So a food question?

[CraigThor]

Well we spend alot on food, we both eat super healthy and don't eat any processed food. Anyone else eat this way. It is the second biggest expense to out rent but I don't mind. We do try to purchase in bulk from the Amish community an hour away, our meat comes from a local meat market, going to try out a CSA for a majority of our produce this year, eggs come from the farmer 2 miles away, beef comes from the farmer that raises strictly grass fed beef. Any fish is wild caught either from the ocean or locally. We use little to no dairy at all

For the 3 of us, I count 3 as the wife is breast feeding so nutrition is of utmost importance.

Usually 2 Eggs scrambled with veggies and a 4 oz portion of meat for breakfast for each of us

Lunch is usally left overs of roasted/ broiled something or other

dinner is usually a meat, lots of veggies steamed and or salad, along with some rice every now and again.

We do use Rice Milk and some Tofu as well in our diets along with a good quality vitamin. If I do any dairy it is aged cheese usually 2 yr old cheddar or marscapone. I do use goat and sheepsmilk cheese along with Lamb for meals as well.

I feel my best when eating fresh veggies and meats along with staying away from processed and all white flours/ sugars. In return this pushes our food bill higher but I don't seem to get sick so there are no medical costs.

What is everyones feelings on this. I know its loaded question for some.

Criag

[disneysteve]

Not a loaded question at all. The typical American diet causes a laundry list of problems that most people choose to ignore. As a physician, I'm constantly trying to impress upon my patients the importance of good nutrition and how what they eat affects a lot more than just the number on the scale.

I think all of us should eat the least-processed, best quality foods we can afford. For some, quite honestly, that might still include a lot of processed stuff because, unfortunately, crap is cheap. But I don't buy the argument that a healthier diet can't be had for an affordable amount for almost everyone.

[CraigThor]

Not a loaded question at all. The typical American diet causes a laundry list of problems that most people choose to ignore. As a physician, I'm constantly trying to impress upon my patients the importance of good nutrition and how what they eat affects a lot more than just the number on the scale.

I think all of us should eat the least-processed, best quality foods we can afford. For some, quite honestly, that might still include a lot of processed stuff because, unfortunately, crap is cheap. But I don't buy the argument that a healthier diet can't be had for an affordable amount for almost everyone.

I think that is the sad part of our culture, highly processed foods are cheaper then the quality whole foods. I went to the store a couple weeks ago and the lady checking me out says you sure eat healthy. I said I do but it comes at a cost. She almost had a heart attack when my bill was $120 for 5 days worth of meat and 7 days worth of veggies, fruit, nuts. Only bad part about this time of the year is quality produce is few and far between.

I will admit I do have a sweet tooth but I only eat dark chocolate between 65-80% dark and of a certain brand. Along with the occasional glass of wine which I have seemed to get a large stock of over the last 4 years.

Craug

[disneysteve]

I think that is the sad part of our culture, highly processed foods are cheaper then the quality whole foods.

I hear that all the time and, while true, I think it is not fully understood. I don't know about anyone else, but processed stuff with zero nutrition doesn't fill me up. I could eat a dozen Dunkin' Donuts in one sitting and still be hungry but give me one bowl of oatmeal and I'm good to go for 3 or 4 hours. A big dish of white pasta leaves me wanting more but 1/2 a cup of whole grain rice and I'm stuffed. So I think the cost comparison is flawed because people compare equal quantities of food: 1 pound of whole grain pasta costs more than 1 pound of white pasta. That's true, but the whole grain pasta is much more filling and you don't need as much of it to make a meal, so that offsets the cost difference.

I will admit I do have a sweet tooth but I only eat dark chocolate between 65-80% dark and of a certain brand.

Funny that you mention that. Over the past few months, I've been fine-tuning my eating habits. One thing that I added to my routine was Ghirardelli 72% cacao squares. Where I used to have 3 or 4 cookies for dessert after lunch or dinner, I'll now have one of those squares. I had read an article by one of the celebrity chefs who mentioned that he made that his "treat" food and it definitely works. Satisfies the sweet tooth with very little fat or sugar. And it must be working. Even though I've never had what most would consider a weight problem, over the past 4 months, I've lost about 15 pounds.

[CraigThor]

I hear that all the time and, while true, I think it is not fully understood. I don't know about anyone else, but processed stuff with zero nutrition doesn't fill me up. I could eat a dozen Dunkin' Donuts in one sitting and still be hungry but give me one bowl of oatmeal and I'm good to go for 3 or 4 hours. A big dish of white pasta leaves me wanting more but 1/2 a cup of whole grain rice and I'm stuffed. So I think the cost comparison is flawed because people compare equal quantities of food: 1 pound of whole grain pasta costs more than 1 pound of white pasta. That's true, but the whole grain pasta is much more filling and you don't need as much of it to make a meal, so that offsets the cost difference.

That is true portion control is a huge item that gets over looked. O know I can eat 4 oz of turkey, 1/2 cup of cooked brown and wild rice, and a big helping of steamed brocolli and cauliflower and be full for hours. I no longer snack and eat only 3 meals a day. I do have the ocasional square of chocolate so I guess I snack seldomly.

Funny that you mention that. Over the past few months, I've been fine-tuning my eating habits. One thing that I added to my routine was Ghirardelli 72% cacao squares. Where I used to have 3 or 4 cookies for dessert after lunch or dinner, I'll now have one of those squares. I had read an article by one of the celebrity chefs who mentioned that he made that his "treat" food and it definitely works. Satisfies the sweet tooth with very little fat or sugar. And it must be working. Even though I've never had what most would consider a weight problem, over the past 4 months, I've lost about 15 pounds.

Skip the Ghiradellis' if you can find Vosges Haut chocolate bars. I can get them at the local wine shop. Chocolate Candy Bars - Gourmet Milk, Dark & White Chocolate Candy Bars from Vosges Haut-Chocolat

I think this is the best chocolate I have ever laid my tongue on. A single bar will last me days. The chocolate and bacon bar is a real treat in dark also.

Craig

[cptacek]

If you have a farmer 2 miles away...do you have access to growing your own beef, chickens, garden? Your labor would be free, while buying from the organic farmer, you are paying a premium.

[CraigThor]

If you have a farmer 2 miles away...do you have access to growing your own beef, chickens, garden? Your labor would be free, while buying from the organic farmer, you are paying a premium.

Actually we rent an apartment on the outside of town. We do soem containter gardening but not enough to supply us with all our needs.

Actually getting quality farm eggs is $2.00 a dozen. They are allowed free run outside even when its cold, very well cared for as well.

We go to another farmer about 20 minutes away for our beef. Cost is about $0.10 more a lb tehn if I go buy it at the super market so no big mark up. It is great that he sells for a reasonable price.

No real premiums when compared to the super market out eggs cost less then the high end eggs and the beef which we eat very little of costs just slightly more then the super market. I eat more lamb, salmon, tuna, cod, smart chicken, turkey then we eat beef. Also use venison as well and still have about 15 lbs of that in the deep freeze.

Craig

[cschin4]

I don't believe it costs anymore to eat healthy than it does to eat unhealthy. This is just an excuse for most people. I can buy a bag of rice, a bag of carrots and many other healthy things much cheaper than I can buy processed junk. I can also eat frozen veggies etc. while not technically as good as fresh are still very good for you. I think eating a healthy diet would save money as you are not buying chips, pop and other junk. ANd, you are not overeating your meat portions.
I think the siren song of "eating healthy is so expensive" is just another excuse for people to try to involve the govt in our lives and another excuse for govt to invent new taxes.

[wincrasher]

The fact is that eating "healthy" is inconvenient. It is work to prep and cook unprocessed foods. As we know, most people are lazy.

If you have adequate freezer space, you can still save alot of money and time by buying in bulk, preparing foods in advance and storing them.

Another thing to consider is, that if you are getting enough activity (exercise), it can make up for many shortcomings in your diet. That is, you can eat things that are not so good because you are burning it off at a higher clip. A sedentary existance, on the other hand, can't be made up for with diet alone.

[zetta]

I find I don't have much use for coupons because for the most part I don't buy much processed, package stuff.

[CraigThor]

The fact is that eating "healthy" is inconvenient. It is work to prep and cook unprocessed foods. As we know, most people are lazy.

If you have adequate freezer space, you can still save alot of money and time by buying in bulk, preparing foods in advance and storing them.

Another thing to consider is, that if you are getting enough activity (exercise), it can make up for many shortcomings in your diet. That is, you can eat things that are not so good because you are burning it off at a higher clip. A sedentary existance, on the other hand, can't be made up for with diet alone.

Actually I don't find prep takes that long. Between heating up a pizza and chopping veggies, pan frying a meat and throwing some brown rice in the rice cooker I can make a meal in the 20 minutes it would take to bake the pizza. We do have a deep freeze in our apartment one of the best additions but before then I just used to stop at the grocery store on a daily basis one my way home from work.

I find I don't have much use for coupons because for the most part I don't buy much processed, package stuff.

I agree I haven't used coupons in some time as 95% of what the coupons are for I don't eat.

Craig

[disneysteve]

The fact is that eating "healthy" is inconvenient. It is work to prep and cook unprocessed foods. As we know, most people are lazy.

I think this is more of a training issue. We rarely make a meal at home that takes more than 30 minutes from start to table.

There are also lots of ways to economize your work and time by cooking in bulk. Make a pot of soup and freeze it in single portion containers. Make a lasagna and freeze slices. Cook up a batch of whole-grain pancakes and freeze them. Use a crock pot.

[wincrasher]

Alot of people's idea of cooking is:

Remove from box, cut slit in plastic covering, put in microwave on high for 5 mins, eat.

That's 5 whole minutes away from the TV!

[disneysteve]

Alot of people's idea of cooking is:

Remove from box, cut slit in plastic covering, put in microwave on high for 5 mins, eat.

That's 5 whole minutes away from the TV!

So put a TV in the kitchen and make a real meal.

[CraigThor]

Alot of people's idea of cooking is:

Remove from box, cut slit in plastic covering, put in microwave on high for 5 mins, eat.

That's 5 whole minutes away from the TV!

TV what is that, we haven't owned a TV in 5 years. I have my laptop for access to the internet for news and weather updates, I can watch movies if I want via streaming live netflix maybe 1 or 2 a month, read this forum and blogs. But alas I don't miss the TV at all.