My Diet Wise Tips for This Week

1 I'm a canned Ravioli lover from way back. I know it is not as good as the real thing but I still enjoy it. I normally ramp it up by adding shredded soy cheese and a little powder supplement powder. For an extra special low cost and easy meal, I sauté onions, green peppers and minced garlic in olive oil. I mix it with the ravioli and heat on the stovetop. Then top the mixture with my two favorite types of shredded soy cheese and then bake until the cheese is nicely melted. Serve with a small healthy side salad and you have a treat that is fit for child or adult.

2 If you have a juicer and you have carrot pulp left over, add it to your spaghetti sauce for an added boost of fiber. Also consider a tasty fiber enriched carrot cake.

3 Look for things to add "Extra Virgin Olive Oil" to. Remember not to use the refined oil, stick with only first cold pressings. Want an example? Add olive oil to your wing sauce (you can also substitute Smart Balance butter in your recipe). Shop around for a hot sauce that has the lowest sodium content available.

4 Kiddi-licious Apple Sauce: Use organic, no sugar added applesauce; Mott's brand is good. Add flax seed meal, wheat germ and drizzle a little honey on top.

5 Purchase canned fruit without heavy syrup, it is super packed with high fructose corn syrup and I think it may be linked to many cases of diabetes. Your body can only handle so much sugar at one time.

6 Don't eat enough veggies? Try this for a dietary fiber boost. Fiber supplements mix into foods and beverages and you don't even notice that it is there. Personally I mix Fibersure and Benefiber together and have great results.

7 In the morning I load up the coffee pot with a pod coffee filter and sprinkle my fiber powder mixture on top of the coffee pod. Add water and voila- after you flip the switch; you have already done yourself a great favor for the day. It doesn't alter the flavor at all!

8 Get your coffee buzz on. Try to limit your caffeine intake whenever possible, but if you just "gotta" have it, don't forget the fiber supplement.

9 I am a tea drinker myself but I always use the little extras! I alternate between soymilk creamer (Silk Milk) and Land-o-Lakes fat free creamer. I have officially thrown away my containers of white refined sugar and I try to stick with either Turbinado raw sugar, honey or agave nectar. They don't impact your body as harshly as the refined stuff, plus the added flavor is a good feature. White sugar offers a flat taste and the other sweeteners add depth.

Stretch Your Grocery Money by Shopping Publix's Dinner Meal Suggestions