Oscar Mayer Premium Selects Nitrate and Nitrite Free Hot Dogs Better Than Hebrew National

I don't like serving hot dogs to my family--too much junk, too little food value. Alas, said family loves homemade Coney Island.

I was happy to find that Oscar Mayer makes Select Premium uncured hot dogs with no nitrates, nitrites. fillers or preservatives. Cheap too--only about $.75 more per package than junk hot dogs. The all beef Oscar Mayer Select Premium with no nitrates or nitrites were $3 per pound.

This is great news for a family of six who wants to each healthy. It's nothing for me to cook three packages of hot dogs at a time. We are always feeding extra people. Up till now, if I wanted a healthy hot dog to grill, the only option was Al Fresco preservative free chicken sausage at $4-$5 per pound.

Everyone loves Oscar Mayer Selects Premium. One son confused them with some organic free-range hot dogs I used to buy from co-op (much higher priced). They're as good as higher-priced Hebrew National. And those, I found, while being kosher, aren't necessarily nitrate free.

Here's the list of ingredients in Oscar Mayer Select Premium: chicken, turkey, pork, water, corn sugar, salt, celery juice, vinegar, lemon juice, cherry powder and sodium phosphates (less than 2%). So the corn sugar isn't great. They're not lowfat, low sugar or low sodium. So not good for special health diets, just a more natural alternative. And I've read that celery juice is a nitrate--but it's a natural source--better than chemicals.

For more on Oscar Mayer Selects Premium, click here. For more food product reviews, healthy eating, recipes and cooking hints, visit me at www.greatfood4u.blogspot.com.

Fat Burning Fruits, Buy These Better Fruit Food Swaps to Lose Weight

I've lost 100 pounds by counting calories and swapping fatty foods for better ones. Any dieter knows you have to boost vegetables and fruit to lose weight. But it's not that simple. Some fruits are better than others. Some are fat burners and some should be avoided altogether. Shop for these fruit food swaps and try these fruit superfood recipes to trim pounds.  Serve at your 4th of July picnic! Fat Burning Fruits, Better Fruit Food Swaps to Lose Weight

Quick, Cheap Kid-friendly Leftovers Use-Up, One-Pot Meals

I admit, I'm a cookbook addict. I enjoy perusing them for recipes and cooking styles. I've noticed many cookbooks are limited. And most recipes are needlessly complicated. Busy families need meals that don't require multiple steps or that dirty a sink full of pans. So I've written recipes for nutritious meals that can be made while helping a child with spelling words or nursing a baby. Ingredients are cheap and adaptable to what's on hand and use up leftovers plus have enough for another meal. If you line baking dishes with heavy foil, you can freeze food, remove pre-wrapped in foil and store. Read onSuper Easy, Inexpensive, Kid-friendly Leftover Use-Up, One-Pot Meals

Feed a Family of Four for $75 a Week Shopping at Walmart

Food prices, like all other costs, are rising. However, it is possible to feed a family for four on $75 a week by shopping at Walmart, practicing once-a-week cooking, and buying fresh options. Here's a menu, meal plan, recipes, and a shopping list that covers three meals a day for seven days. I've also included special diet options, including vegetarian meals.  How to Feed a Family of Four on $75 a Week from Walmart

50 Thrifty Father's Day Gifts Under $10

Father's Day usually finds me with more men to buy for than money in my purse. I love giving gifts to husband, dad, father-in-law, grandfather, step-dad, uncles, brothers, our parish priest and all the special dads in my life. But I also need to feed the kiddies. So my Father's Day shopping focuses on budget. Here are 50 Father's Day Gifts Under $10

Budget Graduation Open House, Party Shopping Guide With Recipes

Hosting a graduation open house and don't know where to start? Use this party planning guide to throw the perfect backyard bash for your graduate! Here are recipes plus shopping lists for groceries, supplies, decorations and equipment. Being the perennial penny pincher, I've listed cheaper and DIY alternatives--to save you money and hassle! Read on.  Budget Graduation Party Open House Shopping Guide With Recipes. Oh and be sure to use free printable decorations, cards and invitations to save even more. Check out my blog DIY Party Planner and click "graduation" for printables.

Best Mothers Day Gifts for Moms, Girlfriends and Wives

 Men often put off shopping for the holidays, a leetle late. Take Mother's Day, for example. Are you a grab and dash guy? At the last minute, scooping up chocolates and flowers. Boring. And not very thoughtful for mom or the mother of your children. Here are Valentine gift suggestions for her that will delight. There are two important rules of thumb to remember when shopping for women. First, we can spot a 'quick grab' gift with no thought involved a mile away. Read on Best Valentine's Day Gifts for Mothers and Wives

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Grain, Bread Food Swaps to Cut Calories, Lose Weight

I started dieting 18 months ago. In the first year, I didn't lose much. I cut calories but was still hungry. My problem was bread; it's filling but highly caloric. I won't cut grains completely. Instead, my strategy is to "tweak." Here are bread, starch and grain switches to cut calories, get full and eat healthier. Use this shopping list to for cheap, reduced-calorie diet options.  Starch Food Swaps to Cut Calories, Lose Weight 

Addiction Recovery Tips for Shopaholic Parents

Shopping addiction is one of the trickiest habits to break, particularly for parents. Kids need many things, and it's not like we can stop buying. We're constantly confronted by temptation. If you're a spendaholic, here's my recovery plan to break the overspending habit. Money Saving Tips for Shopaholics

Cheap, Educational Stocking Stuffers for Kids

I have to laugh when I see what stores tout as "cheap" stocking stuffers. I don't consider anything over $5 "cheap" especially not for stocking presents which are typically filler gifts. If my child is getting three or four bigger, pricier gifts under the tree, I can't afford to spend big on the stocking, too. Having four kids to shop for, Christmas is crazy-expensive enough without the stockings.  Read more

Foods Donations for Holiday Drives

Tis the season for giving and my favorite is food drives. I love seeing people come together, across religious and cultural lines, to reach out to neighbors in need. If you're donating, be sure to follow the suggestions list. But if there are no suggestions here's a list of food items that are always needed. I've put in many hours in food banks, food pantries and shelter missions. I've seen first-hands that some foods there's never enough of and some that are donated in abundance. Here's a food bank shopping list.  Best Items to Donate to Thanksgiving and Christmas Food Drives

Black Friday Shopping Strategies

 Black Friday...that 'morning after' when bargain-hunters descend like a swarm of locusts and devour every 'hot buy' in site, leaving exhausted, shell-shocked store employees and ravaged shelves. It's the great American dream in the land of plenty! I've braved this tsunami of shoppers before and have a battle plan to share, worthy of General Sherman himself! This was written about stores in West Michigan, but they're mostly big box stores that are available across the U.S. Best Buy, Walmart, Target, Staples, Menards, Sears and mall chain stores. My Black Friday game plan involves three phases: SURVEY, STAKE-OUT, SIEGE and SWEEP-UP Read more Black Friday Shopping Tips 

Jerusalem Cookbook--Kitchen Must Have and a Lot More

I love to cook--I particularly love to experiment with different ethnic foods. My youngest son mentioned a cookbook he'd heard about on NPR (he listens to intellectual radio, so yeah--brag!) The book "Jerusalem" celebrates this religiously and culturally diverse region through food. I'd forgotten his suggestion until, perusing new books at Barnes & Noble, I happened on a cool book called "Jerusalem." When I mentioned it, Jake quipped, "That's the one I was telling you about!"

The authors, both natives, are agemates but from different poles of the religious (and geographic) map. Yotam Ottolenghi is a Jew from the western side of Jerusalem and Sami Tamimi, an Arab from eastern Jerusalem. Not only do they share recipes and historical information from their own backgrounds, but they include cultural tidbits from the myriad of heritages represented in this "flavorful" city. Jerusalem is a celebration of differences and a tasty mix of similarities. And what better medium than food to share it? I, a Dutch-Irish, native protestant, Catholic convert was proud to recognize many of the terms used and I look forward to exploring it further. Beyond a cookbook, "Jerusalem" is a comprehensive social studies unit. Run, don't walk,  to your local bookseller and get your copy. And for some yummy Mediterranean recipes a la this newb, read How to Make your Own Za'ater. 

Scary Halloween Party Foods and Treats--Cheap, Easy

Want to scare some little ghosts and goblins this Halloween? Make these cheap spooky trick-or-treat party goodies. Ghoulishly yummy, monstrously healthy, these treats will satisfy every vampire, witch, bat, zombie, ghost, mummy and creature on your Halloween party guest list. Set out food in bowls, buffet style. Label each treat, just in case ghouls don't recognize them. Before eating, play the blindfold game. Give each guest a paper plate and blindfold them. Give out samples of each item, tell them what it is and let them touch and feel it before eating. Everyone should be good grossed out. Here's the menu (did I mention this was a cheap, easy party?) Read on for spooky Halloween party food tips 

Where to Find Cheap Wedding Dresses Under $100

Planning a budget wedding? Good girl--you're smart. You're doubtless looking for cheap wedding dresses. I'm the bargain-minded bride's go-to gal for bridal gowns under $100. Some online vendors offer free shipping, too. Check these sources for a cheap wedding dress.   Where to Find Cheap Wedding Dresses Under $100 

My Bit Fat Cheap Wedding Reception Under $800--200 Guests

My husband and I paid for our own wedding and reception. We paid everything off in advance, incurred no debt and charged nothing. Our cheap wedding reception cost under $800 for 200 people, including food, cake, decorations, music, flowers, equipment and hall rental. This was 25 years ago, but I could still do it today and so can you. Just follow our frugal lead. My Cheap Wedding Reception Under $800 

Cyber Week Shopping and "Upgrade Your Parents Browser" Day Tips

Cyber Week Shopping and "Upgrade Your Parents Browser" Day Tips Cyber Monday , the biggest online shopping event, kicks off on the Monday after Thanksgiving. Cyber Week is like Black Friday, except that it happens at your computer and not in a store. Many people like cyber shopping: no standing in line, no dodging pushy shoppers, no tired feet, no need to get up early or deal with the chaos. Cyber shopping requires some finesse and lots of caution, though. Here are tips to make your Cyber Week merry. Read on...

Men's Guide to Style and Fashion: What's Hot and What's Not

Guys, I'm probably old enough to be your mom, so what (you ask) do I know about mens fashion? Here's this: I shop for guys. I know guys clothes and cool clothing stores. Any guy can rock a look if he keeps in

 mind a few things: body style, coloring, hair and personality. Read more

Five Secrets for Financial Stability and Success

Teachers are uniquely qualified to give financial advice for several reasons. Teachers must budget carefully to plan for summer months of unemployment. Teachers are uniquely qualified to give financial advice for several reasons. Teachers must budget carefully to plan for summer months of unemployment. Teachers are dependent on public mileage opinion for a paycheck. Here are personal finance tips from a teacher. I've been a Michigan certified K-8, CI and CE teacher for 20+ years. I've worked in public and private school settings. I've also homeschooled my children. This advice is culled from years of frugal living and financial prudence. Read on...

Best Christmas, Birthday and Holiday Gifts for Dads

Why is it that holiday shopping for women is so easy, but finding gifts for men is so difficult? Fathers are especially challenging to shop for. Here is a list of top ten best gifts for dads in all prices ranges, for all ages and interests. Read more...