Cutting Grocery Costs without Cutting Nutrition

Simple, healthy, and affordable ways to weather the rising price of food

by Karen Collins, R.D., American Institute of Cancer Research

Grocery prices are projected to increase again in 2008 – that’s following 2007’s highest annual increase in 17 years. But surviving these tough economic times doesn’t have to mean sacrificing good nutrition. Some simple strategies can help you cut food costs and eat more healthfully, too.

Wellness Workbook

How to Achieve Enduring Health and Vitality

by John W. Travis, M.D., Regina Sara R

For more than 30 years, John W. Travis, M.D., and Regina Sara Ryan have introduced thousands to the concept of wellness, a practical whole-self approach to healthy living. From how you breathe to how you view the world, the 12 interconnected elements of the Wellness Energy System affect all aspects of your life: your disposition toward injury and illness, your relationships, your general level of happiness, and beyond. In an optimal state of wellness, you are less prone to disease, stress, and other life-depleting factors. Thoroughly revised, THE NEW WELLNESS WORKBOOK presents a comprehensive self-assessment and hundreds of exercises and ideas to help you take control of your health and happiness.

Kid of the Month

Eunice is Kid of the Month

Top 10 Food Mistakes

Food Mistake #1: You reach for multigrain bread or cereal

Foods labeled 7-grain or multigrain may seem like the healthiest choices—especially with new findings showing that a diet rich in whole grains protects against heart disease, cancer, and other ills.

The famed Nurses' Health Study documented lower rates of heart disease and stroke among whole grain eaters. Experts don't know all the reasons behind the benefits, but they do know that intact grains are rich in fiber and nutrients—including vitamin E, B vitamins, and magnesium—that are stripped away when grains are refined into flour.

My wellness center – a free and personalized weight-loss and fitness tool

Listing of Top Online Schools

Click here to receive a free trial of TrioThin.

More Than a Fridge Filler: Clever Uses for Baking Soda

By Olivia Kuhn-Lloyd of Intent

As elements of spring start to peak through, I’m inspired to freshen up my beauty routine, which has always been minimal. Winter has taken its toll on my skin and hair and enough is enough! It’s time to peal back the curtain. Influenced by these ten beauty essentials totaling seventy-five dollars, I started to think about glow- and shine-inducing products that I already have on-hand and, my favorite of the bunch, baking soda.

How can my favorite multi-purpose (beauty) product enhance your grooming routines? Read on. (More than a dusted off Redbook list, these applications for baking soda are a compilation of research, polls, and personal use.)

Where to buy? For how much?
Baking Soda is ubiquitous. It does not vary by brand nor fall into different price brackets. It’s reliable and will always come to the siren call of your beauty needs.
It’s available. You can purchase it at supermarkets, bodegas, drug stores, and gas station mini-marts.
The price is right. The average drugstore sells baking soda for less than three dollars.

Top

Join the SingleMom.com forums. Share your experience with other single mothers. Post your own story in the Amazing Mom forum for your chance to win a gift card.

Need low-cost health insurance? Protect your family with the right coverage at prices you can afford.
Listing of Top Online Schools

Health and Well Being - Featured Topics

H1N1 Flu

H1N1 Flu - Seasonal flu shots are available right now. H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine is being shipped and will soon be widely available.
Look here to find a place close to home to get vaccinated.

Flu refers to illnesses caused by a number of different influenza viruses. Flu can cause a range of symptoms and effects, from mild to lethal.
Two strains of flu, seasonal flu and the H1N1 (Swine) flu, are currently circulating in the United States. A third, highly lethal H5N1 (Bird) flu is being closely tracked overseas.
Flu symptoms may include fever, coughing, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headaches, body aches, chills and fatigue. In H1N1 (Swine) flu infection, vomiting and diarrhea may also occur.
read more...

Know What to Do if You or a Loved One Gets the Flu

Download our handy new flu essentials one-pagers. Are you pregnant, do you or a family member have asthma? Do you know what to do if you get sick? Do you want to know the warning signs for when to call your doctor? These informational one-pagers were created by the doctors and health care professionals at HHS and are designed to share with friends, family members and people in your community.

Featured Health Topic - Diabetes

by Amanda Bach

A feature designed to help you find important health information on womenshealth.gov and girlshealth.gov - Sources by Amanda Bach - According to the American Diabetes Association, 18.2 million people in America have diabetes. But 5.2 million of these people have yet to be diagnosed because diabetes can be a silent disease. You could have it for years and never know it. During this time, your eyes, nerves, and kidneys could be harmed by too much sugar in your blood. The American Diabetes Alert Day, is a one-day call-to-action for people to find out if they are at risk for diabetes.

What is Asthma?

by Amanda Bach

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects your airways. The airways are the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. If you have asthma, the inside walls of your airways are inflamed (swollen). The inflammation makes the airways very sensitive, and they tend to react strongly to things that you are allergic to or find irritating. When the airways react, they get narrower, and less air flows through to your lung tissue. This causes symptoms like wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe), coughing, chest tightness, and trouble breathing, especially at night and in the early morning.

by Amanda Bach

Asthma is very common among children, teens and adults. It is a disease that causes the airways of the lungs to tighten. An asthma attack is when your lungs aren´t getting enough air to breathe. Asthma is a chronic disease that affects your airways. The airways are the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. If you have asthma, the inside walls of your airways are inflamed (swollen). The inflammation makes the airways very sensitive, and they tend to react strongly to things that you are allergic to or find irritating.

The Prescription Lowdown

by Amy Allen Clark - founder and creator of www.MomAdvice.com

Prescription medication is an expense that many families cannot afford. If you do not have an insurance plan that will cover your prescriptions and are a low-income family, then you are not alone. Fortunately there are programs available to assist you with your medications, but finding them can be a struggle.

What is postpartum depression?

by Amanda Bach

Postpartum depression is a treatable medical illness characterized by feelings of sadness, indifference, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps, exhaustion and anxiety following the birth of your baby. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for short periods. But true clinical depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for an extended time. Depression can be mild, moderate, or severe. The degree of depression, which your doctor can determine, influences how you are treated.

What is Endometriosis?

courtesy of www.4women.gov - Sahar Elhodiri from KAKE-TV

As a health reporter at KAKE-TV, my daily segments feature a wide range of medical issues – everything from breakthrough procedures and treatments to stories that can help us all to live a healthier life.

Over the past ten years on the health beat at three different television stations, I've had the chance to meet hundreds of patients with different illnesses who have shared their struggles and triumphs with our viewers, many times in hopes of helping someone else. Like them, I too have a personal story to share about a disease. Mine is endometriosis, something I've battled for nearly 20 years.

The Heart Truth

The Heart Truth is that heart disease is the #1 killer of American women. In fact, one in three women dies of heart disease. But heart disease also can lead to disability and a significantly decreased quality of life. Every woman needs to know about heart disease.

from HealthyWomen.Org

Up to one-third of American children, from age two through the teenage years, have high cholesterol. American children and adolescents also have higher blood cholesterol levels and higher intakes of saturated fatty acids and cholesterol, than their counterparts in other countries, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Tough Love for Tiny Teeth

contributed by Amanda Bach

Baby teeth may not be permanent, but dentists say they require just as much cleaning and care as adult teeth. The reason: Neglecting them can cause your child pain and create lifetime consequences for their dental health. About 20% of children already have tooth decay by age 3, according to the American Dental Association. Not only do these kids experience pain from cavities, they run the risk of having their permanent teeth come in incorrectly...

Parents of Children with Autism Find Help at the Children's Health Council

contributed by Amanda Bach

Because autism is considered a spectrum disorder, children can exhibit any combination of symptoms and behaviors in any degree of severity. Many children with autism do often love and make eye contact, show affection, smile, laugh and demonstrate a variety of other emotions in varying degrees. They also capable of responding to their environment in both positive and negative ways.

by Serena Gordon - HealthDay Reporter

If your child is at high risk for being overweight or obese, restricting food probably isn't the best way to try to keep the youngster at a healthy weight.
That's because in children who have a genetic predisposition to gaining extra weight, parental restriction of food may actually cause them to gain more weight...

Your Skin

Your skin is your largest and most visible organ. It’s exposed to the elements daily, oftentimes without protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays. With Independence Day weekend already upon us, you’re probably planning to be outside more than usual.
In recognition of UV Safety Month, we want to give you the information you need to be proactive when it comes to taking care of your skin.

Skin Cancer

by Amanda Bach

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. The number of new cases of skin cancer appears to be rising each year. The number of deaths due to skin cancer, though, is fairly small. The good news is that skin cancer is now almost 100% curable if found early and treated promptly.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. Artificial sources of UV radiation, such as sunlamps and tanning booths, can also cause skin cancer. Although anyone can get skin cancer, the risk is greatest for people who have fair skin that freckles easily -- often those with red or blond hair and blue or light-colored eyes

Tanning

contributed by Amanda Bach

You might think you look better with a tan, but the truth is, there is no such thing as a safe tan. When your skin becomes tan, it is really a sign that your skin cells have been hurt. The sun´s ultraviolet (UV) rays are what damage your skin and these rays play a big role in the growth of skin cancer, the most common kind of cancer in the U.S. Today, more young people than ever are getting skin cancer.

When possible, avoid outdoor activities during midday, when the sun's rays are strongest. Wear protective clothing, such as a wide-brimmed hat, long-sleeved shirt, and long pants. Wear wraparound sunglasses that provide 100 percent UV ray protection to protect your eyes. Always wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen and lipscreen with at least SPF 15.

The Environment and Women's Health

by Amanda Bach

- The environment is everything around us wherever we are—at home, at work, or outdoors. It includes, among other things, the air we breathe, the water we drink and use, and the food we eat. Chemicals found in air, water, and soil can cause serious health problems in women and men, such as cancer and problems with the lungs or reproductive system. Children are more at risk than adults for health problems caused by substances in the environment. This is because their immune system, which helps their body fight illness, is not fully mature. They also inhale air more deeply than adults when they breathe, which makes them take in more pollution.

by Tom Weede - author of The Entrepreneur Diet
sources by Amanda Bach

The busy entrepreneurs´ guide to lose weight, get in shape, and reduce stress - A DIET FOR THOSE TOO BUSY TO DIET! - Mainstream diets, daily two-hour workouts... they help people get in shape and get healthy—but they don´t fit the schedule of self-made entrepreneurs. The first diet, health, and fitness book geared towards the challenges you face as a busy entrepreneur, The Entrepreneur Diet delivers a program that fits into any schedule. In six weeks, this diet and exercise program of weight training, cardiovascular fitness, healthy food choices, and stress reduction techniques delivers real results. You'll learn how to make lifestyle changes that will have a positive impact—permanently. Shed pounds, shape up and boost energy in just six weeks! Eat healthy without sacrificing taste or time with a six-week meal plan that offers both traditional meals and “Quick Fix” options from Starbucks, McDonald´s, great restaurants and more. Start a workout plan that works with your schedule, not against it.

by Pamela Peeke, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.P.
author of Body-for-LIFE for Women: A Woman’s Plan for Physical and Mental Transformation

I've worked with thousands of women. Twenty-somethings to 50-plus career women. Anorexics and starvers to bingers and bulimics. Top athletes to women who were so obese that they could barely walk a block. For all of them, a customized fitness "prescription" became an essential part of their self-care.

Although women of every age reap tremendous physical and mental benefits from regular physical activity, age is a factor in how much and what kind of activity their bodies need in order to get fit, energetic, and strong. Here's a Milestone-by-Milestone description of a woman's physical activity needs.

Disclaimer for HEALTH section

The SingleMom.com™ site provides information to help advance women's health research, services, and public and health professional education. The materials contained here are not intended to be used for the diagnosis or treatment of a health problem or as a substitute for consulting a licensed medical professional. References to any non-governmental entity, product, service, or source of information that may be contained in this site should not be considered an endorsement, either direct or implied, by the SingleMom.com™ in the U.S. SingleMom.com™ is not responsible for the content of any non-Federal web pages referenced in this web site.

• Join the SingleMom.com forums. Share your tips, resources and experience with other single moms

Top

Top Online School Matching Service

Your 15-point tax-return checklist

by By Jeff Schnepper

It's time to start thinking about getting those taxes done. Maybe you're in a panic. Not to worry. Just follow Schnepper's 15 steps to getting your taxes done, and you'll be much happier. Ready?

Get Matched to an Online School

Find your Degree Now!

You May Have Too Much Debt But You Also Have Options

How Life Works

If you feel like you're in over your head with personal debt, you're not alone. Millions of Americans have become overextended, many as a result of easy credit and the recessions. Credit cards, medical bills, personal loans and raising interest rates do not make a good financial mix.

Listing of Top Online Schools

Suze Orman's Recession Rescue Plan - helps you survive in times of financial crisis

OPRAH.com

Do you know what your family would do if you lost your job - or worse, your home? Financial expert Suze Orman is ready to help you devise a recession rescue plan to survive - and possibly thrive - during this deepening financial crisis...

Could fat babies mean fat toddlers?

A new study from Harvard Medical School found that babies who gained weight quickly had a sharply higher risk of obesity. The study followed close to 600 babies and found those in the top quarter of weight for their length at 6 months had a 40 percent higher risk of obesity by age 3 than smaller babies.

The 10-Ingredient Shopping Trip

By Tara Parker-Pope and Mark Bittman

... In his latest “How to Cook Everything” segment on the Today Show, New York Times food writer Mark Bittman makes it surprisingly easy to cook a week’s worth of dinners with just a 10-ingredient shopping trip.

Finding last-minute tuition money

There's still time to find funds for this semester's college tuition. But you'll have to move quickly.

By Gerri Willis

It's only a couple of weeks or even days until school begins. And if you don't think you'll be able to get a handle on your college tuition bill, here with your guide to last minute money.

Annette Bridges - Weekly Column

A story waiting to be heard

Are you a good listener?
I’ve always been told that good communication begins with good listening. And I’ve often wondered how many misunderstandings and conflicts could have been avoided by better listening.

Health insurance doesn't have to cost a fortune. Click here for quote.

Your Just-in-Case Emergency Plan

by RealSimple

Who do you call if you can't make it home in time to meet the kids' bus? Who do you trust to take in your mail when you're on vacation? Who do you trust with the extra set of keys to your house?

How to save $10,000

By Liz Pulliam Weston

If you were hoping for a list of small tweaks you could make in your spending to save $10,000 a year, sorry. The reality is that $10,000 is a lot of money. And saving big money usually means making big changes in the areas where we spend the most, such as: Housing, Transportation, Food.

What's your credit score? Click here

The Super, Sexy, Single Mom on a Budget

by Renee Rayles

A quick reference guide designed for the busy, single mom who has

little time to read while running the mom taxi, cooking dinner, helping with homework, and trying to fit in a date night every now and then.

Listing of Top Online Schools

32 and Counting? Finding Your Happily Ever After Today

by Gi Gi

The author talks about the struggles a single mom goes through and the discovery that you can have HEAT (Happily Ever After Today) just as you are, being single, taking care of your kids...

Single Mothers &
Male Role-Models / Mentors

Single mothers carry an enormous load of responsibility, especially those having sole and/or primary custody of minor children. They nourish, they nurture, they teach, they discipline, they shelter, they protect, and they provide… all without the assistance of another equally-invested adult.

Tight Pockets - Optimize Your Auto Insurance Rates Today

Your 5-minute guide to protecting your identity

20 steps to protect yourself from identity theft, and seven ways to clean up things if you become a victim.

TheOnlineMom.com offers parents and consumers a guide to the top-rated, age-appropriate, kid-tested and parent-approved tech toys and gifts.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
by Jeff Kinney

For those wondering why tween boys don’t read very much, the answer is that more books aren’t like this...

Top Online School Matching Service

Top

Listing of Top Online Schools

10 Superfoods That Should Be in Your Daily Diet

Supercharge your diet with these doctor-approved upgrades

As Told to Max Alexander, Best Life

My interest in what is now known as integrative medicine began many years ago when I was a teenager and witnessed my grandmother battle a breast-cancer recurrence. In those days, it was typical for patients receiving chemotherapy to be confined to a hospital bed. Nothing was done to stop her decline—not nutritionally, not physically, not really medically—and she eventually wasted away and died in her bed.

Top Online School Matching Service

The Twenty Healthiest Foods for Under $1

By: Brie Cadman

Food prices are climbing, and some might be looking to fast foods and packaged foods for their cheap bites.

But low cost doesn’t have to mean low quality. In fact, some of the most inexpensive things you can buy are the best things for you. At the grocery store, getting the most nutrition for the least amount of money means hanging out on the peripheries—near the fruits and veggies, the meat and dairy, and the bulk grains—while avoiding the expensive packaged interior. By doing so, not only will your kitchen be stocked with excellent foods, your wallet won’t be empty.

Read more about the great nutritional value of these twenty healthiest foods under $1: Oats, Eggs, Kale, Potatoes, Apples, Nuts, Bananas, Garbanzo Beans, Brocolli, Watermelon, Wild Rice, Beets, Butternut Squash, Whole Grain Pasta, Sardines, Spinach, Tofu, Lowfat Milk, Pumpkin Seeks, Coffee...

How to eat healthy on the cheap

TODAY diet and nutrition editor Madelyn Fernstrom talks with TODAY host Meredith Vieira about some ways to cut down your grocery bill, while still buying nutritious foods.

10 Reasons You're Not Losing That Weight

If losing weight were simple, Spanx would be just a screen name in an S&M chat room. But dieting is complicated: There are even ways to screw up without realizing it. For instance, who would ever think that working out in the a.m. or cranking the AC might be the reason you're not slimming down? Luckily, once you've ID'd these flubs, fixing them is nowhere near as hard as pulling on a pair of control-top hose.

Top