When it comes to food, join the club. You may not have gotten into the sorority you wanted, the country club you desired, or that hip night spot. However we can all join Costco, Ralphs, and Vons.

Pay attention to the specials and coupons making them work for you. You don’t make blueberry muffins in the dead of winter when they are $7.00 for a teeny carton, you make them in the summer when there is a bumper crop. Two large cartons for $4.00, means muffins for everyone. Freeze the leftovers and dole them out when school starts.

Everything goes on special at one time or another. If possible stock up every time your brand of laundry detergent, toothpaste, or pickles become a loss leader.  Swoop, pounce, hunt down the foods you love. Save time and money by  having everything handy for dinners and lunches.  For every ready made frozen dinner where you pay for packaging and advertising instead of real food, you can cook up a home made casserole and divide it into freezer containers.   Be healthy, be happy, and save money.

Now you don’t have to get fanatical. A rotisserie chicken from the market saves time that might be used for better activities. Paired with a salad, a baked potato, or a cooked vegetable this will save your life when work, kids, and obligations become over whelming. Better to pick a healthy prepared food and dress it up for dinner then to wear yourself out at the end of what is probably a too long day.  And use the leftover chicken, to make a bountiful chicken soup the next day with ready made broth, fresh carrots, fresh celery, and potatoes or pasta.

Imagination makes for the best recipe.

Once I forgot to pick up cheese for a cheese cake recipe. Presto, instead of cheesecake it turned into a flan. As long as the ingredients are fresh, you will get something that tastes good.  It may not always be great but even professional cooks have an off night.

Now the one thing that makes for good taste and good nutrition is good produce. The best source that I have found are ethnic markets. You will find greens you never knew existed, small local apples, plums that ooze with juice, bok choy that was picked yesterday, and herbs by the armful at prices that are shockingly low.  Make friends, ask someone next to you for a recipe. Sample the spices that are priced way below supermarket prices. Interesting breads, new brands of yogurt, beans you never saw before, different kinds of rice, exotic teas, prepared foods at a great price-these are just a few of the new experiences open to you. Indian, Cuban, Asian, Russian, Middle Eastern or check out what your city has to offer. They all provide a unique experience and a window into another culture.

These are some of my favorites in Los Angles:

Nijiya Market at 2130 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025 for ready made sushi, Japanese snacks, Asian vegetables, and a huge selection of soy sauce and miso.

Elat Market at 8730 W Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90035 has fabulous produce and herbs at unbelievable prices and homemade hummus. Please note they are closed on Friday night and Saturdays and all Jewish holidays.

Grand Central Market at 317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013 is a food court with produce stands or a produce court with food stands. Buy cheap veggies, authentic Latin spices, or pick up from the various ready to go food stands. They are open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM>

Surfas at 8777 W Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232 for all things gourmet. When you need that one special item that will make a meal outstanding, stop at Surfas for sprinkles for cupcakes, all manner of baking tins, exotic cheeses, infinite varieties of chocolate, or dried herbs. They are decently priced for non imported items however this is not bargain shopping.

Explore and let me know what you’ve found in these fun markets and your favorites.

This is an easy way to donate to a good cause during the holidays. Lindsay Olives is helping to raise cancer awareness by launching the “Season of Hope” campaign, which will donate up to $10,000 to City of Hope, a leading research, treatment and education center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. The online campaign, which begins today, allows fans to share a holiday greeting with friends and family. For each message received, Lindsay will donate $1 to City of Hope. The campaign will run throughout the month of December.

“The Lindsay Olives family gets excited every year about giving back during the holiday season,” said Andal Allison, marketing manager, Lindsay Olives. “This year, we’ve created a campaign that engages our organization and our customers to benefit a cause that is very dear to us.”

Those interested in participating in the “Season of Hope” campaign can visit www.offers.LindsayOlives.com/Hope, and send a personal holiday message to friends or family members. Lindsay will donate $1 for every message received to City of Hope. The goal of the campaign is to raise $10,000.

“City of Hope is a wonderful organization, focused on not just research, but also treatment and education for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases,” Allison continued. “We have all been affected by a life threatening disease in one way or another, so we’re honored to partner with such a great organization and help their cause.”

Visitors to the website will also be able to download the Lindsay Olives Holiday Entertaining Guide, which includes holiday focused recipes and tips to make entertaining easy, fun and flavorful during this wonderful time of year.

To be part of the “Season of Hope” campaign, visit www.offers.LindsayOlives.com/Hope.

About Lindsay Olives

Lindsay Olives provides a full line of olives, including its delicious, savory California black ripe olives and Naturals Green Ripe olives. Lindsay Olives’ parent company, Bell-Carter Foods, Inc., was established in 1912 in Berkeley, California, and now produces more than 10 million cases of olives annually, making it the largest U.S. table olive processor and the second largest in the world. Fourth generation family owned and a commitment to sustainability and innovation, the company is headquartered in Lafayette, California, and processes olives in Corning, California. Visit Lindsay Olives online at www.LindsayOlives.com. You can also follow Lindsay Olives on Twitter at @LindsayOlives and “like” the company on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LindsayOlives.

Eating at restaurants is inherently expensive however there are ways to whittle down the costs.  Restaurants.com is a big help in this area. They offer discounts in the form of prepurchased gift certificates. Now the most important part is to make sure this includes restaurants that you frequent or would like to try.  Read the restrictions which sometimes include minimum purchase prices and other fine print.

One of the best ways to use this site is for special occasions. You know you are going out for a birthday, anniversary, or to impress your new in-laws. Purchase a $50 gift certificate for $20 and save $30 off the price right away. Many places also offer a $100 gift certificate for $40 which knocks $60 off the bill.  Each restaurant has different rules so please check before you buy. Remember it only saves you money if you actually use the certificate and dining out is within your budget.

If you are in Los Angeles or New York or bi-coastal, try Blackboard Eats. Sign up for their newsletter and start partaking of their deals before they expire. No cost or obligation, just check out what they have to offer. Sometimes it’s a free tapas plate, sometimes a pre fixe dinner, or a global discount on your check. This is fun for interesting places that you might not venture into otherwise.  They cover the gamut from reasonable to high end trendy.

Families love the Entertainment Book , not only do they have many kid friendly restaurants, they also have tickets to a variety of attractions, fun activities like bowling, theater tickets, and exercise classes just to name a few. Right now they are offering two books for the price of $35. This makes a great gift for any family.

Vita Cost, which has all manner of organic yummies, sent The Frugal Diva some breakfast cereal from TeeChia for review.

The time has come when every calorie has to be nutrient packed or things get out of balance very quickly. I was delighted with the heavy duty grains and slight sweetening without sugar. You can either have it with hot or cold water. My suggestion-only use hot water.  The texture does not work with cold water if you are eating it as cereal. Usually, I’m ready for a snack by about 10:30 however before I had a chance to notice it was lunch time and there had been no nagging need to raid the refrigerator.  This product works well with coconut milk, yogurt, or would be a great addition to a gluten free muffin mix.

•  Chia, Flax, Quinoa, Amaranth, Ramon & Pumpkin
•  Gluten Free
•  6 g Fiber
•  1100 mg ALA Omega-3 Fatty Acids
•  No Sugar Added
•  26 g Whole Grains
•  Antioxidant-Rich Seeds & Fruits

Other Ingredients: Gluten-free organic rolled oats, organic quinoa seeds, dates, organic zante currants (currants, sunflower oil), organic milled chia seeds, organic milled flax seeds (golden and brown), organic amaranth seeds, Oregon pumpkin seeds, dried blueberries (blueberries, apple juice infused), organic raw ramon seeds, natural blueberry flavor, freeze dried blueberries. Packaged in a facility that also handles tree nuts.

The Frugal Diva had never heard of ramon seeds and decided it was best to find out about them. The ramon tree is a member of the fig family, which also includes mulberry trees. At 130 feet tall, ramon trees are part of the forest canopy in Central American rainforests and frequently are cut down for lumber. Ramon seeds are actually the seed of the ramon fruit. They have zero fat, are very high in potassium, fiber and tryptophan, the amino acid that helps calm stress and anxiety plus they are gluten-free.  You have to love something that reduces stress and provides nutrients.

Who knew McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants would have the best happy hour burger in town?  $3.95 for a 1/2 pound cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, onion, and fries! And since they have great food, this is one great burger.

And for the vegetarians there is hummus and bruschetta.  It wouldn’t be a happy hour without cheese nachos, chicken wings,  and artichoke spinach dip for $4.95.   For that price you can also get a chicken quesadilla and for a dollar more there are fried chicken sliders and fish & chips.   They have specialty seasonal cocktails, a delightful sangria, and beer at reduced prices.

Divas love to socialize and this is a great way to meet friends. Informal, fun, and prices that rival fast food makes this a good choice for a gathering. Happy hours and prices differ at each restaurant so call ahead.

Thanksgiving and holidays are a wonderful time for cooking however The Frugal Diva works and wants to enjoy the day just as much as anyone. Why worry about a dry turkey?  Starting today, you can make the holidays a breeze by ordering one of the F & E yummy holiday boxes. Each box serves 8 people for between $50 -$65 including a main course, three sides, and a pumpkin pie.  Also, holiday products are beginning to make their way back into stores, so look out for your favorites! Chocolates anyone?

You can start this tradition by not cooking right now. Fresh & Easy has $10 dinners for two – choose an entree, choose a side, and choose a dessert.

With weather changes and the holiday season getting closer, Fresh & Easy has some great deals this week to help you stock up and be prepared if you do choose to cook.

· Jennie-O frozen turkeys, .47¢ per lb (with $30 additional purchase, limit 1)

· f&e chicken breast family pack, $1.99 per lb

· fresh&easy boneless beef New York steak, $4.94 per lb

· fresh&easy holiday cookies, 10 count pumpkin or ginger spice, $2.99

· fresh&easy pumpkin bread or gingerbread mix, 2 for $5

· fresh&easy broth, $1.99

· fresh&easy frozen vegetables, 2 for $3

Fall prices are the best for stocking up on wine. Try the Wine Wright selections at $7.99.

Remember to join the loyalty program so you can start accumulating points, getting recipes, and finding coupons delivered right to your email!

Disclaimer: Fresh and Easy has sent The Frugal Diva samples, coupons, and gift cards plus her stepson works there as a buyer.

What a great opportunity to eat candy and go on a week long sugar high. However The Frugal Diva is going to step in and offer you some healthy options.

Check out Eat Well for great party recipes and treats that have a bit less sugar and a bit more nutrition.

Lindsay Olives has gone overboard on their Facebook page with cute ideas for scary snacks.

The Food Network always come through with party ideas and yummy recipes.

Have fun and post some pictures on my Facebook page in your costumes!

Picture a shopping cart piled high with organic foods. Does the wholesome goodness of fresh, chemical-free fare come to mind? Or do you wince, envisioning a pile of unpaid bills stacked beside a bowl of farm-fresh fruit?

Sadly, the high price tags on clean, unprocessed foods are preventing even the most health-minded, eco-conscious Americans from buying them. A 2011 Thomson Reuters-NPR health poll found that while 58 percent of U.S. adults preferred organic food, 54 percent said it was too expensive to buy.

But banning pesticides from your plate doesn’t have to break the bank. With a little effort, you can drastically cut the cost of organic foods, making mealtime healthier for your family and the earth a safer place for all of us.

Skip the supermarket
Don’t be afraid to get a little mud on your shoes! For fair-priced, fresh, organic produce, meat and eggs, head to a local farm. Besides being a fun Saturday morning excursion, you’ll get the freshest possible foods from farmers who believe, just as you do, that “naturally grown” is best.

Join a club
Cropping up all over the nation are groups of people who’ve figured out that, to save money on organic foods, there’s power in numbers. Organic buyers clubs, typically made up of several individuals or families, pool resources to buy in bulk from organic farms. You’ll get a variety of seasonal, fresh produce and other foods for a fraction of what you’d pay at a store.

Pass on prepackaged
Snack time can add up when you satisfy mid-day munchies with organic crackers, cookies, pretzels and chips. Not only are you paying for each certified-organic ingredient used to make them, you’re also doling out dollars for packaging and advertising. Instead, stock up on organic essentials—flour, oats, sugar, spices, nuts, seeds—and make your own healthy snacks.

Be a bargainista
The Sunday paper is loaded with coupons—but most are for popular, chemically concocted convenience foods. To find deals on natural and organic options, look online. Have a favorite brand? Check their website for printable coupons, promotions and samples. Or, buy from an online retailer like Vitacost.com, which offers up to 50 percent off organic grocery items.

Find your green thumb
There’s no better way to save money and to know, without a doubt, that your food is safe than to simply grow it yourself. Gardening is easy, relaxing and can help put healthy food on your table for years to come. Start by planting fruits and veggies known to have the most pesticide residue when grown conventionally, such as lettuce, spinach, bell peppers and strawberries.

This article has been provided by the folks at Vitacost.com. They know that a healthy lifestyle is more than organic vitamins and natural supplements.  That’s why Vitacost.com offers essentials for your home, your baby, your pantry, your beauty routine – even your furry, four-legged friends! Since 1994, Vitacost.com has been taking the cost out of healthy living. Today, you can shop over 35,000 products such as Green Coffee Bean Extract or Chitosan from your computer, tablet or smartphone with just a click of a button.  Buy Vitacost vitamins today. Vitacost.com is not affiliated with this blog and isn’t responsible for content outside of this article.

By: +Rebecca Chopin writer for Vitacost.com

Clean Out Your Pantry, for Better Health and Savings!

This is a guest post from the folks at Vita Cost who help you get healthy and save money with a Pantry Makeover.

Toppled bottles, expired cans, scattered remnants of a bag of rice that fell on its side. We’ve all been there. After months of hurried meal making, rummaging kids and intentions to eat well falling by wayside—your pantry is a mess. You’ve got stuff you’ll never use, stuff that’s stale and stuff you may not even be able to identify.

Cleaning out food cabinets every once in awhile isn’t just necessary for sanity’s sake, or to keep bugs at bay. It’s also a great way to get back on track with healthy eating habits—and to shave a little off your family’s food bill. Staying organized helps prevent waste, which can save you a lot of money in the long run.

Roll up your sleeves, slide the trash can close to the door and follow these simple steps for a budget-friendly, healthy pantry makeover:

Clear the Way
First, remove everything from your pantry shelves. Glance at labels as you do, and toss anything that’s expired or has a funky smell. Divide what’s left into two piles: things you know you’ll use in the (near) future and things you’re pretty sure you won’t. Chances are if it’s been stacked in the back since last Thanksgiving, you should get rid of it. Donate these items to a food pantry or soup kitchen.

Make It Shine
Skip the harsh (and expensive!) cleaning solutions. Make your own wood-shelf cleaner by filling a spray bottle with ½ cup water, ½ cup vinegar, 1/8 teaspoon of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of dish soap. Add six drops of essential oil for scent, if you’d like. Shake well, spray shelves and wipe with a soft cloth until clean.

Makeover Time!
Before you start lining up spice jars and arranging cereal boxes by height—stop. Take a good look at what your family is eating. Are smiling cartoon characters dancing on your cracker boxes? Do you have enough canned soup to survive a month-long power outage?

Start weeding out unhealthy staples and snacks, replacing them with whole, unprocessed foods that actually nourish rather than harm health. For example, trade white rice for brown; vegetable oil for olive or canola; processed peanut butter for natural. Avoid anything with “hydrogenated” on the label, and always buy fresh and frozen over canned.

While healthier foods can be more expensive, you’ll find great discounts at online health food retailers such as Vitacost.com. You can also buy in bulk, watch for sales, use coupons and sign up for emails from (or “like” the Facebook page of) your favorite natural food brands, which may offer exclusive deals for subscribers and fans.

Get Organized
Ever open a snack package, stick it back in the cabinet and forget it exists until it’s no longer edible? Of course you have. The best way to avoid food waste is to keep things well sealed, clearly labeled and easily accessible. Buy a variety of large glass jars or canisters and BPA-free plastic storage containers, and label them with permanent marker or decorative tags. When you buy something—say, a bag of whole wheat flour—dump it in, seal the container and place it with similar items on the shelf.

Once you’re used to labeling foods, you’ll wonder why you waited so long to start. Just like your entire pantry makeover—stop putting it off, you’ll feel fantastic when it’s done!

This article has been provided by the folks at Vitacost.com. Vitacost.com has been selling discount vitamins since 1994. Since then it’s grown into one of the biggest online marketplaces for healthy living essentials-with vitamins and supplements being just one of their many helpful categories! Get the best price on vitamins, nutritional supplements, health foods and diet products. Want to read about chia seeds benefits or just want some green cleaning tips Vitacost is the place for you. Vitacost.com’s customers mean the world to them, and it’s their goal to provide you with the best nutritional supplements, natural foods and sports nutrition to help with your health and wellness. Vitacost.com is not affiliated with this blog, and isn’t responsible for content outside of this article.

By: +Rebecca Chopin writer for Vitacost.com

Buca di Beppo is of my favorite places for getting together when you have a crowd and want to dine without breaking the bank.  Birthdays, wedding showers, and office parties are more fun when the dinner is family style.

The menu contains Italian favorites such as Caesar salad, chicken Marsala, and spaghetti marinara.  Everything comes in small or large size. For example the apple Gorgonzola salad in the small size which feeds three is $12.45, the large feeds six for $19.95.  Pizzas are in the same price range.  Pastas and entrees average from $15 to $18 for the small and $22 to $32 for the large.  And it’s always better to under order here since the portions are big(and by big, I mean huge).

Let’s do the math. A family of four orders a small Caesar salad for $10.45, a small penne arrabiata for $17.95, and a small oven roasted salmon for $21.95. Before tax and tip, it will come out to about $13 per person and probably enough left over for lunch the next day. If you sign up for emails they will send coupons that usually give you a $10 discount on a specified amount or a free dessert. Yes, even desserts are huge so order with caution.

The quality of the food is very good for the price point.  Flavorful sauces, pasta al dente, tender chicken, and innovative new dishes make this a true deal for The Frugal Diva.