoluble soap in the baby’s stomach, which is quite dangerous, leading to colic and constipation.

4. Gluten

Many moms, of course, know that baby food should never contain gluten. What is wrong with this plant protein, which is found in most grains? This substance is basically poorly broken down in the body of some children, which can provoke the development of Celiac disease.

5. Phytin

Phytin is a very unnecessary substance for babies – substances that interfere with the absorption of calcium, salts, and vitamin D. The problem is that phytin contains phosphorus. This substance binds calcium salts, not allowing them to be absorbed.

Holle is a world-famous Swiss manufacturer of organic and Demeter certified baby food. Holle Bio formula does not contain genetically modified ingredients, sugar, flavorings, colorings, or preservatives. This formula is divided into stages depending on the baby’s age and nutritional needs.

Holle stage Pre is suitable for babies from birth;

Holle formula stage 1 – from 0 to 6 months;

Holle stage 2 – from 6 to 12 months;

Holle formula stage 3 – from 12 months of age.

Yummy Fall Foods

November 10, 2018 by admin

The appearance of fall brings about more than just cooler weather and foliage. With fall come seasonal foods that we all enjoy. Here are a few of the foods that make great fall dishes.

Apples

It is true that apples are available all year round, but they are more connected to the fall season. On a chilly day, a great way to warm yourself is with a serving of warm apple cider. One sip of this yummy beverage and you will instantly warm up. In addition to being the main ingredient of a tasty beverage, apples can also be turned into a topping for homemade biscuits. Apple butter is a delicious spread that can be applied to toast or warm, homemade biscuits.

Apples not only help to make tasteful treats, they also can be used in Halloween games. Bobbing for apples is a game that is played by filling a large tub with water and adding apples to it. The apples will float in the water and allow players to catch them with the teeth. The person that catches the most apples with their teeth wins the game.

Pears

Apples are not the only fruit associated with fall; pears are also considered to be autumn’s fruit. These delicious fruits can be eaten raw or prepared with other ingredients. Pears are great for making preserves and canning them for the colder months.

Pumpkins

Pumpkins are deeply connected to the fall weather thanks to Halloween and Thanksgiving. During Halloween, pumpkins are gutted and carved into Jack-O-lanterns. Creating Jack-O-Lanterns are a great way to release your creativity and to spend time with the family. Once the Jack-O-Lantern is created, a light is placed in the inside and the world will be able to see your creation.

Some people throw away the pulp and seeds inside of pumpkins while making a jack-o-lantern, while others save the pulp and seeds in order to create delish treats. The seeds of the pumpkins can be roasted and turned into on-the-go snacks. In addition to roasted pumpkin seeds being a favorite treat, these snacks are packed with antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins which also allow them to be a healthy snack.

The pulp of the pumpkin can be used to make pumpkin pies. Just add a couple of ingredients such as all-purpose flour, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg and you will have created a tasty treat.

The meat of the pumpkin can also be used to create fall drinks. A pumpkin spice latte is a tasty drink that can help to wake you up in the morning. You can also get Spiced pumpkin puree to make a delicious fall beverage.

Sweet Potatoes

Pumpkin pie is not a Thanksgiving favorite for everyone. Some people enjoy the taste of sweet potatoes over pumpkins. Sweet potato pies are also a tradition for Thanksgiving and the fall season. Sweet potatoes have their own sweetness so you can bake them and enjoy them as a healthy snack. Sweet potatoes are full of vitamin A and C, calcium, and potassium. Other items can be added to the sweet potato in order add more flavor to them. Nutmeg can add a more distinct taste to your sweet potato, just sprinkle some on the baked snack and enjoy.

Cauliflower

The season of fall is not just associated with fruits, but vegetables as well. Cauliflower is a vegetable that is mostly associated with the fall season. These white vegetables are usually looked over because people view them as being plain and lacking taste. Cauliflower can be a healthy alternative to mashed potatoes. You can mash cauliflower until it reaches almost the same consistency of mashed potatoes. Mashed cauliflowers are healthier than mashed potatoes because they have fewer calories and they are a great source of vitamin C.

Brussel sprouts

Another vegetable that is connected to the fall season is Brussels sprouts. Brussels sprouts have gotten a horrible reputation in the past. Brussels sprouts are often given the description of a distasteful vegetable. You can steam or roast them and add salt, pepper, or other spices to the vegetable. If you prefer a sweeter taste from the Brussels sprouts, try roasting them and adding olive oil, salt, and pepper to them. This method of preparing Brussels sprouts can help to release the natural sweetness of the vegetable. Brussels sprouts are not only a tasty dish, but they also help to protect your body against vitamin A and iron deficiency.

Why cheese is an important dairy product?

May 19, 2018 by admin

Cheese is one of the major dairy products which is very popular amongst the people due to its royal taste. Most of the people like eating cheese and it is available in various distinct qualities. It also has different varieties. Cheese is usually obtained by using pasteurized milk. The cheese has distinct flavour and texture depending on the quality and process of cheese making.

However, some cheese varieties require that the milk is warmed a bit before it undergoes any treatment. This heating kills the bacteria and germs which are present in the milk and provides optimum condition for the cheese to be made. It is essential for milk to be aged at least for 60 days so as to reduce the disease-causing bacteria get dead.

There are other products apart from cheese which can be obtained from milk like yoghurt and other products which are equivalently important. Yogurt strainer bag is often used to drain out excess water from the yoghurt.

Ingredients

Usually it is made up of milk. Cheese can be obtained from all sorts of milk of cow, goat, sheep and water buffalo. They can also be obtained by the blend of different type of milks.

The other important aspect is choosing of coagulant and it depends on the type of cheese that you require. If you want acid cheese then an acid coagulant is used like acetic acid and lemon acid. If you want rennet cheese more commonly it is calf rennet which is famous. Sometimes calcium chloride is also used to make the cheese more solid and better in quality. Different kinds of flavours can be added depending on the needs. Some common types of ingredients which are used are port wine, hers, spices and hot pepper.

Different type of cultures used

Usually bacteria act as a main source to turn raw milk into yoghurt or cheese. These bacteria are present in lactic acid as these micro organism feed on the energy which is given by lactose of a milk. There is wide type of bacteria which are used for the making of cheese. Some distinct cultures techniques are used to improve cheese quality and flavour.

Where to buy rennet?

Buying rennet cheese is not an easy task you should always consider it buying either from a reputed shop or you should buy cheese from a good company. The rennet is the most popular type of cheese and is available abundantly. Always keep in mind that you should find a quality product. Rennet is usually made from calf milk which provides it a good texture and colour.

Rennet varies in the type of strength. They have the tendency to be coagulated with various kinds of different milk has also one of the major cause which make rennet cheese one of the most popular cheese. It is recommended that you use Kosher certification-based equipment for the manufacturing of rennet cheese. It is one of finest cheese quality which you will get out there.