Happy Birthday Freebies
I’ve got my dark meat turkey legs, with turkey gravy and turkey broth, cranberry sauce and gluten free stuffing plus a few different kinds of potatoes (small portions) all ready to go for my turkey day meal. Was disappointed that Trader Joe’s is not offering the usual yummy sides this year so I went to the grocery store for the potatoes. Oh well….
But tomorrow is my birthday (November 22) so I also bought some egg nog and egg nog liquor from TJ’s plus Kahlua for my birthday. Could not get a Carvel ice cream cake since the store does not sell it anymore. Did stock up on some Ben and Jerry’s but not sure about cake. I did get cherry pie instead of pumpkin pie though.
And may or may not go to Benihana’s for dinner tomorrow. Have a $30 certificate for my dinner. My friend will have to pay $30 for hers though so we shall see. Have done this in the past. You choose your own food, they cook it for you and make a fuss for your birthday.
Denny’s offers a free Grand Slam breakfast. But so does Black Bear diner, Yum, I know where I am going to have breakfast.
Enjoy your freebies for your birthday (for some you have to sign up ahead of time to get in on the deal). But A&W offers a free root beer float, Jamba Juice offers a free smoothie/juice and El Pollo Loco offers a free meal so does Chevy’s and some places offer a free dessert. Panera offers a free sweet pastry (they have the best brownies). Starbucks offers a free handcrafted beverage. From burgers to frozen yogurt and more, although a lot of places are not around here. I wanted to take a road trip but that is not gonna happen except looks like some fun will be had on my birthday, all I have to do is have someone drive me around town tomorrow.
Don’t let your Thanksgiving celebration go to the dogs!
Thanksgiving is around the corner, and so is your pet - as they are looking at all the food you are preparing for your annual celebration.
Some thanksgiving foods can be toxic to your pet, table scraps and extra treats can add up quickly.
In fact, just a 5 oz serving of dark meat turkey for your small dog can be the caloric equivalent of an entire 8-inch pumpkin pie for you! And pet owners with overweight pets can spend as much as five times more in veterinary expenses than pet owners with average-sized pets.
Here are 4 foods to watch out for this upcoming holiday season as your pet positions themselves under your dining room table.
1) Turkey
A small amount of lean, light meat is okay but make sure to keep the skin, fat, and any dark meat far from your furry friend. Most importantly, make sure that your dog does not get a hold of any cooked bones as they can cause choking or be ingested and damage to your pet’s digestive system.
2) Stuffing
Stuffing often contains onions, chives, garlic, and/or scallions. Those ingredients are toxic to pets so make sure to keep your furry friend far away from the stuffing! Plus, with the added butter, stuffing is likely a fatty treat that your pet does not need.
3) Mashed Potatoes
Bland mashed potatoes are okay. But as with stuffing, any mashed potatoes prepared with garlic, onions, scallions, or chives should definitely be kept away from pets as these foods are toxic to dogs and cats.
4) Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie and Pecan Pie!
It’s best not to purposely feed pie to your four-legged friend. Instead consider one of the many dog-friendly versions that gives your pup a taste of pumpkin pie without all of the sugary sweetness.
Foods and ingredients that are potentially toxic for dogs and cats this Thanksgiving holiday
Butter and other fats
Garlic, Chives, Onions, Scallions
Raisins, Currents, Grapes
Candied sweet potatoes or yams
Feeding Souls
There are more than 60,000 people living on the streets in Los Angeles, CA. And 50% of those without homes are seniors 50-80+ years old.
These people in your local community are generally malnourished and suffering from a lack of proper hygiene...
DisclosureFest Foundation offers resources and support to these people in need, and could really use your help!
They want to provide 1,000+ care packages of free vegan meals and hygiene kits to the local houseless population on Skid Row in Los Angeles, CA.
What can you do this year for the people in your community?
Please join DisclosureFest Foundation, Follow Your Heart, and Dr. Bronner's in supporting the upcoming Feed Our Souls Initiative on Saturday, November 28th (Thanksgiving weekend).
Drink This Smoothie on Thanksgiving Morning
From Dr. Axe: If you’re worried about overdoing it during Thanksgiving dinner, why don’t you give this a try? Drink this smoothie and it may help curb your hunger for a few hours. How does it work? This Blueberry Keto Smoothie is loaded with performance fats and contains about 11 net carbs. Yum!
As Ancient Nutrition co-founder Jordan Rubin says in the below video,"Drink this smoothie and you may not be hungry for 5 to 6 hours."
In other words, this Blueberry Keto Smoothie fits the keto diet perfectly, as it's loaded with healthy fats and has only about 11 net carbs. Healthy fat come via avocado, coconut milk, almond butter and pumpkin seeds. Blueberries and cardamom add more flavor and antioxidants.
How to Make A Blueberry Keto Smoothie
Meal Type: Beverages
Diet Type: Gluten-Free, Keto, Paleo
Servings: 2
Time: 5 min
Ingredients:
1 avocado
1/2 cup blueberries
1 tablespoon almond butter (raw, if possible)
1 cup coconut milk
1 scoop Keto Protein Vanilla (or Chocolate)
3 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
1 teaspoon cardamom
4–5 pieces of ice
Directions:
Scoop out the "meat" from the avocado and add to a high-powered blender, along with rest of ingredients.
Blend thoroughly and enjoy!
Hosting a Thanksgiving dinner is already challenging enough... who needs the extra stress of walking away with an enormous grocery bill? Here are a few tips by the queen of sustainability and gourmet food producer Chef Nik Fields of Chic Chef Co. who will help you enjoy the holiday season while protecting your pocketbook:
Go shopping in your pantry first- "The majority of the time you have a ton of items already in your pantry. Look to see what you already have and build a menu around it," says Nik.
Make a list- Create a list and stick to what’s on the list only. This will allow you to have a budget and stick to it.
Cook side dishes from scratch - Buying side dishes is time effective, but it costs more and is less healthy to do so.
Portion Control - Buy the proper amount of food. Portion Control is crucial: 50% Vegetable, 30% Protein & 20% Carb.
Forget the meat- Opt for a meatless Thanksgiving! Use hearty vegetables like roasted mushrooms or squash as key dishes.
Cook what’s on sale- Weekly store ads come out on Sundays. See what’s on sale and build your menu around it. If one store runs out, keep in mind, most stores' prices match!
Have a potluck- Share the dinner experience with family and friends. Allow everyone to bring a dish!
Skip Decor- Use food as a centerpiece, large pumpkins, squash or even the food on tiered platters with fresh herbs is always appealing.
Plan for Leftovers: Purchase storage containers and portion out Thanksgivings dinner for lunches later throughout the week.
Buy Generic - Save money and guests will never know your secret.