Archive for July, 2008

20 Healthy Foods for a Dollar or are they?

The article is from: http://www.divinecaroline.com/article/22145/52070-20-healthiest-foods–1 and is commented by *****me*****

1. Oats
High in fiber and complex carbohydrates, oats have also been shown to lower cholesterol. And they sure are cheap—a dollar will buy you more than a week’s worth of hearty breakfasts.

****What is that? Where in the Store can you find OATS? Is that like oatmeal or something?????******

2. Eggs
You can get about a half dozen of eggs for a dollar, making them one of the cheapest and most versatile sources of protein. They are also a good source of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which may ward off age-related eye problems.

*****You can’t buy just half a dozen, unless you go straight to the farm.*****

3. Kale
This dark, leafy green is loaded with vitamin C, carotenoids, and calcium. Like most greens, it is usually a dollar a bunch.

*****Usually?*****

4. Potatoes
Because we often see potatoes at their unhealthiest—as fries or chips—we don’t think of them as nutritious, but they definitely are. Eaten with the skin on, potatoes contain almost half a day’s worth of Vitamin C, and are a good source of potassium. If you opt for sweet potatoes or yams, you’ll also get a good wallop of beta carotene. Plus, they’re dirt cheap and have almost endless culinary possibilities.

*****A sack of potatoes is more than dollar*****

5. Apples
I’m fond of apples because they’re inexpensive, easy to find, come in portion-controlled packaging, and taste good. They are a good source of pectin—a fiber that may help reduce cholesterol—and they have the antioxidant Vitamin C, which keeps your blood vessels healthy.

*****I hate apples*****

6. Nuts
Though nuts have a high fat content, they’re packed with the good-for-you fats—unsaturated and monounsaturated. They’re also good sources of essential fatty acids, Vitamin E, and protein. And because they’re so nutrient-dense, you only need to eat a little to get the nutritional benefits. Although some nuts, like pecans and macadamias, can be costly, peanuts, walnuts, and almonds, especially when bought in the shell, are low in cost.

*****Ok obviously this person has never bought nuts before. I buy store brand nuts and the cost per small container is 8 dollars. Can you say expensive?*****

7. Bananas
At a local Trader Joe’s, I found bananas for about 19¢ apiece; a dollar gets you a banana a day for the workweek. High in potassium and fiber (9 grams for one), bananas are a no-brainer when it comes to eating your five a day quotient of fruits and veggies.

*****No arguments there*****

8. Garbanzo Beans
With beans, you’re getting your money’s worth and then some. Not only are they a great source of protein and fiber, but ’bonzos are also high in fiber, iron, folate, and manganese, and may help reduce cholesterol levels. And if you don’t like one type, try another—black, lima, lentils … the varieties are endless. Though they require soaking and cooking, the most inexpensive way to purchase these beans is in dried form; a precooked can will still only run you around a buck.

*****Beans are okay*****

9. Broccoli

Broccoli contains tons of nice nutrients—calcium, vitamins A and C, potassium, folate, and fiber. As if that isn’t enough, broccoli is also packed with phytonutrients, compounds that may help prevent heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Plus, it’s low in calories and cost.

*****But is it under a dollar!*****

10. Watermelon
Though you may not be able to buy an entire watermelon for a dollar, your per serving cost isn’t more than a few dimes. This summertime fruit is over 90 percent water, making it an easy way to hydrate, and gives a healthy does of Vitamin C, potassium, and lycopene, an antioxidant that may ward off cancer.

*****and a better sex drive! or something*****

11. Wild Rice
It won’t cost you much more than white rice, but wild rice is much better for you. Low in fat and high in protein and fiber, this gluten-free rice is a great source of complex carbohydrates. It packs a powerful potassium punch and is loaded with B vitamins. Plus, it has a nutty, robust flavor.

*****um what about the rice shortage??*****

12. Beets
Beets are my kind of vegetable—their natural sugars make them sweet to the palate while their rich flavor and color make them nutritious for the body. They’re powerhouses of folate, iron, and antioxidants.

13. Butternut Squash
This beautiful gourd swings both ways: sometimes savory, sometimes sweet. However you prepare the butternut, it will not only add color and texture, but also five grams of fiber per half cup and chunks and chunks of Vitamin A and C. When in season, butternut squash and related gourds are usually less than a dollar a pound.

14. Whole Grain Pasta
In the days of Atkins, pasta was wrongly convicted, for there is nothing harmful about a complex carbohydrate source that is high in protein and B vitamins. Plus, it’s one of the cheapest staples you can buy.

15. Sardines
As a kid, I used to hate it when my dad would order sardines on our communal pizzas, but since then I’ve acquired a taste for them. Because not everyone has, you can still get a can of sardines for relatively cheap. And the little fish come with big benefits: calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and B vitamins. And, because they’re low on the food chain, they don’t accumulate mercury.

*****ewww*****

16. Spinach
Spinach is perhaps one of the best green leafies out there—it has lots of Vitamin C, iron, and trace minerals. Plus, you can usually find it year round for less than a dollar.

17. Tofu
Not just for vegetarians anymore, tofu is an inexpensive protein source that can be used in both savory and sweet recipes. It’s high in B vitamins and iron, but low in fat and sodium, making it a healthful addition to many dishes.

18. Lowfat Milk
Yes, the price of a gallon of milk is rising, but per serving, it’s still under a dollar; single serving milk products, like yogurt, are usually less than a dollar, too. Plus, you’ll get a lot of benefit for a small investment. Milk is rich in protein, vitamins A and D, potassium, and niacin, and is one of the easiest ways to get bone-strengthening calcium.

****when could you ever buy a gallon of milk for a dollar?*****

19. Pumpkin Seeds
When it’s time to carve your pumpkin this October, don’t shovel those seeds into the trash—they’re a goldmine of magnesium, protein, and trace minerals. Plus, they come free with the purchase of a pumpkin.

20. Coffee
The old cup-o-joe has been thrown on the stands for many a corporeal crime—heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis—but exonerated on all counts. In fact, coffee, which is derived from a bean, contains beneficial antioxidants that protect against free radicals and may actually help thwart heart disease and cancer. While it’s not going to fill you up like the other items on this list, it might make you a lot perkier. When made at home, coffee runs less than 50¢ cents a cup.

*****OHHH! I LOVE COFFEE!*****

Higher Education for ALL Americans

I don’t know if you have noticed, but a lot of people in the United States of America don’t even graduate High School anymore. Maybe they have to support their family or maybe they just hate school, whatever the reason may be it’s just making the U.S. as a whole look stupid. Seriously.

I am one of those people who dropped out of High School, and I regret it every day of my life. I wish I spent more time studying and learning than hanging out with my friends. I wish I took the SAT. I wish, I wish, I wish. I got my GED in Feb. of 2004, so in actuality I “graduated” before the people in my class. I started going to Community college and was doing well. I made the “Dean’s List” and completed 2 semesters and was working on my third, when my Husband and I decided to move to Seattle, WA. Needless to say, I didn’t complete my third. Instead I enrolled in the Art institute of Seattle for Graphic Design.

Everything was great, I was really excited to get a BFA degree in something that I enjoyed doing. I had to take out student loans to go there and it was really expensive. I completed three quarters before I realized that it wasn’t for me. I now owe close to 20 grand. Worst mistake of my life. Now I have something else to regret every day of my life. At least when I went to community college I was approved for grants and didn’t have to pay for books or anything.

I now live in San Diego, CA and really want to go to school. But since I never took the SAT I can’t apply to the 4 year colleges or universities. Plus I didn’t complete enough classes at community college either and my classes I took at the Art Institute will never ever count for anything. Their credits just wont transfer anywhere. My parents never saved up money for me to go to school and my mom is dead and my dad is poor so I can’t ask for their help.

I always hear about how other colleges and universities are free for all in other countries and wonder why it isn’t free here. I also always hear how their aren’t enough people graduating with science and math majors and how we are all stupid and have to outsource to find qualified people. But what are these people doing about it? NOTHING. I WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL. But I can’t afford it and I’ve learned that you have to live in California a year before you are considered a resident for tuition purposes. Residents only pay 20 dollars a credit at community while non-residents pay 180 dollars. That’s 540 dollars for a 3 credit class at COMMUNITY college! A resident would only pay 60 dollars for the same class. That’s 480 dollars difference! And it’s not fair.

All I want is for our government to stop spending money in IRAQ, IRAN and the whole Middle East and put it into our EDUCATION! We spend billions on the war and the military and practically nothing for Education. The grants are only good for people who are poor. What about the people who are just above the “poor” line to not be qualified and still CAN’T afford to go to school? Like all the “middle” class people. Gas is so expensive, food is expensive and so is everything else, but we are still getting paid 7 dollars an hour. Our salaries haven’t kept up with inflation and its really starting to hurt. I don’t even want to talk about health care. Most people don’t have it and can’t afford it.

You get mad at me because I don’t take my Dog to the vet, but I can’t even take myself to the doctor! I haven’t seen a dentist since 2000, and that was to take my braces off. If we could at least get discounted education and actually PUSH education maybe we could all go to school and get GREAT jobs so we can afford the Vet and health care. But the way things are going now, it seems there will be two classes: the very Wealthy and the very Poor. No more middle class. We will become a third world country. The American dream is getting farther and farther away and soon it will be a thing of the past. We have to do something now before it slips right through our fingers.

P.S. If you want to sponsor my College Education email me or leave a comment. I’m a struggling student whose goal in life is to become a Psychiatrist. Any amount helps.

Thank you and God Bless.