Apartment Guide’s New Year, New Space Blogger Challenge
Do you ever have seasons in life where you feel like you’re going 90 miles an hour and are just waiting for a moment to catch your breath?
If not, we need to talk because I need to know your secret!!
Well, that’s me right now.
The normal hustle and bustle makes my day crazy enough, but remember when I told you that my family lives in 740 square feet? Well, we sold our loft and are moving!!
We are extremely grateful to be moving, but if you’ve ever attempted it yourself, you know that life doesn’t slow down just so you can pack a few boxes.
Well, I was stoked when Apartment Guide told me about their online moving center! Can you say perfect timing? They provide several helpful resources like a move-out checklist and offer tricks to help you create a moving plan. Plus they have tips for decorating, cleaning, organizing and making the most of your space.
Apartment Guide is also offering a gift card for me (and a lucky reader!!!!) to make over a space in our home!! Since I’m moving
from such a small home, the options seem endless. But, I’ve decided that I’m going to make over the kitchen to make it more diet-friendly.
I need your help, though.
What are your best suggestions for making your kitchen a place that will trim the waistline instead of add to it? I’m thinking I’d like to get a salad spinner, a grill pan, and maybe a starter kit for an herb garden. But what else would you suggest?
Your suggestions will be crucial for this cooking makeover. But, they will also be one of your entries to win a $100 American Express gift card to makeover your own space!! Just remember, you don’t have to wait until you move to create a new space for yourself. The new year is a perfect time to create a new space in your home with the help of Apartment Guide.
Here is how you enter to win:
1. Leave a Comment telling me your best gadget or idea for making the kitchen healthy and diet-friendly.
Additional ways to enter:
2. Tweet or Facebook this contest – use @dietoamm & @aptguide. (Maybe something like: Win a $100 AMEX gift card from @aptguide by helping @dietoamm make her kitchen healthy http://bit.ly/grrSud) And don’t forget to leave a comment below stating you have done so.
3. Follow @aptguide on Twitter. Leave a comment below that you have done so or if you are already.
4. Follow @dietoamm on Twitter. Leave a comment below that you have done so or if you are already.
5. Become a Facebook Fan of Once A Month Mom Fan Page. Leave a comment below that you have done so or if you are already.
6. Become a Facebook Fan of the Apartment Guide Fan Page. Leave a comment below that you have done so or if you are already.
7. Subscribe to the Once A Month Mom blog via RSS or email. Let me know that you have done so. Of course, if you are already subscriber make sure you leave that too.
This giveaway ends Saturday, January 29 at 8:00 PM (EST).
Disclosure: Apartment Guide is owned by Consumer Source, Inc. Apartment Guide partnered with bloggers such as myself to participate in its New Year, New Space Blogger Challenge. As part of that program, I received compensation. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products used for the New Year, New Space Blogger Challenge. Apartment Guide and Consumer Source believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Consumer Source’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations. If you’d like to know more about how I facilitate reviews you can view the full disclosure policy here.
I would definitely suggest a steamer! It is so easy to cook
veggies, meat, and rice! Just set the timer and your healthy
delicious meal will be ready before you know it!
Great idea! I have a set of colorful bistro or custard dishes that I use for small meals or sides. They’re pretty and help with portion control.
Definitely a kitchen scale. It is so eye opening when you measure out your serving sizes.
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I don’t know if it’s just me, but I hate my salad spinner. It’s the kind that has a string you have to pull. It doesn’t seem to get as much water off the lettuce as I would like. I much prefer to dry my lettuce by wrapping it up in a clean towel.
I would recommend a grill press/panini maker. I have a cuisineart one that has grill and flat plates. And you can also open it flat to use like a griddle. Or a foodsaver. It helps me save space in the freezer, and the food doesn’t get freezer burn.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by dietoamm and trdodd, Tiny_TCrss4home. Tiny_TCrss4home said: Reading: Apartment Guide’s New Year, New Space Blogger Challenge: Apartment Guide is also offering a gift card f… http://bit.ly/eNXYeV [...]
Start your own container garden! My son( hes 2!) are going to start some strawberries and herbs!. Usecolored or clear containers and put your whole grains in them ( Whole wheat flour, brown rice, oats, couscous…whatever you like!) Take down the mini blinds and put up some sheer curtains to let in the light! Being or having my space feel light and cheery makes me eat healthier! A Fruit bowl with a banana hook helps keep fruits and veggies in sight and looking appealing.
I love the herb garden idea, and was thinking that a dehydrator would be good for drying herbs and even items from the garden, so you have healthful options available all year around.
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I LOVE using my little bullet mixer. I always make my own sauces and spice mixes. It’s a great way to cut out empty calories and hidden sugars.
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My suggestion is to keep your kitchen tools – whether it’s the blender, toaster or meat tenderizer mallet – where you can access them easily. Because if it’s a royal pain to get to your tools, you’ll be more tempted to eat processed or takeout foods!
I enjoy using my sprout crate! Just put the seeds it add the water and in a couple of days…..spouts! Yummm on salad and burger, yum!
I am a facebook fan!
I just joined the rss feed via my google home page! yay! sure hope I win! Thanks for the opportunity!
posted the contest on my Facebook page!
One diet -friendly idea is to have a bowl on your counter with fresh, ready to eat seasonal fruit: bananas, grapes, apples, oranges, grapefruit. Since the filled fruit bowl is colorful and in sight, you’re more likely to eat some healthy fresh fruit instead of something that’s not so good for you.
I am an e-mail subscriber.
Give yourself space for bulk food storage. I find I eat
more healthy and budget friendly beans and whole grains when I have
space to store them in bulk.
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And subscribe to your RSS feed!
My FAVORITE kitchen diet aide is a GARDEN! The second is a
very nice kitchen scale and third is cooking only whole, natural
foods I’ve raised or have had raised myself. Sure not everyone can
do it…but most should try.
I’m an blog feed subscriber.
My tip would be a kitchen scale to make sure portion sizes
are accurate. It’s so easy to overdo it on the portions – a scale
will keep you honest.
I am a subscriber by email. Thanks!
I’d say a blender! Makes it super easy to whip up healthy smoothies!
rt http://twitter.com/#!/SchroederMommy/status/29720679582539776
following apartment guide on twitter!
Love having fruit, nuts and veggies easily accessible!
following @dietoamm on twitter
I’m a fb fan of once a month mom
“like” apartment guide on fb
I’m an e-mail subscriber already!
My go to gadget is a kitchen scale. It’s really amazing how much you should eat versus what we actually eat. It’s been really eye opening.
I also follow on fb. Thanks!
I follow on Twitter as well. @shevigirl.
I would suggest a slow cooker. Plus, when you shop stay on the outside where everything fresh is. Don’t bring the unhealthy items into your home.
Wow, awesome suggestions above. I would have to agree with the gardening, the food saver and having all of the appliances like the blender, easy to access. One of the gadget that I absolutely love is my lettuce knife!
I’m following you on FB & twitter and apartment guide on twitter.
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subscribed to once a month mom by email
A set of quality knives is important to a healthy kitchen, as sharp knives will make prepping foods from _real_ ingredients easier.
i subscribe in reader.
My favorite healthy kitchen gadget is out Pur water filter system that holds a few gallons in the fridge. It keeps me refilling my water glass – which is something that is so vital!
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my best gadget for me is the food scale. I can portion meats out for our family. What I think is a little is really alot according to my scale.
i am a fb fan of once a month mom
I tweeted about the contest.
I love Ziplock’s Zip & Steam bags. Takes up so much less space than a steamer and so quick to throw veggies in the microwave to steam and still come out yummy.
now following @aptguide on Twitter
I follow your blog.
I’m a FB friend
i love my stick blender for pureeing soups
now following @dietoamm on Twitter
following on twitter
already a FB fan of OAMM
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A big fridge to store lots of veggies and fruits!
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A kitchen scale would be my pick.
now a FB fan of AG
A good scale is a must…I agree with the steamer idea too. I have one of those metal steamer inserts for a pot and it works great. It folds up fairly small and doens’t take up the space a whole separate appliance would.
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I follow you on facebook too. (And apparently type too fast for wordpress!
I’d suggest a pot with a removable steaming basket, or if you already had one like I did, they make rubber or medal steam inserts that can fit into different sized pans so you don’t have to get a huge pot out to steam a little food. I got a metal one for Christmas but traded it for a rubber one at target so my non-stick pots didn’t get scratched by the metal feet on the other.
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Following you on Twitter!
I got a Cuisinart Griddler for Christmas and I love it! I can grill meat indoors and it tastes great!
I’m in the middle of a repainting project for my kitchen. My kitchen was drab and outdated so all it was ever used for was prepping food. I hope when it’s done, it’ll be a place I love to sit and read my blogs and enjoy part of the day. I think if I can learn to associate my kitchen with something other than food, things will change.
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I would have to say that I use my crock pot more than any other appliance in my kitchen.
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Get a pretty fruit bowl and make sure it has lots of attractive fruit that you want to eat in it prominently displayed. Make sure your colorful veggies and fruit are what you see in your fridge also – at the front. A steamer is a great idea – and an immersion blender for smoothies!
I would suggest a large, decorative bowl for fresh fruits, a great blender for smoothies, a water filter on the sink (I think this is so much easier than having to fill a pitcher!!) and the Tupperware containers that keep fruits and veggies fresh longer; I can buy a months worth of lettuce at once and it stays fresh!
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I left a facebook link to this contest!
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I would get a water filter either for your tap or pitcher.
You would be more likely to drink more water which has many great
benefits
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Love my immersion blender…makes for creamy soups and
sauces without the cream!
I keep dried goods (brown rice, quinoa, dried beans, whole
grain pasta, nuts) in glass containers on an open shelf at eye
level. Reminds me to eat healthy instead of opening the cabinets
looking for junk food.
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I would recommend a salad spinner. I spin down leaf lettuce
and then just store it in there. It lasts a lot longer stored there
than in a bag and plus a healthy meal is always close at
hand.
Already a facebook fan.
My favorites are a large pretty fruit bowl, and one big
sharp knife. A previous poster mentioned space for storing bulk
foods. That is an excellent idea!
Already an email subscriber and FB fan
Two suggestions would be a electronic kitchen scale (if
you’re a weight watcher-type, they sell one that can actually
calculate the PointsPlus of whatever’s being weighed) and a Stick
Blender – I LOVE my stainless steel one for healthy smoothies,
soups, whipping egg whites, etc.
Get a garlic peeler, cherry pitter, a good blender
& an apple peeler/corer/slicer for the kitchen. They’re
essentials for healthy eating, cooking & snacking in my
kitchen!
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I now follow @aptguide on Twitter.
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I now follow dietoamm on twitter.
I just tweeted about this giveaway!
A beautiful new fruit bowl…since a lock on the fridge and
pantry every night probably wouldn’t go over so well (I am the
worst night time snacker after the kids go to bed, haha)
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I love my Salad Shooter. Gets everthing just perfect for
salads and snacking. Nice!
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[...] have thoroughly enjoyed reading your suggestions for
making your kitchen healthy (and if you haven’t suggested
anything yet, make sure to do so here so you can have a chance
[...]
we have really started using our grill much more often to
grill veggies, meats and fruits for all kinds of meals. I also just
got this gadget for Christmas, it holds your spoon on the side of
your pot so you don’t have to have a spoon rest. It is
great.
I like to buy healthy snacks and pre-bag them in snack size bags (nuts, fruit, cut veg, crackers, etc) ready for the kids to grab. If healthy snacks are easily accessible, they are more likely to choose those.
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Hmmm… A kitchen scale for certain. but also a really sharp good set of chef’s knifes. They make cutting fresh produce a much more pleasant experience, which makes you more willing to cook fresh.
I think one of the benefits of moving to a larger place is being able to have a garden. Even a few pots with tomatoes or herbs make a difference. Also new knives and a few new pans always make me want to cook more.
My favorite healthy kitchen appliance is a blender. We drink smoothies several times a week. It’s so easy to sneak spinach into the smoothies and my kids love them! Another simple, inexpensive tool I use often is an apple slicer. I don’t like eating a whole apple, I’d rather have it cut up in slices and the apple slicer does this very quickly!
Rice cooker! You can steam veggies, meat, fish, cook rice, healthy Mac n chz, quinoa, oatmeal, etc.
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I am actually in the process of starting a new diet lifestyle and getting together ideas for redoing my kitchen, too. I am thinking of painting my kitchen a different color and according to an article that I read, to eat less you should avoid painting your kitchen and dining room yellow, red and orange and stick to the calmer blues and greens.
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1. Use smaller dishes, it makes it feel like you are eating more.
2. Keep premeasured healthy snack bags handy …think fruits, cut up veggies, even multi -grain Cheerios.
3. Only eat in a calm environment so you can take the time to chew slowly and enjoy you meal or snack.
P.S. Remember that fresh fruits and vegetables are healthy and good for you; however, they start losing vitamins and nutrients as soon as they picked so use them quickly or freeze to help retain health benefits!
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Tracy Fly Melvin. Win a $100 gift card from @aptguide by helping @dietoamm make her kitchen healthy http://bit.ly/ grrSud
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My favorite kitchen gadget is a crockpot/slow cooker. I LOVE trying new recipes in mine, and because of the way food is cooked in it, many times you don’t need to add a something with a lot of fat to flavor the dish, but you can use real, healthy herbs and spices instead.
Arrangement and visual organizational features are my greatest tools to keep our kitchen diet friendly. I display our healthy snacks and healthy cooking spices, herbs, cookbooks, and foods in open faced cabinets and decorative baskets. I too have a tiny home and it is hard to figure out arrangement when you can barely fit it it all in, but I find even though my skinny little daughters don’t need to watch their diet, they will eat what they are seeing as a choice, so if I have sweets or things to cook that are not so healthy, I hide them in the back. When we need them or a sitter is coming, I bring them to the front.
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Definitely a food scale. I also have some containers that
are pre-measured for 1/4, 1/2, 1/3 and 1 cup measurements. That way
I know exactly how much I’m putting in a container and taking with
me! Fit and Fresh food containers are a plus if you work outside
the home. They have ice packs that are custom made to fit in the
container so you can take your meals instead of going to a drive
through.
I’m an email subscriber, and I love my salad spinner. I
make a big batch of salad and then store the extra in the fridge,
so I always have some ready.
My best idea (although I dont do it often) is to keep the
healthy snacks the most convenient. On the counter, on the door of
the fridge.
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Definitely a kitchen scale. I’ve maintained a 40-pound
weight loss for almost 2 years, and until a developed a good sense
of portion sizes, I weighed and measured everything. The best food
tip I have is to experiment with whole grains. Bulgur, quinoa, and
barley all have more fiber and protein than brown rice and cook up
faster. I love stir fries with any of them now. And I’ve been a
facebook fan for a few months now
I get OAMMom email updates
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I could echo a lot of what people mentioned above (the fruit bowl or basket idea, kitchen scale, herb garden). My suggestions are a spice rack organizer for the cupboard so you can always find the kind you want. Spices add so much flavor without the calories. And a cute menu planning calendar and a good, easy to see place to keep it. Menu planning keeps me from grabbing the processed foods & going out to eat.
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I love to use the inexpensive steamer. Just place in your pot and steam! Very healthy.
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A food scale is a must for proper portion sizes. Have fun with your makeover, and thanks for the giveaway!
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A pressure cooker!
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tweeted – http://twitter.com/#!/HappyLHomemaker/status/30386855648169984
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i follow dietoamm too – @happylhomemaker
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and i sub via rss
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[...] the way, don’t forget tomorrow is the last day to enter Apartment Guide’s New Space, New Year Blogger Challenge. You could will a $100 American Express gift [...]
I suggest getting a steamer and defenately doing an herb garden!
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A breadmaker so you can add more healthy goodness and keep out the extra salt and sugar found in store brands
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Love my crockpot! I cook lots of stuff in it and it takes up little space in the kitchen as well less pans for cleanup.
I follow on FB
We like our rice cooker/veggie steamer.
I subscribe to your emails.
A kitchen scale has helped me with portion control!
I tweeted!
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I follow @aptguide on Twitter! @FakeGradSchool
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I would suggest a food scale. Until I bought one, I never realized how out of proportion my servings were. The scale helped me to accurately measure my calorie intake.
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Fb posted
[...] when I asked for recommendations on how to make our home more diet friendly? Well, thanks to your suggestions and Apartment Guides New Year New Space Blogger Challenge, my new home is well on the way to [...]
[...] the past few weeks, though, I had a minor setback. My schedule became unusually busy and moving houses in the middle of the craziness just added to the time [...]