I've just realised from reading through your posts how incredibly spoilt I am living in NZ. We have our own veggie garden and even though it can be a bit of a hassel it is always filled with fresh organic veg. Most of our supermarkets have a reasonable quality of fresh fruit and veg for good price and where we are there are smaller stores that just have fruit and veg. I was blessed to grow up with women who where amazing cooks who made all their own jams and preserves so have learnt how to cook wonderful food from scratch. The only processed food I tend to buy are tinned tomatoes and beans, pasta,rice, breakfast cereals, bread and of course coffee simple because I don't have time to make these things from scratch.

GillianLF start small with tubs or big pots that you can put herbs or salad greens in. Ones that you can just pick the leaves off are good choices. We are lucky to have a big back yard to be able to put into garden, though my hubby looks worried everytime I get garden books out. Start small and manageable and it only takes a few mins.

So the standard recommendation to shop the perimeter of the grocery store should eliminate most of the processed foods from overwhelming you. Make a list and stick to it dipping into isles without cart to limit temptation.

We have two grocery stores that carry organic products ... due to demand. I compare products on vitacost and generally get a shipment every month of oils, spices, supplements, chips, chocolate, pretty much everything that won't spoil. I find their prices to be $1-3 cheaper than grocery store per item and up to $4-5 less than health food store. Free shipping & almost always a sale or buy one get one 1/2 off.

suzan06 wrote: »

It is frustrating and sad that most people are living on the processed junk. Personally I am pretty used to my standard list at the store- I get whatever fresh produce I need, pop through the organic fridge/freezer section to get yogurt, milk, and cheese, then down the Mexican aisle to get corn tortillas (tried making them myself multiple times..... No luck yet!) then the baking aisle if I need staples. On the way out, hit the nuts and sometimes one bag of junk for the kids (pretzels or pirates booty).

Then everything else is bulk ordered (flours, beans, oatmeal) or from our chickens (eggs).

But on the odd occasion that I have to hunt something else down- like packets of instant oatmeal for camping- and I venture into the breakfast aisle, I weep for humanity. Let's not even talk about the "juice" aisle.

I make my own tortillas and they are awesome. Try 100daysofrealfood.com website. She has recipes for corn and flour tortillas. You just need a tortilla press, I bought mine at Walmart for $12. Heres the flour recipe, she has a corn recipe too.

http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/05/26/recipe-whole-wheat-tortillas/

Yes! I purchased $50 in just the produce section this week. And I realized how much more that money would have got me in crappy food. Until healthy food is reasonably priced, America will never overcome the obesity epidemic. Sad indeed.

In the clean eaters group we usually refer to foods with unhealthy fats, flours and sugars, preservatives and unknown ingredients as processed. You're right. If you harvest, sort, wash and store apples from an organic tree they have been processed.

As for organic. If you're referring to prepared foods ... well you need to read labels. If we're talking about produce, organically grown, certified organic and foods homegrown without herbicides and pesticides are all considered organic.

Is that important? I say yes. Having an education from an agriculture college, I am very familiar with the food chain. While this issue is complex, foods grown in South America and Mexico that are out of season here and are perfect are not a good choice. Coffee is critically important to buy organic.

Why? We produce chemicals in the US that are banned for use here, but are exported around the world. That is sprayed on your winter produce and returns to US in form of tomatoes, soft fruits, inexpensive coffee, etc.

GillianLF wrote: »

The cost difference is quite huge but I also believe that it is important to eat as "clean" as I can when I can.

I live in a city where I breathe in plenty of chemicals without having to eat them too.

That's mad about what is considered "processed". I do know a chef who wont even wash his organic produce. He literally just eats it!

You might tell that chef that here in Mexico most farmers don't have the money to buy artificial fertilizer for their crops, but often have access to and liberally use animal dung for their organic crops. Just saying...:o).