Spending More For Kinder Food
Posted on November 11, 2009 by Her and tagged groceries
Our vacation to Australia has changed the way we eat. When we were in Australia we got to experience so much of our beautiful planet and see wildlife up close like never before. We snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef, visited the rain forest, and spent the night on a free-range sheep farm. We ate local, fresh, organic produce and tried native fruits and vegetables. We dined on wild kangaroo and alligator. The connection to nature was overwhelming, and ever since we got back from Australia we have been paying more attention to what we eat.
We used to work hard on spending as little as possible on food. I coupon-clipped like a maniac and a lot of our meals came from boxes and cans. We wanted to make a change to a more local and sustainable diet. So Him did some research and found some local CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture). We signed up to obtain our meats and veggies directly from local farms. We are trying lots of vegetables that are new to us, like kale and dandelion greens. Our meat now comes from animals who live happy lives in fields with their calves. Our eggs come from free-range chickens. We buy locally produced milk in re-usable glass bottles.
Our diet is certainly more varied and nutritious than it used to be. It also costs a lot more. A six-month allotment of meat cost over $500, which was a big leap for a woman who is used to buying bulk bags of ground beef at $1.99/lb. The eggs are now about $5 a carton compared to the $2.59 I used to spend. The only saving grace is that the automatic food deliveries have reduced the amount of overpriced junk food we used to aimlessly toss into the grocery cart.
I am hopeful that our increased spending on food will translate into better health for us and our planet. Have you ever made an expensive change for a good cause?
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Nice to see you back here!
I made the same change in my diet. No processed foods allowed in the house, and my hubby and I read ingredient lists very, very carefully.
While we can't afford to switch to organic or natural in all products, I think that being mindful the food we put into our bodies is the most important change, because it's our sustenance.
Otherwise, we buy low-VOC paint for our projects and favor Craigslist purchases over buying new.
RS | Nov 11, 2009 | Reply to B
We mad a similar choice a year ago; because we can't afford free range chicken and grass fed beef, we cut all meat out of our diet except for cured meats (bacon, pancetta, etc) which we use only sparingly for flavor, and sustainable fish which we eat three or four times a month. I found our bill went down, overall, and when we splurge on a few really good ingredients, you can really feel and taste the difference.
I think cutting processed foods out and supporting local food providers is better overall, despite the uptick in your budget. Nice work!
That is an awesome change to make! Paying more for responsibly produced foods and reducing support for factory farming practices will not only help your waistline, but the entire environment as well.
I've gone away from clipping coupons and buying the processed food as well. I found a local farm to by grass fed groud beef from for $4/lb. I usually by local eggs and milk now too and went to the farmers market during the growing season regularly. It's great not being a slave to the grocery store sales and coupons now--it's worth a little more money but honestly I don't really notice a difference in my grocery totals because I'm not purchasing the extras. I like to cook and bake, so I make most meals/baked goods from scratch now.
alissabess | Dec 1, 2009
I buy local milk (The Farmer's Cow). It is more expensive, but the taste is so much better than generic store milk. Also, since my parents own a dairy farm, I feel like I'm doing my part to support local farmers.
Try reading Just Food: Where Locavores Get It Wrong and How We Can Truly Eat Responsibly written by James E. McWilliams. It altered everything I thought I knew about responsible eating.
I have also change my eating habits. I do smaller portions and I have lost 20 lbs. and save money as we split meals when we go out.
Nice experience, isn't it? I have also changed my eating habits as I have switched over to local vegetables and believe me, the taste is really great. In this process, I have learned to save money also.
Your trip to Australia sounds absolutely amazing. It's a place that I've always wanted to visit. Getting a chance to experience what you did is something that all of us should be able to experience. And, we can in our own ways. Even asking questions about how we get our food can lead you in a direction of making meaningful change. Eating organic and free-range is expensive but it's insurance for your health AND the environment. Kudos to you.
Jerry
Pastor Jim Kibler | Jan 16, 2010
Pleeeease get a life. Enjoy yourself and please be careful that you do not make this new lifestyle your god.
I think you made a wise decision to buy locally raised meat and vegetables. One can get far better food this way even though the cost is more.
Anonymous | Feb 26, 2010
I have just moved to Australia, and the local produce so much better - it even tastes healthier! it is expensive though
Seth | Nov 11, 2009
Sounds like a really great vacation. Love the blog - As for myself, I haven't made any expensive changes - I am still in grad school :-(
Glad to see a fresh post... Take care.
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