Living Healthy: Eating Well, Even on a Budget

Welcome back to DealDash Blog’s Living Healthy series. Today’s blog is all about sharing ideas of how you can eat healthfully, even when you’re on a budget.

Most people have a basic idea of what it means to be a healthy eater – everyone is familiar with the Food Pyramid from elementary school, right? The problem is, sometimes making healthy food choices can really put a strain on your budget, especially if you are feeding a family of four or even more. Luckily, I have some easy strategies for you to try to incorporate into your daily life.

1 – Meal Planning. Strategy number one is really important to staying on budget – when you plan your meals out ahead of time (I like to do a week’s worth at a time) it allows you to buy healthy food in bulk at your local wholesale club and spread the goodness out over multiple meals. For example, if I were to buy the single mixed-greens bag of salad at the local supermarket it would cost me approximately $3, and last my family of four for just one meal. However, if I plan my meals ahead of time and I know that we are going to have salads three nights in the upcoming week I can buy the large box of mixed-greens at the wholesale club for $6 and have enough salad for all three nights. See? I just saved myself $3 by planning ahead.

2- Home Cooking. Strategy number two is really beneficial for both your health and your wallet. If my family of four decided that we would all like to have lasagna and we went to any of the mid-priced Italian restaurants in my area we would spend approximately $60 (I live right outside of Boston, it might be cheaper near you), and in addition to that the lasagna would most likely be made with lots of oil, white pasta, and full-fat cheese. However, if I were to make the exact same meal at home it costs less than $15, and I am able to use fat-free cheese, whole wheat pasta noodles, and even substitute some of the ricotta for cottage cheese. It tastes absolutely delicious, and it’s very healthy as well. In a quest to get my children to eat more veggies I also add mushrooms, diced tomatoes, and zucchini slices (Shhhhh…Don’t tell!)

3- Farmer’s Markets. Strategy number three may or may not work for you depending on where you live. In my area, there is a farmer’s market going on in my town and every small town around me. When you go to the farmer’s market you are getting delicious fruits and veggies that are extremely fresh because they are grown locally. In addition to that, the prices are definitely better than any supermarket around, especially if there are multiple vendors selling the same fruits and veggies. If you want to make your trip to the farmer’s market even healthier, try walking there! The weather is beautiful in August, and the fresh air is great for your body and mind.

I hope this article has encouraged you to try some of my strategies for living healthy on a budget. If you’re interested in getting some items to help you with cooking at home head on over to DealDash. DealDash has food processors, stand mixers, cookware, and plenty of other items that you can use. Check out the Kitchen & Appliances category and I’m sure that you’ll find something that you can use to make you and your family a little bit healthier. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!

Living Healthy: Let’s Learn About Yoga Together

Welcome back to DealDash Blog’s Living Healthy series. Today’s blog is going to give you a quick and easy introduction to yoga. Let’s get started!

I’m sure that you have heard the word “yoga” before, but I bet that you didn’t know that the word yoga came from the Sanskrit word “yuj”, which means to yoke or bind. Yuj is often interpreted as “union” or a method of discipline. If you are just getting started into the practice of yoga, you will be pleased to know that you can spend as much or as little time doing yoga and you will still be able to reap the benefits of this healthy and calming exercise. Even if you only practice yoga for one hour a week, you will experience the benefits of that practice. If you can do more than that, you will certainly experience more benefits. I suggest starting with two or three times a week, for an hour or an hour and a half each time. If you can only do 30 minutes per session, that’s fine too. Don’t worry or stress, just get another practice in when you have the chance.

Here is an infographic of some of the most popular yoga poses. Please note the color coding on the infographic, some of these are advanced poses not meant for the beginner!

Yoga_Poses

Now that you’ve seen some of the poses, let’s talk about some of the benefits of practicing yoga. Here are some great reasons to start:

1- Sleep. Yoga can help you sleep better. When you start practicing yoga you’ll be releasing pent up energy that could prevent you from falling asleep, and sleeping soundly once you do get to sleep. Yoga helps relax your nervous system, which is the part of your body responsible for restful sleep or a night of tossing and turning.

2- Builds muscle strength. Yoga requires you to get into and hold positions that will naturally strengthen your muscles, using only your body’s weight for resistance.

3- Lower blood pressure. Yoga is a great workout for your heart, and will improve your cardiovascular function over time.

4- Metabolism. Yoga helps improve your metabolism, which is directly responsible for helping you burn more calories with less work.

5- Better posture. Yoga will give you better posture naturally. All of the poses you’ll be performing are geared to get your body back into proper alignment the way that it should be.

I hope this article has encouraged you to take up the practice of yoga. If you’re interested in getting some items to get you started head on over to DealDash. DealDash has yoga mats, yoga balls, water bottles, and plenty of other items that you can use. Check out the Hobbies, Outdoors, & Sports category and I’m sure that you’ll find something that you just love. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!

Living Healthy: Getting a Good Night’s Sleep

Everyone knows that getting enough sleep is an important factor in staying healthy, but there are other factors than just getting 8 hours in. Let’s talk a little bit about Living Healthy, and how to get a good night’s sleep.

Everyone knows that you SHOULD get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night, but with kids, working extra hours on the job, household chores, and errands sometimes it’s hard to get to bed at a reasonable hour. You should really make your best effort to get your ZZZs, because your health can really suffer if you can’t make the time. Not practicing healthy sleep habits can lead to all kinds of health problems, poor sleep leads to cardiovascular dysfunction, a poor immune system , glucose and insulin abnormalities, weight gain due to fluctuating hormones that control appetite, and impaired cognitive function. Not only those physical problems, but lack of sleep can also lead to mental issues as well, including anxiety, depression, impaired reasoning skills, and mental sluggishness.

Well, what can you do to get not only the quantity but also the quality of sleep that you need? There are a few things that are fairly obvious such as cutting down on caffeine (especially after 3 PM), keeping your bedroom dark and comfortable, and clearing your mind of troubles and worries before you attempt to drift off.

However, there are some lesser known tips and tricks to get a better night’s sleep that I will share with you. For instance, did you know that using your tablet and smartphone right before you try to sleep can hinder the process? The light that is emitted by these types of devices wake up the senses and make it harder for your brain to get into “sleep mode.” For your best night’s sleep turn off your electronic devices about an hour before bedtime. Another great trick to getting a good night’s sleep is to keep a fan going in your bedroom all night. The fan serves two purposes – It’s easier to fall asleep when your room is a bit on the cooler side, and the fan also provides just the right amount of “white noise” to help you block out every little creak and crack that your house makes at night.

I hope this article helps you on a journey to better sleeping habits. If you’re interested in getting some new soothing items for your bedroom, including the fan that I recommended head on over to DealDash. If you browse the Home & Office category I’m sure that you’ll find something that you just love. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!

DealDash Reviews – Insights into a Great Online Buying Experience

Online shopping is a multi-billion dollar business, and the surge in online spending is expected to continue rising to over $360 billion in the US within the next 3 years. The savings offered by online retailers are opening up a whole new world for shoppers by bringing premium products at affordable prices right to their front doors.

Since the benefits of online shopping are catching on all over the nation, more companies are working to bring these great savings to customers. And while many companies might be offering similar products and services at similar price points, DealDash sets itself apart from these other websites by bringing back the fun and social aspect to shopping – something a lot of people are starting to miss about going to the mall with friends!

DealDash lists over 800 brand new items up for auction everyday and is a place where people come together to bid, win and save on some of the best brand name products. Here are a few ways that people all over the USA use DealDash to save money (and have fun while doing it)!

It’s Easy to Use and CHEAP!

Registering for DealDash is 100% free, and with the regular sales and promotions buying bids to use in the auctions is affordable for everyone. PLUS, shipping on DealDash is 100% free on all items, saving you money on the products you want to buy AND at the gas pumps!

Buy the Products You Want at the Price You Want to Pay

All of the items featured in the auctions at DealDash must go, and users come together to bid on the different items. All items start at $0.00, and the DealDash community bids to set the final sales price. This way you can get items you really want without having to pay the outrageous mark-ups charged by retailers.

Earn Free Bids Just by Participating

DealDash rewards customers for just participating on the site. The website has many unique game like features (such as the Time as Highest Bidder meter) that lets customers earn free bids! PLUS, DealDash has one of the largest and most vibrant communities on Facebook that gives bidders even more opportunities to win!

Check out the DealDash Reviews section of the blog to read feedback from satisfied DealDashers! And remember, with a 100% satisfaction guarantee on your first bid pack purchase, trying DealDash is a risk free proposition. Why not treat yourself to a great deal today?

DealDash – Making Winning Easier than Ever!

Ordering things from the Internet can be daunting for first timers. You’re buying things from a group of people you don’t know, from a place you’ve never been, and there’s a good chance it’s a product that you’ve never held in your hands or tried before.

DealDash revolutionized Internet shopping with it’s fair, honest, 100% legitimate auctions, and our growing ranks of satisfied customers gets bigger each and every day! Since trailblazing this exciting new path 4 years ago, DealDash has continued to introduce new features to make winning auctions easier and more fun than ever before!

Now DealDash shoppers can track shipments right in their dashboard! Unlike other “flash in the pan” auctions sites, DealDash knows that winning auctions isn’t so great if you have to worry about whether or not your product will ever arrive at your door. That’s why we worked hard to link up your physical shipments with the auction information stored in your dashboard. Tracking your DealDash orders is now as easy as logging in and checking your won auctions and Buy it now history. You can even click on the tracking numbers to go right to the carriers website to get all the details about your deliveries. And as always, shipping is free and all items are guaranteed to arrive brand new, in the original box, and covered under the original warranty!

Customers love the great bargains they get in our auctions! You can see photos and read testimonials from auction winners on the official DealDash Facebook page. Every week we give out a 500 dollar gift card to the best photo submission of the week! Check out this week’s winner below!

**Paid only 62 cents for this Canon EF 85 mm f/1.8 USM telephoto lens!**

With a 100% satisfaction guarantee on your initial bid pack purchase, trying DealDash is a risk free proposition. Over 350 customers won their first auction with us last week, so get in on these great bargains by signing up for your free account today!