When it comes to being healthy, I’m all for convenience. There’s no reason eating healthier foods has to be hard or time consuming. So over the last few months, I’ve been testing new ways to maximize my budget and time when it comes to food. Somethings I’ve learned I’m more likely to use if already prepped for me. Cauliflower rice pre-riced is one of those things. But my list of things to try making at home is growing. Whether you’re looking to cut back on spending or maybe just want to clean up your diet, here are 5 healthier foods to consider making at home this month.
Coffee Creamer
I go back and forth with coffee creamer. Some weeks, I’ll be super into it. Other weeks I’m quite content with almond/coconut milk in my coffee. And as much as I love nutpods, it’s not always easy to grab them when I run out. I’m also a fan of Califia Farms which tend to be more readily available. However, I recently found myself wanting something a bit sweeter in my coffee but I didn’t want the refined sugar. Enter a homemade coffee creamer recipe from The First Mess. I’m still testing out which coconut milk works best when refrigerated. But I love having a sweet option available without all the additives I don’t want.
Almond Milk
Again, this idea came from my re-established love of the The First Mess cookbook*. I love Laura’s simple approach that doesn’t require soaking almonds ahead of time. But you could also go the more traditional route with your almond milk and opt for the soak & blend method. Because we tend to rely heavily on coconut milk, I found that when we bought a carton of almond milk it went bad. Being able to make small batches at home has been a great alternative for helping me to waste less and still have high quality options. It’s also perfect if you want to flavor your own or prefer a more natural sweetness. I’d highly recommend checking out either the Oh She Glow’s recipe or The First Mess.
Almond Butter
I honestly don’t remember the first time I made my own nut butter. Whether it was out of boredom during the snowpocalypse 2014 or because I out and needed more quickly, I have no clue. But I do remember being incredibly surprised at how easy it is to make. If you’re into a sweet and more flavored almond butter, OSG has a great recipe. However, I’ve found the key to making almond butter is having the right processor.
I know there are tons of people who use high speed blenders. Personally, I prefer to use my food processor. Whichever you choose, you’re really looking to make sure the heat of the blender/processor breaks down the oils in your nuts. I like to throw a cup of nuts in the processor and let it go. I’ll come back to check on it every few minutes to scrape it down or see where it’s at but that’s it. I don’t add anything. Super easy and even cheaper than buying it.
Coconut Yogurt
When it comes to yogurt, the love in my house only seems to grow. And recently, it’s become a must have in the fridge at all times item. The struggle here is availability and price. And after watching many an instagram story of Dana from The Minimalist Baker testing and tweaker her recipe, I decided to try it. I will say of all the things to try at home this month, coconut yogurt is the most time consuming. It can take between 24-48 hours to get your yogurt to just the right tangy-ness. But if you’re looking to save some money, cut down on sugar or just want to try it, I’d highly recommend making this at home delight.
Tortillas
I spoke recently about cassava flour and how the limited number of people producing products with it makes the prices higher. One of the best examples of this is with tortillas. Because of the lack of availability and pricing for tortillas that fit my diet, I’ve decided to try making them from home. Now I will admit, this is something I’m personally trying this month. However, I’m excited about finding/creating a recipe that gives me access to high quality tortillas and is in my budget. From everything I’ve read so far, you can use a rolling pin at home to make it happen. But I ordered a tortilla press* because ya know, I love a good kitchen gadget.
So whether you’re a girl on a budget or just looking to clean up your diet, I hope this list will inspire you to try something new in the kitchen this month. And if you do, be sure to tag me in your creations. Happy cooking friends!
