Weekly Grocery Specials 3-24-10 to 3-30-10

Ralphs
*Fresh Salmon 6oz Portions 2.99ea
*Imitation Crab Meat 1.99lb bag
*Fresh Red Snapper or Pacific Sole Fillet 3.99lb
*Oregon Shrimp Meat 3.99lb
*EZ Peel Raw or Cooked Tail On Shrimp 4.99lb
*Fresh Ground Beef 1 to 3 lb Chub Buy 1 get 1 Free
Boneless Chicken Breast 1.99lb
Cornish Game Hens 1.49lb
Pork Spare Ribs 1.69lb
MOIST AND TENDER OVEN BAKED BBQ RIBS
2-4 lbs. boneless beef or pork ribs
1/4 c. salt
1/4 c. sugar
3 (18 oz.) K. C. Masterpiece Barbeque Sauce
Paprika
Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Mix equal amount of salt and sugar. Add in paprika to taste. Roll each portion of meat in sugar-salt-paprika mixture. Place meat in large baking dish in about one inch of water (or halfway each rib).
Bake at 250 degrees for one hour - remove from oven - turn meat. Bake at 250 degrees for one hour - remove from oven. Drain and add barbeque sauce as needed - increase heat to 400 degrees. Bake 30 minutes. Remove from oven and serve.
*Haas Avocados .47lb
Ripe Tomatoes on Vine 1.88lb
Red and Green Leaf Lettuce .99
Mangos .99ea
Cucumbers .77ea

*C&W or Birds Eye Frozen Vegetables .99ea
*Best Foods Mayo 1.99
Pillsbury Grands biscuits and I can’t Believe It’s Not Butter .99ea
* Buy 4 12 pack Pepsi, Diet Pepsi or Crush 4 for 11.00

El Metate
*Chicken Leg Meat .99lb
*7 Bone Steak 1.97lb
**Tilapia Fillet 1.99lb
*Beef Chuck roast 2.49lb
*Pork Stir Fry 1.99lb
*Stewing Beef 2.29lb
*Pork Milanese 1.99lb already thin

Pork Milanese
Ingredients
1 cup panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan
2 large eggs
6 boneless pork loin chops, pounded thin to 1/3 inch-thick (1 1/2 pounds total)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons olive oil
6 lemon wedges
Directions
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
Coarsely crush the panko into a large shallow bowl. Stir the cheese into the panko. Lightly beat the eggs in another large shallow bowl. Sprinkle the pork generously with salt and pepper. Dip the pork, 1 piece at a time, in the egg, allowing the excess to drip off, then dredge the pork in the crumb mixture, patting to coat completely. Place the pork on a small baking sheet.
Heat 1/4 cup of oil in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of the pork to the hot oil and cook until golden brown and just cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to paper towels to drain, then transfer them to a clean baking sheet and keep them warm in the oven. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons of oil to the skillet and fry the remaining pork. Transfer the pork to plates and serve with lemon wedges

Lean Ground Beef 2.29lb
*Whole Cat Fish 1.79lb
*Raw peeled and deveined Shrimp 3.99lb

*Roma Tomatoes 2lbs for .99
*Tangerines 5lbs for .99!
*Bananas 2lbs for .99
Pineapple .69lb
*Red Radishes or Green Onions 4 bunches for.99
*D’Anjou Pears 2lbs for .99
*Oranges 5lbs for .99
*Green Cabbage 4lbs for .99

HENRY'S
Fresh Pick of the Week
*Fresh Strawberries 1lb box .98 ea!
*Texas Red Grapefruit 2 for 1.00
*Cucumbers 2 for 1.00
*Bunch of Spinach 2 for 1.00
*Navel oranges 2lbs for 1.00
*Haas Avocados 2 for 1.00
Roma tomatoes .97lb
*3lb bag Mandarins 2.97ea
D’Anjou or Red Pears .97lb

Seafood Deal
Sea Scallops 7.99lb
Wild Corvina Sea Bass 5.99lb

Butcher’s Best Deal
Super Lean Ground Sirloin 2.99lb
Boneless Sirloin Tip Roast 2.99lb
Boneless Chicken Breast 1.99lb

Smart and Final
*Farmer John Spiral Half or Whole Ham 1.29lb with min purchase $25.00

Baked Ham with Honey-Apricot Glaze
1 (12 pound) spiral-sliced, fully-cooked smoked ham
1 cup honey
1 (6 ounce) can orange juice concentrate, thawed
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup apricot jam
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Place ham on rack in shallow roasting pan.
Stir together remaining ingredients in medium bowl; set aside.
Bake ham for 30 minutes; pour glaze over ham and continue to bake until ham is heated through, approximately 2 1/2 hours

*Foster Farms Chicken Legs .99lb
*Cattlemans Finest Beef Brisket 1.89lb
*Tilapia Fillets 3 lb bag 2.59lb
*Fresh Pineapple 2.49ea
4 CT Bag avocados 2.49
*Dreyers Ice-Cream 2.49 1.5QT
*Red Vines Tub 6.99
*Yoplait Yogurt 18CT 7.99
*24 pack Coke or Diet Coke 6.99

ALBERTSONS
* Whole Chicken .67lb DEAL
*Top Sirloin Steak 2.47lb
*Boneless Rump Roast w.99lb
Fresh Atlantic Salmon 6.99lb
Fresh Cat fish Fillets 5.99lb
*Tilapia Fillets 2.49lb
Farmer John Spiral Cut Ham 1.99lb
Cook’s Shank Portion Ham 1.79lb

*Cantaloupe .29lb
Strawberries 2.99lb (Henry’s .98lb)
Navel Oranges .99lb
Eggplant .99lb
Lemons 2 for 1.00

Monday Meal Deal for FHE
Feed a Family of 4 for 7.99
Get a free 2 ltr Coke product with any Chicken meal Deal, includes chicken, choice of salads or potatoes and rolls.
Mix or Match
10 for 10.00. ONLY 1.00ea
Pepsi Products 2 ltr bottles,
Betty Crocker cake or brownie mix, Ronzoni Pasta, Hunt’s Pasta sauce, Albertson’s frozen vegetables, Progresso soups, Bumble Bee White Albacore Tuna, Knorr Side Dishes, Kraft Marshmallows or Crème, Albertsons Ripe Olives, Hunt’s Ketchup, Albertsons whipped topping.
Easter treats, Easter Holiday Tableware paper plates and napkins

Free Stuffed Plush Easter Bunny with the purchase of any 3 American Greeting Cards with in ad coupon.
40% OFF Eye, Lip and Nail Cosmetic items.


Vons
Breakfast Sale
Saturday and SUNDAY Only
Safeway Thick Sliced Bacon 3 lbs 4,99ea
Lucerne eggs doz. .99
Thomas English Muffins 1.99
Bananas .47lb
Minute Maid or Florida’s Natural Orange Juice 1.99 64oz
*Foster Farms Chicken Breasts .97lb
*Boneless Chuck Roast 1.97lb
*Boneless Cross Rib Roast 1.97lb
*Bottom Round Roast 1.97lb
*Pork Shoulder Country Style Ribs 1.99lb
*Hebrew National Beef Franks Buy 1 Get 1 Free
*Oscar Meyer Beef Bologna Get 1 Get 1 free

*Roma Tomatoes .88lb
*Fresh Express Bag salads .99ea
Clementine Cuties 5lb Box 4.77ea
10 for 10.00 Mix & Match
Avocados, Broccoli crowns, Eating Right Carrots, Red Delicious apples, Zucchini, Romaine, Green or Red Leaf Lettuce, Anjou Pears

75 Cents Only
Rice & Pasta Roni, Hunt’s Pasta Sauce, Chicken of the Sea White Tuna, Kraft Mac & Cheese, Manwich, Hormel Chili, Chef Boyardee Pasta, Kraft BBQ Sauce

*Oven Joy Breads .89ea
*Betty Crocker Cake or Brownie Mix .69ea DEAL
*Kellogg’s Raisin Bran or Frosted Flakes 1.88ea
*Progresso Soup Buy 1 Get 1 Free
*12 pack Coke products 2.79
*12 Pack Pepsi or 7up products Buy 2 Get 3 FREE

Stater Bros
*Top Sirloin Steak 2.47lb Save 2.42lb
*Whole Foster Farms Chicken .77lb
*Boneless Chuck Roast 1.99lb
3lb Bag Chicken Breast or Tenders 1.99lb
*Stater Bros ground beef 1.99lb
*Flap Meat 3.99lb
Pork Country Style strips 1.69lb
*Foster Farms Chicken Leg .99lb
*Jumbo Snow Crab Legs 5.99lb
*Stater Bros Cooked Shrimp 1lb bag Buy 1 Get 1 Free
Ocean Eclipse Seafood Fillets or Scallops .99 ea

*3lb Bag Cuties 2.99ea
Haas Avocados 10 for 10.00
Black Seedless Grapes 1.99lb
Blueberries 2 6oz pack for 4,00
Mexican Papaya .59lb
*Ready Pac Salad .99
Broccoli .99lb
2lb Bag Carrots .99
*Bag Spinach 2 for 3.00

*Stater Bros Yogurt .39ea
*Kraft Mac & Cheese .69ea
*Hamburger, Tuna, Chicken Helper .99
Celeste Pizza for One .88ea
*Banquet Frozen Meals .69

99 Cent Sale
Anthony’s Pasta
Aqua Fresh Toothpaste
Foster Farm Chicken or Jennie-O Turkey Franks
Hunt’s Tomatoes
Michelina’s or Lean Gourmet Frozen Entrees
Farmer John Sausage Links
Bumble Bee white Tuna and More
*2ltr Pepsi Products .99

Weekly Grocery Specials 3-17-10 to 3-24-10

Ralphs
*NewYork steak 3.47lb
*Center cut pork chops 1.99lb
Tri-Tip steak or roast 3.99lb
Country pork strips 1.99lb
Chicken drums or thighs 1.19lb

*Pacific Salmon fillet 3.99lb
*Fresh Express bag salads .99ea
*3lb bag Cuties tangerines 2.88
Brarburn, Granny Smith or Delicious apples .99lb
Tangelos or Navel oranges .99lb
*Sargento Cheese 1.99ea
Buy any 8 items
Stouffers or Lean Cuisine `.69ea
C&W frozen vegetables 1.99ea
Deluxe Ice Cream 1.49 48oz
DiGiorno or CPK Pizza 3,97
Armour meatballs 2.99\Birds Eye Steamfresh vegetables 1.99
*2ltr Coke products .79ea DEAL

El Metate
*Chicken drumsticks .69lb
*White shrimp 2.99lb
*Beef Clod Roast 1.89lb
*Boneless Chicken breast 1.99lb
*Chicken stir fry 1.99lb
*Fresh imitation crab 1.99lb
Imitation crab meat ceviche
Ingredients
2 cups of imitation crab meat
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
1tsp salt
1/4 cup of lime juice
Directions
coarsely chop imitation crab meat, chop rest of ingredients mix in bowl with lime juice salt to taste. chill for half an hour then serve with crackers, or on corn tostada shell. yields 4 servings. .Serve in avocados too! Yum!
*California avocados 7 for .99!
*Mangos 3 for .99
*Bananas 3lbs for .99
*Pineapples .59lb

HENRY'S
Buy 1 Get 1 Free!
Cascadian Farm Organic Cereal
Cascade Fresh Organic Yogurt 1Qt size
Cascadian Farm Organic frozen fruit
R.W.Knudsen Juice
Seventh Generation Laundry detergent
Muir Glen Chicken or Beef soup
Alexia Rols or Biscuits
Annie’s Homegrown Mac & Cheese
Rustic Crust pizza
Cardini’s salad dressing
And More

Boneless chicken breast tenders 1.99lb
Foster Farm ground turkey 2.99lb
Center Cut pork chops 2.99lb
Wild Corvina Sea Base fillets 5.99lb
Extra Jumbo raw shrimp 5.99lb

*Navel oranges .49lb
*Papayas .38lb
*Green or Red leaf lettuce .49lb
*Baby peeled carrots .88 1lb bag
*10lb bag Russet potatoes 1.77
*Fuji or Braeburn apples .88lb
Asparagus 1.77lb*Blackberries .98 box

Smart and Final
*Foster Farms whole chicken .79lb
2lb pack Farmer John bacon 4.99

5lb bag Navel oranges 2.99
5lb bag carrots 1.99
Asparagus 1.75lb bundle 2.99

First Street milk 2.48 1gal must buy 2
Orowheat or Buttermilk bread 2.49
Pepsi or 7up 2 ltr 4 for 5.00
Chicken Roasting times at 350 degrees
2½ - 3 lbs -
3½ - 4 lbs -
4½ - 5 lbs -
5 - 6 lbs - 1 - 1¾ hrs
1½ - 1¾ hrs
1½ - 2 hrs
1¾ - 2½ hrs

ALBERTSONS
3 Day Super in-ad coupons. Fri-Sun
Chicken drums and thighs .87lb
Hoffy bacon 2 for 5.00
Nabisco snack crackers 1.69
Culinary Circle Pizza 3.99ea
Pampers diapers 6.99New York steak 3.97lb
Farmer John pork roast 1.99lb
Tri-Tip Roast 3.99lb
Albertsons bacon 3.29

Cucumbers .79ea
Green onions or Radishes 2 for 1.00
Celery .99
Sorry no really great deals this week on meat and produce here! But check more in-ad coupons.

*Buy 4 General Mills cereals and get free milk

Vons
*Foster Farms chicken .77lb
*Whole Tri-Tip 2,47lb
*Large Cooked shrimps 5,99lb
Boneless pork loin 1.97lb
Chicken leg quarters, drums, tthighs .99lb
Nathan’s beef franks Buy 1 Get 1 free
Farmer John sausage .99ea

Braeburn apple .88lb
Broccoli crowns .99lb

Safeway hamburger or hot dog buns .99ea
*Pepsi products 2ltr .88 DEAL!
This Weekend Only Sat & Sun
Zacky Farms ground turkey 1.99lb
Large Haas avocados 2 for 1.00
Kraft salad dressing 1.29
Lucerne cheese 1.49
Oreo or Nutter Butter cookies 1.99

Stater Bros
Chicken breasts or thighs or drums .99lb
T-Bone steak 3.99lb
Boneless pork chops 1.99lb
Stater Bros ground beef 1.99lb
London Broil 2.99lb
* Keta Salmon Roast 2.99lb
*Great American 1lb bag Tilapia fillets buy 1 Get 1 free
*Stater Bros Raw or Cooked XL Shrimp 1lb bag Buy 1 Get 1 Free
BarS franks .99ea

*Cantaloupe .39lb
*Strawberries 1lb box .99ea
Navel oranges .99lb
Large red bell peppers, Italian squash, peeled carrots, Bocs Pears, Delicious apples, or fresh spinash .99

ValuTime milk 2,59 gal
*Duncan Hines cake mix .99
7 up or Shasta sodas 2ltr .99
*Celeste pizza .88ea
Dannon Light & Fit yogurt 10 for 5.00
*Post cereals 1.88lb
*Rice or Pasta Roni .99
*Campbells Chunky soup 4 for 5.00

Free Antibiotics! If you have a prescription for antibiotics, bring in and you will get uo to a 14 day supply FREE. Qualifying classes:
• Amoxicillin
• Ampicillin
• Ciprofloxacin
• Doxycycline
• Erythromycin
• Penicillin
• Trimeth/Sulfa
• Tetracycline

Weekly Grocery Specials 3-3-10 to 3-10-10

Ralphs
Foster Farms whole chicken .67lb
*Boneless Cross Rib or Rump roast 1.97lb
Are you wondering what to do with this roast?
Cross Rib Roast3-5 pound cross rib roast
garlic
2 tablespons extra-virgin olive oil (infused ones are wonderful!)
sea salt
pepper
1-2 teaspoons fine dried herbs
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In meantime, using a sharp knife point from a paring or a boning knife make several slits in the top of the meat. Tuck slivers or whole pieces of garlic into each slit. Drizzle meat with oil. Sprinkle roast with salt, pepper and dried herbs. Place in a heavy bottomed pan . Calculate cooking time, using 20 minutes per pound of meat as a guide for a cross rib roast. Place roast in oven, TURN THE TEMPERATURE DOWN to 375 degrees and roast for the calculated time. Remove from oven, tent with a silicone mat or waxed paper and allow to stand about 20 minutes before slicing with your nice sharp slicing knife.

*Lean Flap meat (Great for stir fry or carne asada, or fajitas)
*Sirloin Pork chops 1.99lb
Farmer John meat or beef franks buy 1 get 1 free
Kroger 19oz Ground turkey 3.99ea
Ralphs bacon 1 lb pack 2 for 7.00

*Strawberries 2lb box for 3.00
Brarburn or Granny Smith apples .99
Navel orange .99
Pineapples .99
Broccoli .99lb
Cucumbers .79ea
*Fresh Express bag salad and slaw .99ea

*Betty Crocker cake mixes 10 for 10.00


Smart and Final
*First Street chicken drumsticks or thighs .79lb
Boneless beef brisket 1.89lb

3lb bag Fuji apples 1.99
5lb bag Navel oranges 2.99
Ripe Large salad tomatoes .99lb
5lb bag Klondike Goldust potatoes 1.99
*1lt La Romanelle extra virgin olive oil 6.99

HENRY'S
Fresh Pick of the week
*Navel Oranges .15lb!!

77 CENT SALE
Haas Avocados .77ea
Broccoli Crowns .77lb
Tangelos .77lb
Bosc Pears .77lb
Celery & Green or Red Leaf lettuce .77ea
Cantaloupes .77lb
*Cuties Tangerines 3lb bag 2.97
*Texas Rio Star Grapefruit 4 for 1.00
*Iceberg lettuce 2 for 1.00

Butchers Best Deal
Pork Baby Back ribs 2.97lb
Super Lean Ground Beef 2.97lb
London Broil 1,97lb
Boneless Chicken Tenders 1.97lb

48 HOURS ONLY
March 4-5
Bananas .39lb
Kashi Go Lean Cereal 1.99ea
Wisconsin Mild Cheddar 1.99lb
Hansen Sodas 6pack .99
Colossal Raw Shrimp 6.99lb

ALBERTSONS
8 HOUR SALE
Thursday 3-4-2010 1pm to 9pm
Navel Oranges 4 lb bag .99
Boneless Chicken Breasts 1.77lb
Mission Tortilla Chips and Dip 1.88ea
Sliced to order deli meat 3.99lb
18 count Fresh baked chocolate chip cookies 1.99
Kellogg’s Cereal and Mother cookies selected varieties 2 for 3.00
Aussie and Herbal Essence shampoo and conditioner 1.99
*Cross Rib or Rump Roast buy 1 get 1 free
*Hormel Natural Choice Chicken Strips buy 1 get 1 free
Atlanic Salmon or Rainbow Trout 3.99lb
Chicken drumsticks, theighs or whole legs 1.29lb
*T-Bone steak 3.97lb save 5.53lb
Fresh Strawberries 1.99lb
Cantaloupe .69lb
Navel oranges .99lb
General Mills cereals 1.97ea
TUNA SANDWICH ANYONE?
*Star Kist solid white or Albertsons Deluxe white or wheat bread .99ea

Vons
*Rancher reserve Ribeye steak 3.88lb
*Whole Pork tenderloin 2.88lb
Tasty Tender Pork Tenderloin
1 1/2 pound fat-trimmed pork tenderloin
salt and pepper to taste
all-purpose flour for dusting
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 (8 ounce) bottle Russian-style salad dressing
3/4 cup honey
1 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Season with salt and pepper. Dust with flour, shaking off any excess.
In a large skillet, heat 1 to 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Sear the pork in the oil, rotating to brown evenly all sides. Transfer to a baking dish just large enough to fit the tenderloin.
In a bowl, stir together the Russian-style salad dressing, honey, and onion soup mix. Pour evenly over the tenderloin, rolling the meat to coat on all sides. Cover with aluminum foil.
Bake, covered, in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, basting with glaze every 10 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking another 30 minutes, or until pork is no longer pink in the center.

*Chicken Leg quarters .88lb
*4lb Bag boneless chicken breast 5.88
*Hormel sliced bacon buy1 get 1 free
*ground beef 2.49lb
Margaritaville bagged chicken wings buy 1 get 1
Strawberries 1 lb box 2 for 3.00
Whole or sliced mushrooms ..99ea
*Roma tomatoes .88lb
*8lb Navel oranges 3.99 ea
Avocado .99ea

*Safeway Enriched bread (Bakery) 1.49ea
*Safeway Breakfast Breads (bakery) 2 for 3.00
* Fresh Artisan French Bread .99ea

MUST BUY 2 Sargento shredded, sliced cheese, Kraft singles or cream cheese 1.49ea OR Precious String cheese 1.99

El Metate
Wednesday ONLY
Chicken leg quarters .47lb
White shrimp 1.99lb
Tilapia fillet 1.79lb
Beef Flap Meat 3.29lb
Pork Adobado or Chicken Fajitas 1.49lb
El Metate (con’t)
*Chicken leg meat .97lb
*Pork sirloin chops .99lb
*Pollock fillet 1.59lb
*Beef sirloin tip steak 2.49lb

*5lb bag Russet potatoes .69ea
*Roma tomatoes 2lbs for .99
*Pineapple 2lbs for .99
*Tangarines 4lbs for .99
*Green cabbage 4lbs .99

Stater Bros
*Foster Farms chicken leg quarters .99lb
*Pork spareribs 1.29lb
Fresh ground beef 2.89lb
Boneless pork loin chops 2.99lb
*Whole Salmon 2.99lb
Whole Salmon
Ingredients:
1 whole salmon, about 4 lbs., cleaned
Freshly ground pepper
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 lemon, thinly sliced
4-5 sprigs parsley
1 tsp. dried thyme (or 5 sprigs fresh thyme)
1 Tbsp olive oil
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Rinse the salmon inside out and pat it dry.
Sprinkle the inside of the salmon with salt and pepper, and stuff it with half of the onion, half of the lemon, and all of the parsley.
Tear off a sheet of aluminum foil large enough to wrap the salmon.
Place the salmon on the foil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and thyme.
Rub with olive oil.
Scatter the remaining onion and lemon slices on top and seal foil tightly.
Place on a cookie sheet and bake 40-45 minutes.
Cool in the foil on a rack.
Remove onion and lemon; skin if desired.
Serve at room temperature.

*Top sirloin steak 2.47lb
*Boneless chuck roast 1.99 Great for crock pot
*Chicken half breasts .99lb
Hillshire Farm Sausage Rope or Link 1.99
*Ambrosia apples .99lb
*Strawberries 1lb box 2 for 3.00
Jumbo Navel oranges .99lb
*Blueberries 2 for 4.00
*Heartland bread 13 varieties 1.99ea
*Post ,Honey Bunches, Shredded Wheat or Grape Nuts 1.99ea

By Special Request from Debbie’s friends….Sodas on Sale>>>>

El Metate Pepsi products 20 pack cans 4.99, Coke & Diet Coke .20 pack 5.99
Albertsons 7-up or Sunkist 12 pack 3.99 no other deals
Von’s 24 pack Pepsi products 4.99, 6 pack 16.9oz bottles Pepsi or 7up 2.77ea
Ralph’s 12 pack Pepsi or Diet Pepsi 3 for 10.00
Smart & Final Pepsi and diet Pepsi 3 12 packs for 9.99
Stater Bros Coke and Pepsi 2 ltr 3 for 5.00, 12 pack Coke 4.49 NO DEAL

Healthy Snack Ideas

For our newly formed NBII Healthy Living Group (formerly “The Biggest Losers”)

Snacks aren't bad. In fact, they are "mini meals" that are meant to curb hunger and help supplement nutrients you may not be getting enough of from meals (like fiber from fruits and veggies). Studies show that waiting too long to eat between meals can cause you to overeat later in the day — not exactly the best way to lose weight or stay healthy.
1) Peanut Butter and Whole-Wheat Crackers
Combine lean protein, fiber and healthy fat and you've got a satisfying snack. Protein and fiber work for cutting down and controlling hunger, while fat takes a bit longer to digest and keeps you feeling full longer. Peanut butter is high in healthy monounsaturated fats, but be sure to portion out one tablespoon to keep calories in check.
Portion: 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter and 4 whole-wheat crackers
Total: 180 calories, 5 grams of protein
2) Vegetable Soup
Don't eat enough veggies? Try snacking on a warm, hearty vegetable soup — 20 minutes later you'll feel like a new person. Vegetables contain fiber, which helps you feel full and also helps stabilize blood sugar throughout the day — meaning no gnawing hunger pains. Try a minestrone or bean soup for additional protein. If you're feeling extra hungry at snack time, add one or two whole-wheat breadsticks or a small whole-wheat roll.
Portion: 1 cup vegetable soup
Total: 100 calories, 4 grams protein
3) Low-Fat Cottage Cheese and Fruit
With its good balance of protein, carbs and fat, cottage cheese is one of the most underappreciated foods. Add fiber with fresh fruit, such as berries, melon, pears or pineapple, for a perfect snack. A 1/2-cup serving contains 7% of your daily calcium needs, which is important for healthy bones.
Portion: 1/2 cup low-fat or nonfat cottage cheese with 1/2 cup sliced or 1 medium piece of fresh fruit
Total calories: 140 calories, 14 grams protein
4) Hummus with Sliced Veggies
This Middle Eastern chickpea spread is packed with protein, fiber and heart-healthy unsaturated fats. Veggies like carrots, bell peppers and broccoli make great dippers and add good nutrients, including beta-carotene, vitamin C and, of course, more belly-filling fiber. Two tablespoons of plain hummus has 50 calories and 3 grams of fat, so you're probably better off measuring out two to three tablespoons instead of sitting down with the entire container.
Portion: 3 tablespoons of plain hummus plus 1 cup of sliced veggies
Total calories: 120 calories, 7 grams protein
5) Trail Mix
Almonds, cashews, walnuts, peanuts or pecans are full of healthy fat, fiber and protein. A delicious homemade trail mix is simple: Portion out a handful of nuts and mix in two tablespoons of dried fruit like raisins, cranberries or apricots. To minimize calories, choose nuts that are dry roasted or raw. For a change of pace, throw in whole-wheat pretzels or some of your favorite cereal. Packing your trail mix in plastic bags or containers makes it easy to grab and go. If you find yourself plowing through your snack mix, try using shelled nuts that will take longer to eat.
Portion: 15 nuts plus 2 tablespoons of dried fruit
Total calories: 170 calories, 7 grams protein

Budget-Friendly Foods: Top 5 Healthy Picks

These days, who’s not watching their wallets along with their waistlines?
1) Eggs
Instead of expensive chicken, fish or beef for dinner, why not cook up a veggie omelet or frittata (my new favorite way to cook eggs!)? An egg-cellent source of protein and the antioxidant lutein (for healthy eyes, skin, and heart), one large egg contains 75 calories and 6 grams of protein. Boil up a few and store them in the fridge for a quick grab-and-go snack. A dozen large eggs range from $2 to $3.20. If you buy them in 1.5 dozen packs or larger you’ll pay even less per egg.
2) Oranges
Add affordable fruits to your weekly shopping list — oranges, apples, and bananas. In season now are vitamin C-rich oranges, so you’ll find them at the best price (about 50 cents each). In the fall, fill your cart up with fresh apples. You’ll find bananas at a great price year-round. Frozen bananas also make a tasty addition to healthy fruit smoothies.
3) Oats
The large canisters of plain rolled oats — not those single-serving, sugary ones — will give you the most for your dollar. One serving of oatmeal (made from a half-cup of dry oats) contains 150 calories, 5 grams of protein and 4 grams of cholesterol-friendly fiber — al that for a mere 30 cents. Dress up your oatmeal with those budget-friendly fruits listed above or mix in a tablespoon of peanut butter (another food that deserves honorable mention for being budget-friendly). Add rolled oats to your smoothie or cookies for a little extra fiber.
4) Canned Tomatoes
This time of year, fresh tomatoes will cost you a pretty penny. But you can still get plenty of the antioxidants vitamin C and lycopene from the canned varieties. The larger the can, the more you’ll save. A 48-ounce can of crushed tomatoes costs around $1.50 (that’s 5 cents per ounce!). Add crushed tomatoes to soups, stews, chili and pasta dishes. Read up on more ways to cook with canned tomatoes.
5) Non-Fat Yogurt
Full of calcium and a good protein source, this creamy treat is an easy breakfast or on-the-go snack. But the real superstars in yogurt are those healthy, live bacteria called probiotics. They help your body fight off bad bacteria and keep your digestive system in tip-top shape. Choose yogurt made with skim milk and without sugar substitutes. The generic brands cost less, especially if you find them in large 32-ounce tubs. They will save you 20% for the same amount in single-serve containers. If you’re looking to eat less sugar, choose plain yogurt and top with your favorite add-ins — raisins, chunks of fruit or a few tablespoons of granola.

Sale Of The Week

In the OC, the James Perse Sample Sale is on 2/26-3/1 (10am-7pm). Save 50%-80% on tops, bottoms and those famous comfy tees for men, women, and children. 3444 Via Lido, Newport Beach. Cash/ CC.

Upcoming Sales…
OC designer furniture hub, Showplace South is having a huge blowout sale on 3/8-3/13 (9am-4pm). Save 35%-80% on top-of-the-line indoor and outdoor furniture, accessories, lamps, mirrors, fabric and more. You could easily save thousands on these heirloom-quality offerings. 3020 Pullman Street, Costa Mesa, 714.549.1442. Cash/ CC only.