by Julie Hall
Until recently Americans were eating out a lot. Estimates vary, but some statistics indicate that people, both singles and families, were eating out 4-5 times a week, not including take out restaurant meals. This trend is dropping as we look for ways to save dough by making the dough at home.
In addition to being less expensive, eating home-cooked food is healthier. According to a 2006 study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, restaurant food is more caloric and less nutritious than food prepared at home. And, perhaps not …

by Julie Hall
Buying bulk is a great way to lower your food bill, eat better, and give the planet a break. You can buy bulk in two ways:

Buy larger quantities.
Buy from the bulk food section.

Buying Bulk Quantities
First, you can purchase larger sizes of items you eat a lot of often for relatively lower prices. For example, a can of organic stewed tomatoes at my local market sells for $4.34 per pound at the 14.5-ounce size and $3.29 per pound at the 28-ounce size. Though most large sizes are proportionately a …

by Julie Hall
Here is a healthy, simple, and delicious dinner recipe that everyone in the family loves. Kids especially dig choosing their favorite ingredients and making their own tacos. The nice part is that you can make this meal with a range of ingredients depending on what you have around, and it always tastes great. It takes 20-30 minutes to prepare.

Cook organic free-range chicken breasts in a small amount of olive oil. Brown and partially cook the chicken first; then pull it into thin strands and finished cooking it …

by Julie Hall
In the U.S. only about half of families eat dinner together most nights of the week. Perhaps one benefit of the recession is that it will most likely encourage families to eat at home more to save money, leading to more shared meals. The trend of eating family dinners more often is good for kids, who as a result generally get better nutrition, eat fewer calories, are more connected with their parents, and are less likely to abuse drugs as teens. Dinner conversation among family members doesn’t always …

by Julie Hall
In the blur of day-to-day living, many of us uncelebrated cooks get into habits that hamper our style. Sounds obvious, but choosing the best kitchen tool for the task at hand is a simple but often overlooked step that can save you cut fingers, lost time, and unnecessary messes:
12 Stellar Tool Tips

Use a large enough cutting board (17″ x 15″ works well) to accommodate all your chopping and food preparation. This gives you plenty of room to make piles, prevent spill over, and avoid awkwardness that can lead …

by Julie Hall
As food wise man Michael Pollan tells us, how much one eats home-cooked food is a powerful predictor of health, even more powerful than one’s income. Eating food prepared at home is also a great way to save money, establish more environmentally responsible habits, and strengthen relationships. (For great ideas on how to cook more efficiently, read Tips for More Efficient Cooking.)
Reasons Not to Eat Out or Take Out:

You don’t know what’s in it, who prepared it, and how fresh and safe it is.
It’s usually prepared in …

by Julie Hall
For those of us pressured by hungry kids and/or tight schedules, being efficient cooks can quiet the storm and conserve resources like energy and water. Here are fifteen effective ways to make your cooking more efficient so you can get the food on the table and relax:
15 Tips for Efficient Cooking

Think through the major steps of your meal from the beginning. Start preparing the things that take the longest first and save the quickest for last.
Preheat. Think ahead and get that oven warming or that water boiling …