Suzanne Schaffer

Who doesn't love ketchup? On a burger or some fresh cut fries. Mmmm. This is the classic Heinz ketchup, the ingredients include both corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup. It also includes natural flavoring, which we've learned can be anything found in nature. Check out this link . Don't think it's true? Just a couple of weeks ago we watched Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern and observed as he went into a lab and tasted some of the "natural raspberry" flavoring that companies use. It's natural alright, straight from a beaver's anal glands. You go ahead and enjoy your "natural flavoring"--I'd rather eat a real raspberry. But enough about that, who knows what they mean by natural in ketchup -or catsup as it's sometimes called. Here's a better alternative. It's the store brand organic ketchup. Read those ingredients, you know exactly what they are. This is a much better choice to top your burger with.  Remember: Just...

While visiting a friend last week I picked out a magazine to read before bed. I put it back and then fell asleep. The next morning I reached into the basket to choose another one while I drank my tea. It wasn't until I was seated and browsing that I realized I chose the same magazine that I'd read the night before. What is the chance that I'd grab the same one?

What a deal! Real Couch purses! Should I get them?

I don't know why these are located in the produce department right next to nuts and dried fruit. I'd stick them in the nut aisle, but that's just me. I cannot be trusted with these little nuggets of goodness. I considered buying them for a split second and then walked right on by. They are just too easy to eat a handful at a time.  

As I'm enamored with all-things 1940s, I was beyond thrilled when I happened upon this at an estate sale. The seller was keeping several of these for herself and I was there at the right moment when she was showing them to a friend. I asked if she'd like to sell just one of them and she said it would be $4 The last line on the back cover. Words to live by. Course, I did indeed need this.

I remember in the 80s when granola bars seemed to burst onto the scene. Granola itself had been around for forever, the bars though? A pocket size snack that was "good for you," at least that's the way it was supposed to be. We've evolved from healthy granola bars with grains, fruits, and nuts into cereal bars with everything in them.  Take a look at these: One might assume that since it's Special K and only 90 calories that it's good for you. That isn't the case at all. Look at those ingredients! Some are horrifying. But that's not the worst that I found on my quick trip to the store.     These Fiber One Chewy for Kids bars are disgusting. It's no wonder we're raising a generation of sick, lazy, fat kids. Most of these ingredients are chemicals. "Strawberry flavored fruit bits" - No thank you. On the same shelf I found these:  Still not ideal, but a lot better. At least you know what these ingredie...