An Easy Way to Get Your Kids to Eat More Fruits & Vegetables! I know lots of parents are trying to figure out how to get kids to eat more vegetables & fruits, so I wanted to share a simple way that has worked for us to get our kids to eat more veggies AND fruits! We offer our kids frozen vegetables and frozen fruits. And I mean completely frozen! Our kids LOVE to eat frozen corn, beans, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, blueberries, strawberries, melons, peaches & more!

For example, when trying to get our kids to eat more fruits and veggies, I ask our kids if they want me to cook the veggies or eat them frozen and they almost always request them completely frozen. Obviously you will need to cut up some of the vegetables or fruits into smaller bite size pieces to prevent choking (such as broccoli, cauliflower, sliced carrots, melons, peaches, strawberries, & others etc.). But both of our boys are WILD for frozen fruits & vegetables – completely frozen. So if you haven’t tried this, give it a try! You can even call them something fun like “veggie ice cubes”, or another fun food name that will appeal to your kiddos. Use your imagination, and you just might be surprised when you see your kiddos go wild over their frozen veggies & fruits too!

Our son’s Aspergers / Autism Diagnosis

So, this post is a little different than the usual posts you’ll find on Coupons & Freebies Mom. But, since April is Autism Awareness month, it’s something I wanted to share with you. One of our sons was recently diagnosed with Aspergers / high functioning autism. To be honest, the official diagnosis wasn’t really a shock to us, as we had suspected he it when he was as young as 6 – 10 months old. He wasn’t like other kiddos. People kept saying “he’ll grow out of it”, but the older he got, this simply hasn’t been the case.

We love him to pieces, but living with a kiddo with Aspergers definitely has its challenging moments. He is way beyond his years in intelligence, but he doesn’t “connect” socially with people, at least not very easily, and this creates for some exciting moments when we’re out & about! Plus, tantrums go beyond tantrums, turning into total meltdowns that can last for hours.

I recently heard the new statistic for autism is that 1 in 55 boys have autism. This number is astounding! We live in a rural area, and resources are somewhat limited here, which makes life even more challenging. I’m not going to go into the details of our journey here (I’ll save that for another post)… But with that being said, I know we have lots of readers who also have children or grandchildren (or other relatives) on the autism spectrum. Please know that you are not alone! We’d love to hear from folks who have kiddos or other relatives who have been diagnosed with autism. Feel free to leave a comment & share your story below, or contact us to share your story! We’d love to hear from YOU!

-Jaime (aka “MOM”) @ Coupons & Freebies Mom

Is it really possible to get fit without spending a lot of money? Let’s be honest for a moment – how many of us can really afford to spend a hundred dollars for a gym membership? What if even $40 is too much? There used to be a time we might have had a little extra spending money to take care of ourselves, but now it’s getting harder.

With the economy being as turbulent as it is, it’s time to take control of what we can do for our physical well-being that doesn’t make us choose between buying groceries or belonging to a health club. Let’s take a look at some fabulous ways to start getting fit without spending a dime.

Take walks: Start taking regular walks throughout the day or evening, even if they are short walks. Continuing to move is a good way to keep your metabolism in-check and avoid the downfalls of a sedentary lifestyle.

Play with your kids: If you need a way to fit in physical activity but can’t seem to get the time, join in on the fun with your kids if you have little ones. Climb on the jungle gym, run through the park, or play tag in the yard with them.

Volunteer at the Y: Did you know that volunteers at the local Y may be eligible for free memberships? If you have a little extra time to dedicate to supporting your community, then you may be able to score a weekly workout or two at the gym.

The Number One Tip to Getting Fit Without Spending a Dime?

Change your diet. One of the biggest ways you can begin to get in shape is to eat healthier. You can be active all you want, but you and I both know that we sabotage our efforts when we reach for the extra cupcake or slice of pizza.

You will save money when you start to eat better. Rather than getting takeout or delivery out of convenience, try to buy healthy foods in bulk and cook at home more often. This will be healthier for you and your family, and it will also bring your food expenses down significantly. I recommend dry beans that you can cook ahead of time and store, staples like brown rice and quinoa, and plenty of fresh produce. Not only are these cheaper than processed dinner foods and Chinese takeout, they are much better for your waistline.

Getting fit without spending a dime is possible, and I hope that you take some of the advice outlined above. Feel free to share your comments about your budget-friendly ideas for getting in shape!

Guest Post by J.M.

5 Tips for Eating Healthy on a Budget

It seems almost impossible to eat healthy on a budget these days. Unhealthy food choices are readily available and inexpensive, while healthy food choices may cost a lot more. Fortunately, eating healthy is not as challenging as some people may think. Below are some easy tips for eating healthy for less:

Buy less meat

Meat can very easily run up a grocery bill, especially if you buy grass-fed, hormone-free animal products (and let’s face it, as parents, many of us do buy these meats). Buying less meat is one of the simplest things that can be done to save money on groceries. Most people already get more than the recommended daily amount of meat. And folks, I live in rural Kansas where cattle outnumber people, so if we can get by on less meat, anyone can!

Buy in bulk

Buying in bulk can also help save money on eating healthy. Most grocery stores offer discounts if you spend a certain amount of money. Additionally, gas prices are continuing to rise and many people cannot afford to make frequent trips to the grocery stores. Buying in bulk also helps save money on gas.

Use coupons

Okay, you knew we’d have to include this one right? You may be surprised to hear that many people throw away coupons, but using coupons can help folks save a lot of money on groceries. Even using coupons that offer discounts as low as 10 – 20 percent off can help you save money. Twenty percent off may not seem like much, but over time, that can add up. For example, lots of people say that the “average family of four” spends about $100 dollars per week on groceries. If this same family uses coupons, they can easily save $20 per week (and much more) on groceries. Over a year, that family has just saved $1000 per year on groceries!

Drink tap water instead of buying bottled water

This one may seem obvious, but we see so many folks trying to save money who buy bottled water! Let’s face it – Water is a healthy drink choice, and it’s cheap! However, buying bottled water every week can be very expensive. So if you must have your water in a bottle, buy reusable bottles & drink tap water instead of bottled water. If you’re concerned about the ingredients in your tap water, use a quality water filter.

Cook at home as much as possible

I honestly think this is one of the easiest ways to save money. Folks simply need make sure that they cook at home as much as possible. Dining out is not only expensive, but the food is not very healthy. Cooking at home is healthier because YOU control the ingredients and the way the food is prepared.

So, eating healthy on a budget does not have to be challenging. Buying less meat, buying in bulk, using coupons, drinking tap water instead of bottled water, and cooking at home are just some easy ways you can eat healthy on a budget. We’d love to hear any ideas you have for eating healthy on a budget too!

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