Memorial Day Tribute: I'm Proud to be An American

Here in America we celebrate the lives and service of those men and women who have served in the armed services of the United States of America. They have given years and lives, arms and legs, and eyes and hearing. They have sacrificed themselves and their families on the altar of freedom. We have the privilege of living in a free country because throughout the decades there have been men and women who have served under the leadership of this free Nation's government to win and contain the freedoms we hold so dear.

Military from my family: Great-grandfather Perkins (lost a leg), Great-grandfather Houston, Uncle Bill, Uncle L.H., Uncle Herbert (killed WWII), Father-in-law W.L., Cousin Joe, Brother Herb, Husband Jack, Son-in-law Shane.

Food and Frugality

While sipping my morning coffee and catching up on the news, I found a "news" item on frugality.  One thing led to another and one website led to another until I found this image.  Now as a mother of a large family and a having a limited income, the word "Food" certainly invokes frugality in my "heart-of-hearts." So I thought we'd simply look at this a bit.

1. buy it with thought -  This actually means more if you think about it than if you surface skim the words.  Of course, we think when we buy.  But think, do you actually think?  You need to think quality, because if what you purchase is flawed, past date, or low grade you just might not be getting the nutrients from the food you are buying.  Buy the very BEST you have money to buy.  Buy the very freshest you have access to.  
2. cook it with care - Now that you have brought home your treasured "thought-it-through" quality food, do take care to cook it while it is still fresh.  If it sits on the counter or in the 'fridge a week, you're losing nutrients.  If you just slop through the cooking process without "due care," you lose nutrients.  Of course, you might lose flavor, color, texture, and appeal as well.  So cook it with care.
3. serve just enough - A 12" dinner plate might be pretty, but if you fill it with food, you are most likely piling on more than your body needs.  Americans serve more to themselves and their families than they need to eat.  They eat more than they need for good health.  So research how much you and your family needs to be healthy and serve just enough.
4. save what will keep -  We all have wonderful refrigerators.  We just need to realize what a wonder resource of frugality they are.  When you cook that pot of green beans, don't toss the left overs.  Place them in an airtight container and refrigerate them.  They will keep.  They won't keep indefinitely, but they will keep.  Don't like leftovers?  Get over it! Life isn't about what you like and don't like, life is about living and surviving.  Some leftovers can be combined - example a vegetable medly.  Some can be put into a casserole. 
5. eat what would spoil - Stay alert to what you have on hand and what would spoil if left uncooked and unserved another day.  Eat what would spoil.  Don't want THAT tonight?  Get over it.  Eat what would spoil.  Don't leave it sitting there to spoil.  Spoilage means wasted money.  or Money down the drain.  Or trashing your hard earned money.
6. home grown is best - We don't all have garden space or the capability to grown our own food.  But home grown is best.  That means buy local when you can especially if you have access to a farmers market or roadside "fruit stand."  If it isn't "shipped in," it probably is "vine ripened" and fresher.  Fresher normally means higher nutrients.

So FOOD for thought was our topic for today.  Or THOUGHTS on FOOD and FRUGALITY.