Cost of food rant

Long post, everyone...please bear with me if you wish to read it!

*laughs* No worries, MKEgal. I just very much enjoy helping others in areas that many do not think about, do not see a reason to assist, or just do not know how. It comes from working with my father since I was very young doing this kind of work with people who were dealing with drug/alcohol addiction. We had 15-20 people (men and women, with kids and without) living in a separate part of our home at one point. The experiences that we had with that particular group of people and many others over the years was positively perspective-altering. My mother would cook for them (they would help too when they were healthy enough), and my father would work with them concerning rehabilitation. Me and my sister had a lot of fun with the various people, and we learned things that would shape how we felt about drug/alcohol addictions and the people that had/have to contend with those addictions, people that had/have to contend with poverty, people that had "different" views in terms of religion or spiritual paths, and people that held different walks of life, whether their wage amounted to nothing or $1 million.

Food is something that I have seen talked about a lot on this site on my short 4-5 days here...I mean, it is one of the core components of what this site is about, after all. What I have also noticed is that, at times, many on MFP almost seem like they are trying to distance themselves from their food as if it is a bad thing, and just as many have openly stated that they are trying to distance themselves from their food emotionally and taking a purely physical relationship with their food. Some others get outright angry with their food because of the higher cost that they find with eating healthier, and still others are looking to get a better emotional and physical relationship with their food.

All of these views are interesting to see because this is one of the few places that we can come and see and hear directly from the sources directly outside of random moments of frustration at the grocery store, a friend or family member's comments here and there, or a weight loss support group.

Food is part of what it means to be human, and the various relationships that humanity as a whole and the individual has with food has always been something that has interested me. I mean, even myself...food in terms of cost does not frustrate me often, but it did the other day when i was shopping for someone who has a lot of trouble walking due to a knee injury at present. She prefers butter over margarine or oil and does not use much of it, but even the Walmart brand was almost $4.05 a pound and Horizon Farms was $6.49 per pound. Earlier this year, the Walmart brand had been $1.50 per pound with Horizon Farms being $2.00 per pound. It is all about cost of feed and operation for farmers/producers and companies, of course, and the farmers/producers at least are just as frustrated as we are as consumers.

There has been some great advice here in terms of how to shop smarter and easier to eat healthy, and it is nice for anyone looking to be able to come and be able to find tips that they may not have taken into account before.

Maerwhyn, one thing that might help with your motivation in the morning is doing things the night before. Overnight oatmeal and the granola are great for that if you want something hot/warm (put the granola and milk in the microwave for a few seconds if you want it to be kind of a loose, warm cereal. Smoothie kits are another great solution. Make up a kit in advance, put it in a container or bag, freeze, take out whenever you want it, toss it in the blender for a smoothie. You can put everything besides the milk/yogurt in the bag (fruits, veggies, sweetness, nuts, etc.). I say not the milk/yogurt only because it helps most blenders to have a bit of liquid to get everything moving and smooth. The smoothie kits can be a great mid-week or weekend project that the kids help with too.

Another suggestion? If your kids are old enough, get them to help you in the morning. Even most 2 1/2-3 year old can get something out of the pantry/refrigerator if you put it in an accessible place and show them where it is beforehand. All you would need to do then is put everything in the bowl and microwave then.

This was on short notice last night, but here is a website that demonstrates a more complete process for making granola: http://www.elizabethrider.com/easy-healthy-homemade-granola-recipe/

Overnight Oatmeal (no slow cooker required): http://www.buzzfeed.com/samimain/overnight-oats-recipes-to-restore-your-faith-in-breakfast#h436xo

For steel-cut oats: http://www.melskitchencafe.com/overnight-steel-cut-oats-favorite-way-to-eat-oatmeal/

Another Oatmeal variation: http://www.peanutbutterandpeppers.com/2013/01/23/individual-baked-oatmeal/

No nutrition information, unfortunately, but you can put it in as a recipe in MFP and see if it works for you depending on the portion size. The steel-cut oats recipe is really good. I have done it multiple times and it gives the best steel-cut oats that I do not have to stand around waiting to cook.

I hope that this helps.

Regards,
Rachel

I've decided one of the hardest things about eating well isn't the time it takes or missing out on cake and cookies. It's having to choose between healthful food and cheap food. There are so many times at the grocery store where I'm comparing foods and have to take the less-good-for-me option because I can't afford the good stuff. Especially breakfast cereals. I wish I could buy Special K or Kashi cereals because they taste so good, but they're too blinking expensive. My little ones love them too, and I feel terrible giving them sugary crap, but I'd spend half of my grocery budget just on breakfast if I bought the good stuff. I really should get up earlier in the morning and make oatmeal more often, but that gets really boring really fast. Anybody else sick of the compromise?

I don't eat breakfast anymore, but I use to make overnight oatmeal. Mix oats with flavoured yoghurt and a little milk, refrigerate overnight. Next morning just add a fruit if you'd like. If you vary the yoghurt flavours it tastes different everytime.

I've decided one of the hardest things about eating well isn't the time it takes or missing out on cake and cookies. It's having to choose between healthful food and cheap food. There are so many times at the grocery store where I'm comparing foods and have to take the less-good-for-me option because I can't afford the good stuff. Especially breakfast cereals. I wish I could buy Special K or Kashi cereals because they taste so good, but they're too blinking expensive. My little ones love them too, and I feel terrible giving them sugary crap, but I'd spend half of my grocery budget just on breakfast if I bought the good stuff. I really should get up earlier in the morning and make oatmeal more often, but that gets really boring really fast. Anybody else sick of the compromise?

I've decided one of the hardest things about eating well isn't the time it takes or missing out on cake and cookies. It's having to choose between healthful food and cheap food. There are so many times at the grocery store where I'm comparing foods and have to take the less-good-for-me option because I can't afford the good stuff. Especially breakfast cereals. I wish I could buy Special K or Kashi cereals because they taste so good, but they're too blinking expensive. My little ones love them too, and I feel terrible giving them sugary crap, but I'd spend half of my grocery budget just on breakfast if I bought the good stuff. I really should get up earlier in the morning and make oatmeal more often, but that gets really boring really fast. Anybody else sick of the compromise?

Whew...long day...

I wanted to mention this this morning but forgot. For any who may be on SNAP, you can shop at most farmer's markets so be sure to check out that option! This is something that I find a lot of people do not know even though this change was made quite a few years ago. You can buy plants/seeds to grow your own food but also purchase produce. This can get you a better price and quality than in many grocery stores if you buy in bulk, but it is also a great way to support local farmers. Just make sure that you call and ask first because, not all farmer's markets have to participate in the program.

Regards,
Rachel

The thing is, if you really like junk food, you can live on Little Debbies for about $2 a day.

That's $60 a month.

And it doesn't get any junkier than that.

For a time I was so poor, and apparently so sodium-deprived, that I ate a bag of sunflower seeds a day. $1.19 (of course that was in the 90's).

ETA for to be helpful: Check if there are any CSAs in your area. That's where you sign up with a local farm or farm group and pay a flat fee for a weekly box of whatever they're harvesting. They're usually a really good deal, although you'll generally get more bang for your buck in the summer and fall months. (Unless you want 20 squashes a week)