Weekly Bits: Fridge Refreshes, Chicken Salad Tricks & More

Here are a collection of comments and great tips from our readers this past week.

We share yummy ideas every day, but we're not the only ones with nuggets of wisdom. You (the readers) always come back with great suggestions or questions. To share the spotlight, we’re compiling some of our favorite comments from the blog, our Facebook page and even Twitter into a weekly list of faves.

"I made all of my daughter's baby food and she won't touch the jarred stuff ... Steam some fruits and veggies, puree and freeze in cubes. Once they're frozen, you can remove the cubes into a freezer bag and write the date it was prepared. I used to make a lot of things over the weekend so I wouldn't have to rush during busy weekdays." — Elowen's Mommy

"My new-found treat for this summer is simply putting together fresh tomato slices, a sprinkle of basil and a few thin slices of provolone cheese and drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette. Good enough to please your guests." — Carol

"I've been getting rave reviews from my lighter [chicken salad]. To finely chopped chicken, I add a lot of small, diced granny smith apples and toasted, chopped pecans or walnuts. For creaminess, I have been using Oikos Greek Yogurt (lots of protein, little fat) with a little mayo ... I have added garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, fresh parsley, mustard, etc. Also, a good way to thin the mayo dressing is to add buttermilk." — Quintessa

"Local honey is great for keeping allergies at bay. Find some local honey and start taking a teaspoon a day. After a month, you will see a huge change in your allergies. It is also great to give to kids instead of the over-the-counter junk that is out there. My 2 1/2 year old thinks it's a treat. It also works as a good negotiating tool for your kids." — Malia

"My roommates and I have gotten rid of anything that can be microwaved or is made from ready-to-eat boxes and stocked up on fresh fruits and veggies and good whole grains. Nothing is organic, but it's a far sight better than the fast food wrappers, TV dinners and canned soup from the last year! ... We've [also] switched from lunch meat varieties, which usually have tons of salt and preservatives, to getting a big package of chicken breasts or lean beef and freezing individual portions to grab whenever. Hot dogs are never allowed in the fridge again!" — Elli

Keep those comments coming and keep checking back -- yours might be here!

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