The other week I did a post about my desire to make changes in my diet and try to go more natural. I called it a Food Revolution, and I got such an amazing response from my readers. As you know Captain Awesome challenged me by saying that I would never go for it due to the idea that the food would be more expensive, so I have decided to accept that challenge and take you all on this journey with me.
I call this post step one, but in reality I have yet to even step into a store to buy all the correct food. For me step one involves purging my house of all the food I currently have, so that when I go to buy food the next time, I am free to make the right choices. So currently, I am making and eating all the meat, dairy and produce already in my home. I mean what else was I to do? Let all that food go to waste? NO WAY! So since writing the original post I have been working on eating the food that already exists in my house. It may seem like I wrote that post a long time ago, and how do I have that much food, but somehow I do? I must’ve done a really big shopping trip prior to seeing that show!
Making Smarter Food Choices
I have done a few things to get started in my revolution though. The main thing is to think before buying. I even went as far as taking 5 minutes to choose a carton of eggs! One of the comments in my previous post told me that Nature’s promise is the Stop and Shop organic brand. So when I needed to buy eggs I decided to do the right thing and buy organic. But to my surprise I had 3 choices of organic eggs! There was cage free eggs (about $1 more than a carton of the cheapest egg brand), Regular hormone free organic eggs (almost the same price as the other eggs), and some eggs that were high in Omega 3’s (about 20 cents more than the regular eggs). So which do I choose? Is cage free necessary or do I really just need hormone free eggs?? So many choices! In the end I went with the cage free eggs. That $1 wasn’t going to make or break me.
Another thing I took to heart from that Oprah show was the recomendation to “not eat anything that won’t go bad”. And that got me thinking about my Kraft singles cheese. Man does that stuff last forever! So once my pack was finished (and I can’t go with out cheese) I decided that deli cheese would be just fine. So when I bought my lunch meat (turkey and roast beef) for the week. I added Deli cheese to the list! It’s yummy!
So I continue to “LEAN” into this new lifestyle. I have yet to experience the increased cost of buying food this way. I am sure once I get to buying meat the real increase will show up. But I really do believe it’s worth it. So I promise to keep you posted on this journey. Have you tried to make any changes? What steps have you taken to join in my Food Revolution??
Love this! I’m anxious to read more. I love learning about stuff like this.
I have really enjoyed getting involved in learning this too. I’m just starting but I think it’s going to be good!
I’m very interested to hear how this goes for you. I try to eat sensibly, healthily, and mostly-organic but I’m not very strict about anything except my vegetarianism (though I will *always* buy free-range eggs).
One thing to say about the “things that never go off” – honey has been found in the Egyptian tombs which is still, essentially, edible honey. Yet it’s a natural product which can be good for you. I don’t like artificial preservatives, though, so I agree with the principle.
So far its going well. Just did my first Trader Joe’s run this weekend! I think my current small changes will = big ones soon. I can see your point with the honey. I guess Im referring to things such as hostess cakes and such…even cheese that comes in single packs…
We did this last year. About this time actually! we went organic cage free after doing some online research. I honestly had never thought about my Kraft Singles though…
Good for you! And you might not even notice that much of an increase in your food spending if you buy the meat when it’s on sale (yes, even the organic and steroid free meats go on sale sometimes!) and freeze it (like you do now, I’m sure) and try to eat meatless one or two nights a week. We ended up making three meatless recipes this week without even trying, those were just the recipes I pulled out!
I can’t wait to hear more about your journey.
The meatless thing sounds like a good idea. I think that will help things alot! Don’t worry..I think this journey will be an adventure so I will keep you posted!
We’ve been eating mainly organic for a while now. Yes, it’s a little more pricey because I have to hit up places like Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Fresh Market for things I can’t find in the regular stores. I’m not sure if you have any of those stores close to you – but it’s worth checking out.
We recently found bread that is made without preservatives, so the only stuff in it is wheat, yeast, and like 3 other things. I think it tastes much better than regular bread with the 100 ingredients. You do have to refrigerate the bread, because it’ll spoil faster than regular breads.
And just about all the 100% juice drinks are pretty good.
I just did my first “real” trader joe’s run this weekend. We also have whole foods here too..I haven’t really gone there yet. I’m looking forward to it. It definitely takes a change in thinking though…but i’m up for the challenge.
THis is great. You def will inspire me and keep me thinking about it. My habits aren’t too bad, but J’s are a little worse and I’m a little worse w/ him. So, I would like to iron that out a little once we are married and I’m in control of the grocery shopping. HE won’t even know it! Don’t know if I can commit 100% but even this little reminders will help me! Thanks! ?
I can’t commit 100% either..I”m trying to make small changes..but I think that is a good start. I hope you can do the same! I think we all will benefit if changes are made.
Good choice going for the cage free eggs. There is definitely a difference in their lives, which makes for a better, healthier product.
And remember you don’t need to eat meat everyday, which can cut down on the cost. Try cooking with beans sometimes and it will save you money.
I am very excited for you. Can’t wait to read more.
The cage free eggs as Trader Joe’s were much less than the Nature’s promise ones..so I was VERY happy with the cost, and like you said the chicken’s lives. I am liking “no meat” days. I think it will help!
What a great plan!! I can’t wait to read more about your journey- you’ll have us all rooting you on!
We have made the switch to organic cage free chicken and eggs, as well as organic milk, yogurt and cheese. And I have been baking my own bread since the beginning of the year. I also just bought into a CSA for the first time and I am so excited to learn how to cook some of these new foods.
I think you will be really glad if you switched to organic dairy and meat. The other is so filled with hormones and I never thought about those implications until I had girls. I don’t want my girls hitting puberty at 9.
I totally agree with your sentiment about your girls. I never even thought about it before, and I am so happy I have now. Even with TTC I think it will be better for me. So far I have gotten cage free eggs and organic chicken and milk. I’m excited to be making this change.
I also just realized my comment linked to my post about free pretzels and pancakes. Yeah, we are moving in small steps over here ?
I am happy you are doing this. This will be another lesson for me. Thanks for sharing. Good luck. Please stop by. xxxMsBabyPlan
Fabulous idea! I did that a few months ago, after discovering a bag of Weight Watchers bagels that were at least 6 months old without a single spot of mold on them…eeeeek!!
ewww I never thought about it but you are right…I have used WW bagels and they last FOREVER! lol wow definitely something to think about.
I’m so proud of you! I know what a picky eater you are and this is a BIG step!! A helpful hint is to try to stay away from anything processed or as much as you can. Think whole and natural- whole grains (brown rice, whole grain bread, other grains); fruits & veggies (raw, roasted, grilled, steamed, etc) dairy (yogurt, low fat natural cheeses) and of course you need your oils- olive in small amounts. If you watched DR OZ today, he talked more about choices in the supermarket. Deli meats are a NO NO (sorry!) The nitrates are really not good for you. For meat- what about lean turkey meat for a home made chili (super easy!) and add some low fat sour cream & cheddar? Or, Turkey Tacos or Fish Tacos?? What about Salmon cakes (like crab cakes)? Or, chicken with brown rice and beans? Just some suggestions ? I learned a lot about this when I worked in a health spa in college. Also, doing the weight watchers core program (not the points, focuses on certain foods you can eat). HTH!!! Keep it up!!! OH- and if you want to make up the increase in $$ you spend at the grocery store… COUPONS! I saved $91 on Sunday ?
I’ve gotten ALOT better! I haven’t bought processed foods since I started. I still don’t make the best choices when I eat out, but when I cook I’ve gotten better. I found that Trader Joe’s has nitrate free deli meat, so that might be a good option since I like my turkey:) And to be honest I am ANTI coupons! I believe that make me buy things I don’t need to save $.40 or make me buy 2 of something that I don’t have the room for…so I am choosing meatless days to save $$$..plus I found trader joes to be great prices!
EDIT: I mean a health spa in HIGH SCHOOL>>>> ?
I soon hope to have my own chickens. My research has born out my suspicion that the “cage free organic” eggs I have been buying at S&S are probably no better than the regular “battery” eggs for less $$. I especially was put off by the “all vegetarian feed” -chickens that are truly free range will have bugs and slugs in their diet. If you folks are interested here is a link http://www.cornucopia.org/organic-egg-scorecard/ .