Using coupons for restaurants is a great way to save money eating out. One recent survey said that 45% of Americans are eating at home more because they are trying to save money. By using restaurant coupons you can dine out and not break the budget.
Looking for Restaurant Coupons to Save Money? Here’s 10 Tips on How to Find Them:
Looking for Grocery Discount Coupons to Save Money? Here’s how to find them:
1. Sign up for ValPak. This packet of great coupons is mailed to your home and includes many terrific coupons for restaurants. They also have an email version of ValPak where you can do a search for various restaurants, as well as coupons for other businesses to print out.
2. Purchase an Entertainment book for your area. For about a $20 investment, you get hundreds of discount coupons to be used in the given year of the book. You also have access to their website, where even more coupons for groceries and other food items in your area. Last years’ book had a $5 discount coupon for groceries at Kroger’s for each month of the year! This year, they are offering $5 grocery coupons for Tom Thumb. So I actually made money by using that discount coupon throughout the year.
3. Sign up for Coupon Surfer.com you can get $5 off an Entertainment book. Sign up with Coupon surfer is free. You'll also find dozens of great restaurant coupons at Coupon Surfer.
4. Check newspaper ads or flyers you get in the mail. In bad economic times, restaurants are trying to attract customers and offering coupons is one way to draw them in. Clip restaurant coupons when you see them and organize by expiration date.
5. For restaurant coupons online, sign up with restaurant email newsletter lists. I recently got a free lunch or dinner at the Genghis Grill for my birthday. I signed up with the restaurant email newsletter several months ago and have gotten discount coupons like 20% off a meal. This month, it’s my birthday, so I got a free meal. I’ve also gotten free appetizers at Red Lobster and PH Changs, among others. Other advantages to joining a restaurant mailing list is you are kept aware of specials at your favorites.
6. Fill out customer satisfaction surveys. Many restaurants offer a discount coupon for filling out a survey via the phone or online.
7. For online, printable coupons, simply do a search for “restaurant coupons” and see what comes up. If you want a specific restaurant coupon, add the name to the search. I’ve gotten free appetizers and discount coupons this way for various restaurants.
8. Check the websites of the restaurants where you would like to dine. Sometimes they offer free, printable coupons on their websites.
9. Check your membership sites, like Costco. Costco offers restaurant discount certificates for purchase by their members. Many times, these discount coupons come in a pack. The other day, my daughter purchased $100 worth of Starbucks gift cards for $79, for instance (great holiday gift idea too!)
10. Check Ebay for restaurant gift cards for sale at discount. Sellers want to get rid of gift cards they receive but didn’t want and you can benefit.
11. Watch for Specials on restaurant discount coupons. Our local newspaper offers a “press pass” with the sale of a 6 month or one year subscription. This press pass gives a 20% discount at selected restaurants in our area. We subscribe to the paper for 6 months at a time and always check the list of restaurants accepting the discount before we go out to eat.
Using these tips to find restaurant discount coupons, you can still eat out and save money too!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Holiday Weight Gain - Here's Some Ways to Avoid It
I've decided to avoid holiday weight gain this year, despite the fact that I love that holiday fudge and cookies and I love to cook during the holidays too. There are some tips to help avoid holiday weight gain though and I'm going to follow them this year.
To avoid holiday weight gain, pace yourself and practice moderation.
High calorie egg nog, special cake and cookie recipes – the holiday temptations never seem to end. However to avoid weight gain, you can pace yourself. Don’t deny yourself a treat, but learn to stop at one piece of fudge or have a half a glass of egg nog.
If you know you have a holiday party or gathering in the evening, eat lightly the rest of the day.
Head over to the buffet table and check out the low calorie foods.
Cake and cookies are holiday treats but chances are there are some veggie trays too. If you fill up on veggies or low calories fruits, you’ll be too full for sweets. If you’d like to try some dips, veggies are better than chips in the calorie department. Lean meats and salads are also ways to avoid that weight gain.
Watch the high calorie alcohol.
Alcohol contains many empty calories and after a couple drinks the best of intentions to cut back on high calorie foods may go out the window.
Bring your own healthy snacks and dishes to gatherings
In my family, I’m always the one in charge of bringing the veggie tray and hummus dip. If you’re having a party or gathering, look up some low cal party recipes ideas like a fruit plate and low calorie yogurt dip. Others in the group may also be watching their weight and they’ll love these more healthy additions to the regular holiday calorie fest.
When cooking look for low calorie substitutions, such as 1% milk for whipping up mashed potatoes instead of cream and a healthy butter substitute instead of real butter.
If your office is overwhelmed with holiday treats, bring your own healthy snacks so you won’t be tempted. Better yet, bring some to share.
If you feel lonely or depressed during holiday times, find a charity that needs your help. Volunteer opportunities abound during the holidays. Help serve Christmas dinner to the homeless or collect gifts for foster children. You won't have time for over-eating.
Avoid Holiday Stress by Getting Enough Sleep and Exercise
Don’t forget the basics during the holiday season like getting plenty of sleep and exercising at least 30 minutes a day. Even though the holiday season is a busy time, stress often leads to holiday weight gain as we eat for energy.
If weather is bad and you can’t get out for a brisk walk put on music and dance or use an exercise video. Exercise not only helps you handle holiday stress, it helps you burn those holiday calories.
Other ways to relax to avoid stress and weight gain during the holidays
* Practice deep breathing
* Do yoga to a CD or video
* Try these other great relaxation tips
Weigh Yourself Each Morning
Studies show that those who weigh themselves daily lose more weight than those who weigh themselves weekly. Don't tell yourself you'll skip the weigh-in until January or you might be shocked with the holiday weight gain numbers.
The holiday season is full of family dinners and social celebrations which revolve around goodies with lots of calories. Remember, the holidays are about family and friends, not just food.
Combine the round of parties with special holiday recipes and the cold, winter weather that keeps people from their exercise program, it’s possible to gain as much as 10 pounds by January. However, by following these tips to avoid holiday weight gain, you can start the New Year with your weight in check.
To avoid holiday weight gain, pace yourself and practice moderation.
High calorie egg nog, special cake and cookie recipes – the holiday temptations never seem to end. However to avoid weight gain, you can pace yourself. Don’t deny yourself a treat, but learn to stop at one piece of fudge or have a half a glass of egg nog.
If you know you have a holiday party or gathering in the evening, eat lightly the rest of the day.
Head over to the buffet table and check out the low calorie foods.
Cake and cookies are holiday treats but chances are there are some veggie trays too. If you fill up on veggies or low calories fruits, you’ll be too full for sweets. If you’d like to try some dips, veggies are better than chips in the calorie department. Lean meats and salads are also ways to avoid that weight gain.
Watch the high calorie alcohol.
Alcohol contains many empty calories and after a couple drinks the best of intentions to cut back on high calorie foods may go out the window.
Bring your own healthy snacks and dishes to gatherings
In my family, I’m always the one in charge of bringing the veggie tray and hummus dip. If you’re having a party or gathering, look up some low cal party recipes ideas like a fruit plate and low calorie yogurt dip. Others in the group may also be watching their weight and they’ll love these more healthy additions to the regular holiday calorie fest.
When cooking look for low calorie substitutions, such as 1% milk for whipping up mashed potatoes instead of cream and a healthy butter substitute instead of real butter.
If your office is overwhelmed with holiday treats, bring your own healthy snacks so you won’t be tempted. Better yet, bring some to share.
If you feel lonely or depressed during holiday times, find a charity that needs your help. Volunteer opportunities abound during the holidays. Help serve Christmas dinner to the homeless or collect gifts for foster children. You won't have time for over-eating.
Avoid Holiday Stress by Getting Enough Sleep and Exercise
Don’t forget the basics during the holiday season like getting plenty of sleep and exercising at least 30 minutes a day. Even though the holiday season is a busy time, stress often leads to holiday weight gain as we eat for energy.
If weather is bad and you can’t get out for a brisk walk put on music and dance or use an exercise video. Exercise not only helps you handle holiday stress, it helps you burn those holiday calories.
Other ways to relax to avoid stress and weight gain during the holidays
* Practice deep breathing
* Do yoga to a CD or video
* Try these other great relaxation tips
Weigh Yourself Each Morning
Studies show that those who weigh themselves daily lose more weight than those who weigh themselves weekly. Don't tell yourself you'll skip the weigh-in until January or you might be shocked with the holiday weight gain numbers.
The holiday season is full of family dinners and social celebrations which revolve around goodies with lots of calories. Remember, the holidays are about family and friends, not just food.
Combine the round of parties with special holiday recipes and the cold, winter weather that keeps people from their exercise program, it’s possible to gain as much as 10 pounds by January. However, by following these tips to avoid holiday weight gain, you can start the New Year with your weight in check.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Try Omega 3 Fatty Acids to Reduce Belly Fat
Want to lose belly fat fast? I recently read that taking omega3 fatty acids could help reduce belly fat so, since I already take both flax seed oil capsules and fish oils supplements, I decided to increase my dosage to see what happened.
Omega3 fatty acids are the good fats which help heart and brain health, among other things. Omega 3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA, have also been shown to reduce the triglyceride levels in the body, helping to control bad cholesterol levels.
I’ve been taking 2,000 IU of flax seed and one fish oil capsule daily for about 4 years, but to reduce belly fat, I doubled my daily intake of these supplements.
Besides taking flax seed supplements and fish oil, some other plant oils are good sources of omega3 fatty acids as well, like evening primrose and borage oil. These supplements are readily available in health food stores or even Costco.
Foods containing omega3 fatty acids include coldwater fish like salmon and sardines, seafood, tofu, beans, walnuts, pecans and omega 3 enriched eggs.
One precaution on buying fish oil supplements. Make sure you read the label. It should clearly state that all toxins and contaminants have been removed so you can get all the great benefits of omega3 without toxins like mercury. Your fish oil supplement should be the highest quality you can afford.
Fish oils harvested in the clean waters of New Zealand is one of the safest in the world and the fish from there are extremely rich in omega3 fatty acids.
I’ve been taking the omega 3s to reduce belly fat for about a month and it seems to be working. Along with taking these supplements, I’d also recommend eating a well-balanced diet along with general nutritional supplements to help with your weight loss plan. Omega3 fatty acids are good for overall health and so, even if you don't need to lose weight, they will have other great health benefits.
Omega3 fatty acids are the good fats which help heart and brain health, among other things. Omega 3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA, have also been shown to reduce the triglyceride levels in the body, helping to control bad cholesterol levels.
I’ve been taking 2,000 IU of flax seed and one fish oil capsule daily for about 4 years, but to reduce belly fat, I doubled my daily intake of these supplements.
Besides taking flax seed supplements and fish oil, some other plant oils are good sources of omega3 fatty acids as well, like evening primrose and borage oil. These supplements are readily available in health food stores or even Costco.
Foods containing omega3 fatty acids include coldwater fish like salmon and sardines, seafood, tofu, beans, walnuts, pecans and omega 3 enriched eggs.
One precaution on buying fish oil supplements. Make sure you read the label. It should clearly state that all toxins and contaminants have been removed so you can get all the great benefits of omega3 without toxins like mercury. Your fish oil supplement should be the highest quality you can afford.
Fish oils harvested in the clean waters of New Zealand is one of the safest in the world and the fish from there are extremely rich in omega3 fatty acids.
I’ve been taking the omega 3s to reduce belly fat for about a month and it seems to be working. Along with taking these supplements, I’d also recommend eating a well-balanced diet along with general nutritional supplements to help with your weight loss plan. Omega3 fatty acids are good for overall health and so, even if you don't need to lose weight, they will have other great health benefits.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Calli Tea Review
Are you looking for information on Sunrider Calli Tea? Would you like to know the benefits of Calli Tea? Where can you order Callie at the best price?
I've been drinking Calli Tea daily for about 10 years. We start our day with a green smoothie made with Calli and lots of leafy green veggies. I think Calli's gentle cleansing effects are helping me to stay so healthy that I only rarely catch even a cold.
Calli is a great value for the money too. One tea bag makes up to one gallon of delicious, healthy tea. You can drink it all day long and replace other, less healthy drinks like sugary sodas or energy drinks.
If you would like more information on Calli Tea, as well as a discount coupon on your first order, send for my free Calli Tea Report, which includes my own personal review.
Sunrider® products are not intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, prevention, or treatment of any medical condition.
I've been drinking Calli Tea daily for about 10 years. We start our day with a green smoothie made with Calli and lots of leafy green veggies. I think Calli's gentle cleansing effects are helping me to stay so healthy that I only rarely catch even a cold.
Calli is a great value for the money too. One tea bag makes up to one gallon of delicious, healthy tea. You can drink it all day long and replace other, less healthy drinks like sugary sodas or energy drinks.
If you would like more information on Calli Tea, as well as a discount coupon on your first order, send for my free Calli Tea Report, which includes my own personal review.
Sunrider® products are not intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, prevention, or treatment of any medical condition.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Boosting Your Immune System to Avoid Winter Illness
Boosting the immune system becomes very important as winter colds and flu looms. There are natural things you can do to boost your immune system and stay healthy.
Immune Boosting Food
One simple and inexpensive way to boost the immune system is to add certain foods and drinks to your diet such as:
Immune Boosting Food
One simple and inexpensive way to boost the immune system is to add certain foods and drinks to your diet such as:
- Green Tea - packed with antioxidants. Drink 4 cups daily, hot or cold, to boost your immune system.
- Fresh Garlic - Garlic is an antibiotic and anitviral but it must be fresh, not heated or cooked. Place a clove of garlic in a plastic zip lock bag, crush it, and add to a piece of toast, some salsa or your salad dressing.
- Cayennne Pepper - According to Chinese Medicine, to avoid colds you need to heat up the body. Add some spice to your life!
- Berries boost the immune system, especially blueberries - Add berries to your morning smoothie, your cereal, yogurt or any other dishes you already eat.
- Ginger - Ginger in all forms boost the immune system and is a great anti-inflammatory. Drink ginger tea, eat candied ginger or sprinkle ginger powder onto cereal or yogurt daily.
- Honey is also antiviral and boosts the immune system. Add to your tea instead of sugar.
Remedies to Boost the Immune System
If you've been exposed to someone who is ill or you feel that first tickle of a sore throat, try these remedies:
- Echinacea herbal extract - I prefer extracts as they hold potency better than pills which can sit on shelves for some time. Echinacea should only be taken about one week at a time or it lose its effectiveness.
- Elderberry extract - or elderberry juice is antiviral and helps to kill the virus before it takes hold. When taking elderberry extract, be sure to eat something with it as it can upset the stomach.
- Try the fresh garlic on toast.
- Add Cayenne pepper to some salsa and make it as hot as you can and eat some. This helps to burn the germs out of your body.
Here's one of my favorite recipes to boost the immune system:
Warm lemonade
Boil one cup of water, squeeze in the juice of two lemons. Add honey to taste, plus 2 dashes of cayenne pepper. Drink this several times a day until your cold is gone or you have averted it.
Other Natural Immune Boosters:
- Get plenty of rest. If you're tired, your immune system can't protect you as well.
- Drink lots of water - This keeps the germs and toxins flushed from your body.
- Exercise - Keep your body in shape for peak immunity.
Boosting the immune system should be a way of life. Your immune system protects you from not only colds and flu, but more serious illness and disease, as well as common ailments like allergies. A healthy immune system means you have more time to enjoy life and isn't that what we all want most?
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