Cheap way to eat healthy

Thanks for your responses to my last post, Christy and Emily.  At first I began making a comment in the comment box, but it was a very LOOOOOOOOOONG comment, so here we are.

Em, thanks for sharing!  I'm glad to know which types of coupons you use.  I'll keep an eye out for those healthier coupon options.  When I heard about Bountiful Basket a year or so ago I was so excited.  Then, I went to the website and saw that it wasn't here in Florida.  :(  Bummer!   You know how you mentioned you wanted me to share when I found the answer to eating totally healthy for cheap.  I think I may know the answer!!  But I am not in the position yet to make it happen.  I think I  have to grow the food myself!  It's a huge undertaking, but I'm beginning to do it, starting out small.  I try to incorporate my garden goods into dinner two to three times a week.  I figure it's a start.  And it's not cheap in the beginning.  There are materials, seeds, tools, etc. to buy.  But once you get it going, the cost goes down.  I think I could eventually get to the point where we are able to sustain ourselves (produce-wise) with the food from our backyard.  This point is a ways off though.  Side note: Have you seen this blog?

For now, every year I try to do a little more.  And typically, each growing season I experience a little more success than the previous year.  That's where I'm headed, anyway.  It's my dream.  Am I being realistic?

Christy, thanks for the information!  I have been searching for a co-op here.  Dave has a facebook account, so I will look into that.  There is a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm nearby.  There is a membership fee and then a lump sum depending on how long and how often we bring home their produce.  It's very beneficial -- for us and for the farmer.  Essentially, we are paying for their seeds, equipment, maintenance, labor, etc.  And in return, we make a personal connection with the people growing the food that goes into our bodies!  We receive food which is organic, local, less expensive, and it's an educational experience.  I suppose I just need to make the jump!  It's difficult for me to want to pay that much up front, and yet I know it is truly worth it.  First though, I'll check into that co-op that the sisters from church are trying to start up.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and knowledge, Christy and Em.  Keep it coming!

Couponing to save money, but not my health?

I recently attended a budgeting and couponing class.  It motivated me to be wiser with our money.

My grocery shopping is done almost entirely at Publix.  Publix is based in Florida, but spreads throughout the southeastern states.  The customer service is excellent.  They are quick to help, walking me to the items I cannot find.  They are always able to answer my questions, and in general, are very courteous.  They employ a number of less-abled {I know that's not a word, but I think it fits better than disabled} people.  Their employees are not only helpful, but seem happy to help.  My kids enjoy their trips to Publix -- always a balloon in hand when we leave.

However, I'd like to cut back on our monthly food allowance.  But Publix is not Walmart.  And I have this vendetta against Walmart.  I really try to not shop there.  I won't go into my reasons, unless you'd like to hear them...  :)

So, how can I continue to shop at Publix and spend less?  For one, Publix has weekly BOGO's and plenty of them-- buy one get one free.  Second, IheartPublix is a great website where someone else has already done the work in locating coupons that apply to Publix's weekly deals.  Publix accepts store coupons and manufacturing coupons.  Sweet!  It's so easy.  You simply go down the list of BOGO items, sale items, and printable coupons.  I am not one to pour hours into couponing.  I never will be.  It does not give me a high.  But, I will do some work to save.  And at IheartPublix someone has done all the research already!  I just have to put my list together for the week and print the coupons.

I was really excited when I learned about this website and decided that I was going to use it diligently to save.  But here is my problem.  So much of it is processed junk -- something in a neat package that has a shelf life of forever.  Much of it comes from the frozen foods section.  Don't get me wrong, we are not perfectly healthy and organic eaters here.  However, I do strongly believe our bodies are meant to eat meat sparingly, which to me, cannot be on a daily basis.  Whole grains are the way to go.  And things like high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners are to be avoided as much as possible!  I did see deals on pasta, rice, yogurt, household products, and diapers too.  So, there are some things I can buy, but not many coupons for me to plan my meals around.  I want whole grain items.  I want fresh produce.  Any suggestions as to where I can find coupons for those things?  Does such a thing even exist?

Local Sustenance Day 1

Mid-morning I concocted a tasty smoothie with my FLORIDA tangerines. 

tangerines + bananas + frozen berries + spinach + oj

I enjoyed it and felt good about including some local food, even if it is just a small addition.  I figure it's a start.

And it must have been good.  Just look at his face.  Babies aren't good fakers.

Local Farm

A perfect way for you to get fresh, seasonal produce is to become a member of a CSA - Community Supported Agriculture.  When you become a CSA member to a particular farm, you are buying a share of the season's harvest.  A CSA is all about offering what the season brings.  As a member, your money goes to operating the farm -- seeds, equipment maintenance, labor, and so on .  And in return, you get a bagful of freshly picked produce.  So...

You are eating with the seasons.
Your food couldn't be fresher.
You can build a relationship with the person growing your food. 
You can know exactly how your food is grown (organic, without pesticides and fertilizers, etc.)
You support small, local business and they support you. 

Doesn't that sound wonderful?

KYV Farm is a local (for you Northeastern Floridians) organic family farm/CSA.  I found it in my search for locating the local for next month's challenge.  I'm thrilled to have found this local jewel!  I'm going to take a tour of the farm sometime soon.  Anyone want to join?

Only ONE week until the local food eating challenge begins!

The Locavore Challenge!

Here it is: Eat locally for 30 days.  

This may sound daunting, but don't let it be!  Allow me to explain...  You do not need to prepare an entire meal with as many local ingredients as you can dig up -- although you may. 

What it does mean -- eat ONE local thing a day. 

A locavore is someone who makes an effort to eat food that is grown, raised, or produced within a 100-mile radius of home.  Let's broaden the "local" boundaries to mean anything in your state.  You could pull a few mint leaves from your potted mint and toss it into your salad; or, spread a teaspoon of local honey on your toast; another idea, you could roast a halved squash that you purchased from your neighborhood farmer's market.  This can be as simple or as complex as you'd like it to be.  It is up to you.

By doing this we may not be making a huge change in our diet yet but, it will push us to search out what our surrounding area has to offer - because it is there!  And, our local food growers need us and we need them! This will give us knowledge.  And, knowledge empowers us!

We will begin November 1st.  This way you have time to hop on the internet and locate the local.  Any sort of organic grocer will have items; your neighborhood farmer's market; even your common, every day grocery store is likely to have some things.

You may email me pictures that you'd like to share on this blog of the local foods you added to your daily diet.  I would love to see what you're eating (and others would enjoy too, if others are out there... hope you are!). Or, you may simply leave a comment about what you ate that day.  If you can't do this every day, that's ok.  Keep on trying throughout November.  Eat locally as often as you can.  This isn't about us making a great change to our diets, but rather it gives us the knowledge we need to start making changes.  Perhaps you will try some new fun recipes along the way!  This will be just as challenging for you as it will be for me.  Until now my local food purchases are few. And, if you are already living this way -- WONDERFUL!  Please share your knowledge with us!

Ooh -- this is going to be fun!  Begin searching now.

Sara's S's

STRAIGHT FROM THE GROUND

Ok. So you may rinse your food off first.  But otherwise -- leave your food WHOLE - in its natural state - as much as you can.  The less our food is altered, the better it is for our bodies.

SIMPLE

Eat simply.  This goes hand-in-hand with eating our food straight from the ground.  Prepare your meals with few ingredients.  Not only will it save you money on your grocery bills, but it was what your body was made to consume.  

SURROUNDING AREA

In other words, eat locally.  By eating food grown in your surrounding area you have more control over it.  Consider the pesticides used or the path taken to grow and transport a banana from Central America up to your grocery store. It is impossible to know all the variables.  This is only the tip of 'the importance of eating locally' iceberg.

SEASON

We can all agree that it's a beautiful thing to eat a red, ripe strawberry year-round.  But, I believe that our bodies were made to eat what the Season brings.  For example, the time for berries is Summer; Wintertime yields meat, as vegetables and fruit do not typically grow during this, the coldest season of the year.

I am not a pro at my four S's, but I fully believe that our bodies were meant to eat according to them.  I think I'd like to try harder.  Maybe a 30-day challenge. Hmmm... Any ideas?  And, any takers?