As you know, back in January I began my own Food Revolution, and I am happy to report that I am continuing to stick with it! Not much has changed since my last post about Trader Joe’s , but I wanted to be sure to keep you all in the loop since I have been taking you on this journey with me. I think it’s time that I bump up the efforts a little bit, but I am not sure how. Even though everything is status quo, I think it’s time I brought it to another level.
Since I still consider myself “leaning” into the whole foods realm, I want to be realistic in the new things I choose to do. The Captain and I are loving our shopping trips to Trader Joe’s. It’s nice because he even enjoys food shopping there, so we get to do it together. My only complaint is that I can’t buy EVERYTHING I need there, so that means a 2nd grocery store stop. I try to hit up another grocery store every other week and stock up on the things that Trader Joe’s doesn’t have to keep me from having to grocery shop twice a week. So far it’s been working.
I know I am supposed to stay away from processed foods, but I am really loving the frozen food that they have at Trader Joe’s. I’ve looked at the ingredients and it really doesn’t look that bad for you. What do you think? All you readers that are better at this than me…what do you think of the frozen food at Trader Joes? My favorite is their Mandarin Chicken and Vegetable fried rice, and the Taquitos. Yummy!!! It’s definitely an easy alternative when I don’t really feel like cooking.
So what is next? I now only buy hormone free or organic meat ( I try to go organic but if the price is astronomical I will just do hormone free). Organic milk, eggs and butter. I also have been purchasing my produce there also, I am not sure on how good the prices are since they sell their fruit in “each” quantities. Like, 19 cents per banana, or 59 cents per apple. Is that expensive? I have no idea!?
The trickiest thing I am finding is snacks. What do I eat as snacks. I don’t buy the processed snacks anymore. I will admit I buy pretzels and the kettle chips from Trader Joes (which I guess is processed, but remember I’m leaning). But what are some good alternatives? I am trying to choose fruit, but sometimes I need a little something else.
So todayI am reaching out to my readers that are also trying to change the way you eat. What do you snack on? What would be my next step in my own Food Revolution? I think I’m ready to move forward!
Photo courtesy of Dougerino via Flickr
I love TJ’s selection of nuts/trail mixes. I always stock up on the snack-packs of almonds. I think they come 30 small packs to the bag and they are a great mid-afternoon snack for me. I love them with my sugar-free applesauce (well, not TOGETHER), but the two make a pretty filling and satisfying snack. I also loooove the “Perk up your trek mix” or whatever it’s called. It has chocolate covered espresso beans in it. For this sweet tooth, the tiny bit of chocolate is great. Though I haven’t had any of this since I’ve been pg.
Another love at TJs is the soy and flax seed tortilla chips (I like the spicy, they’re not spicy at all). For my low amylose diet they are great, but obvs processed. But a great option with salsa or guac or (my summer fave) corn salsa!
Other than that, some of my favorite snacks are peanut butter and apples, cheese wrapped around a banana (soo delish, I learned it from Mr. Rogers when I was little!), Cabot’s cheese, ummm..that’s all I can think of right now. Oh, if you like a fun drink, Izze is a delicious natural fruit juice that has some fizz. I get them at Meijer or Target, not sure if they have them at TJs. But it’s a fabulous refreshing treat! (Love the pomagranate and the blackberry.)
I have to drive an hour to get to TJs so we don’t shop there too regularly. However, I love it sooo much!
A snack pack of almonds is probably a good idea. I have shyed away from them because I find them sooo expensive! lol See funny thing all of what you mentioned sounds yummy…I just have to remember to make better choices!
I am excited to hear how your journey goes. I try to do organic and unprocessed up until the point that my budget allows, so needless to say we don’t get 100% of what we want, but we get as much as we can afford to.
If you do some recipe searches I bet you can find some homemade snacks you would enjoy.
Stopping by from SITS.
I have found so far that by cutting out the process but spending more on the meat my budget hasn’t really gone up. Its actually went down I think! I buy less crap and it helps!
I don’t have a TJs in my area, so I cannot speak to the specifics, but if the frozen items they carry list ingredients that you’d use to make the dish to begin with (and no complex chemical names for preservatives, etc.) then it’s no different that making your own frozen meals to go.
Nuts and dried fruit make excellent afternoon snacks and I’ve always liked a little slice of cheese for a pick-me-up. There’s always homemade granola bars (very simple to make), too, if you want something with a little more oomph!
Good luck with your food revolution!
Ya maybe some cheese and crackers would be good..lol that always is yummy! I should look into the homemade granola bars too..I bet you they are yummy too!
We recently started shopping and eating more organic. All of our meat, cheese and milk are organic. We shop at Whole Foods, we like it better than Trader Joe’s b/c I feel like they have more choices. Plus they have a 365 brand (their own store brand) that is usually cheaper than buying organic elsewhere.
We do do the frozen organic meals from Amy’s. They are so tasty you just have to watch the calories on some of them. You can get the Amy’s brand even at Wal-Mart, all though they are still the same price.
As for snacks, we do veggie chips alot. They taste so good and are low calorie and fat.
We have whole foods too but I haven’t been yet. I really should go but the grocery stores around here are insane and the little trader joes is just so pleasant! but I do find that the selection is lower. I wonder if the prices are comparable…
I snack on sliced cucumber. It’s crunchy so it takes away my craving for chips ? Sounds silly, but it really works ?
That sounds yummy…see I would like that I just wish someone would just shove it in my face and MAKE me choose that over crappy food! lol
Cucumbers with a little bit of salt or Italian dressing is good. I also love Peanut butter so like celery, carrots, crackers dipped in PB = yum. Sometimes if I want something sweet, I take a banana and pour a bit of chocolate syrup (and sometimes whipped cream) on it…I think they make Organic chocolate syrup – right??!!??
I’m excited to see what other readers say, I need some good tips. I have a salty tooth (as opposed to sweet), and it’s very hard to find healthy “salty” snacks.
I’m a big peanut butter fan so that all could work. I like apples and peanut butter!
I am hoping to get some more good tips too!!!
Way to go Jen! That’s inspirational!
I love Cucumbers sliced, soaked in vinegar and White Onion slices. You just put them in the fridge and grab and go! They’re a bit sour, sweet, zingy, crunchy.. awesome.
Small snack packs of almonds. Also, there are TONS of recipes for healthy homemade granola out there that makes a fantastic snack mixed with greek yogurt or your choice..
59cents per apple? I pay about .98 to 1.98 a pound.. so, it depends on the apples and size, I guess..
Way to go girlie!
All those snacks sound yummy! Now I just need to work on making that my choice! I have never really tried greek yogurt (even though I”m married to a greek!) maybe I should try that I’ve heard good things!
Good Job! Proud of you to keep this up. We were just in Trader Joe’s today- love it. For snacks- do you like Yogurt? What about some of that with frozen fruit? Or, some granola or Kashi in the Yogurt? TJ also has a huge selection of dried fruits/ dried fruit with chocolate and nuts. You could mix them? Nuts are really filling. Also, frozen bananas are a great snack (unwrap banana and freeze in saran wrap). As far as the frozen meals go there, I’m no help… However, we too make another trip to Shoprite to get everything done. And, we hit up BJ’s too once or twice a month too (baby stuff there is the cheapest). I buy anything I need organic at TJ (fruits, veggies, frozen veggies) as well as a few other items. There is a must buy organic list online (what fruits and veggies are recommended organic) and what you don’t need to.
Keep it up! Sounds like you are not only doing great but loving it too ? PS- I was in Friendly’s after Easter though for a splurge- thought of you!!
Thanks Lynda! All the snacks you mentioned sounds really good. I do like yogurt…I always have trouble choosing that as a snack though but I should really give it a try!
I do love my friendlys!!! ?
I just read this article on the Web site for my local newspaper. It answers your question (kinda) about the banana thing. I had the same question!
http://www.startribune.com/blogs/90870559.html
Thought you’d like to know.