In Food, Inc. one of the things they mention is that when you buy something at a store, you're essentially making a vote for what you want stocked in the stores. It makes perfect sense - the store's not going to stock it unless they know you're going to buy it. Going to WalMart or Kroger and buying organic whole food items tells that store "these are the items I'm buying, please stock more!"
Take that one step further:
I sometimes shop at Whole Foods, which I love. I love that they grind their own ground beef. I know when I buy it, I'm not getting a bunch of fillers. I've had food poisoning 3 times in the last 2 years, knowing what my meat goes through before it gets to my table is important. I also like that the employees there are so knowledgeable about what they sell. I can tell the meat man what I want to make, and he'll pick out the best cut of meat for me. Service like that is hard to find nowadays.
But I was thinking, Whole Foods already knows their customers like to by whole foods. (Hence the name, dummy) What about the big chains like Kroger and Walmart? A representative from Walmart said on Food, Inc. that they stock what their customers buy. So in essence, buying organic at large chains like Kroger and WalMart may actually make an impact on what their stores carry, therefore increasing the selection and availability of whole organic foods to all the customers that shop at these stores. People who shop at Whole Foods go there for a reason - they care about what they eat. But by encouraging the large chain grocery stores to stock more of these items, we can help make organic whole foods available to a whole new set of people. My family lives in rural Arkansas where the only grocery store for 20 miles is WalMart. If I can buy organic milk at my Walmart 150 miles away, and convince other people to do so, I can help convince the entire company to carry organic milk in other locations - making organic milk available to my family in rural Arkansas. Big chains like WalMart are successful for a reason: they sell what people like to buy. If we tell them we like to buy organic whole foods, they'll sell it.
Let's take this ANOTHER step further:
By purchasing more organic and whole foods at the large chains, the large chains now carry more organic and minimally processed items - therefore increasing the demands on the farmers and manufacturers that supply these stores. So we have beef farmer A that grows cows that are fed with corn and pumped full of antibiotics, and beef farmer B who grows cows that are grown organically. Over time, if people are buying more organic beef from large chains, beef farmer B is going to become incredibly successful. So beef farmer A (if he's smart) will also want to jump on the bandwagon and grow his cows organically. So we now have HUGE changes in the farming industry. Less E Coli, less food poisoning, and the people of the world skip down the streets holding hands and singing "We Are The World." Well, maybe not that. But you get my point. Me buying organic milk at Kroger may actually make a huge impact down the line.
This is not rocket science, it's basic business principles. Supply and demand, people. Demand organic and whole foods from our grocers, and they will supply it.
Monday, January 30, 2012
One Week Down
Well, I've been Diet Coke Free for one week. Here are the changes I notice:
-I sleep better.
-I crave sweets less.
-I have more energy throughout the day. I used to hit a wall about 2pm -- not anymore!
-I like the taste of water more.
-I like iced tea with no sweetener....weird.
-I no longer crave my Diet Cokes.
All positive changes! The first few days were hard. I was like a smoker who was trying to quit - irritable, jittery, and anxious. I'm glad I suffered through those first days because I feel tremendously better!
My favorite Diet Coke Alternatives:
Coffee with 1tbsp maple syrup, 1tsp cocoa, and a splash of whole milk
Hot tea with honey
Iced tea, plain
Ice water
Naked fruit smoothies (which I drink sparingly because they are 130 calories per serving!)
-I sleep better.
-I crave sweets less.
-I have more energy throughout the day. I used to hit a wall about 2pm -- not anymore!
-I like the taste of water more.
-I like iced tea with no sweetener....weird.
-I no longer crave my Diet Cokes.
All positive changes! The first few days were hard. I was like a smoker who was trying to quit - irritable, jittery, and anxious. I'm glad I suffered through those first days because I feel tremendously better!
My favorite Diet Coke Alternatives:
Coffee with 1tbsp maple syrup, 1tsp cocoa, and a splash of whole milk
Hot tea with honey
Iced tea, plain
Ice water
Naked fruit smoothies (which I drink sparingly because they are 130 calories per serving!)
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
One Is Too Many...One Hundred Is Never Enough
I've come to the realization that I have a problem......
Hello, my name is Amanda, and I'm addicted to Diet Coke.
I mentioned in blog #1 that I was just not ready to take the leap to quit my Diet Coke habit. Well the time has come.
I previously talked about listing what times of day or what meal you rely on processed foods the most and I decided breakfast was that time for my family. So we premade a bunch of home made breakfasts that we just throw in the freezer and heat up as needed. And that has worked out beautifully.
Now on to step 2. Unfortunately, for me, that means giving up my Diet Coke. I've built myself up to drinking 4 cans a day. Sometimes more, sometimes less. But still, that's on average 180mg of caffeine a day. Not to mention all the other crap that's in it. So my next "small" change to make a big impact is cutting out my beloved Diet Cokes. We've had a beautiful relationship, but it's time I move on.
So Saturday and Sunday I just had one to kind of wean me off, and today I'm down to none. I can't say I'm trilled about it just yet. But I know in a week's time I'll feel tons better.
I'm still having some caffeine. I drink coffee in the morning. On a side note, I've switched my coffee sweetener from Sweet N' Low to honey. This is one change I'm thrilled about. It just takes a tiny amount to do the trick and it's delicious!
There's something weird about Diet Cokes though. The people who drink them seem addicted. I know I was/am. I started having anxiety with just the thought of cutting back. I don't like letting something have that sort of control over me.
It's always been my goal to live a life of moderation. But with me and Diet Coke, there is no such thing as moderation. Like my title says, "One is too many, one hundred is never enough."
It's going to be a rough week.....sigh.
Hello, my name is Amanda, and I'm addicted to Diet Coke.
I mentioned in blog #1 that I was just not ready to take the leap to quit my Diet Coke habit. Well the time has come.
I previously talked about listing what times of day or what meal you rely on processed foods the most and I decided breakfast was that time for my family. So we premade a bunch of home made breakfasts that we just throw in the freezer and heat up as needed. And that has worked out beautifully.
Now on to step 2. Unfortunately, for me, that means giving up my Diet Coke. I've built myself up to drinking 4 cans a day. Sometimes more, sometimes less. But still, that's on average 180mg of caffeine a day. Not to mention all the other crap that's in it. So my next "small" change to make a big impact is cutting out my beloved Diet Cokes. We've had a beautiful relationship, but it's time I move on.
So Saturday and Sunday I just had one to kind of wean me off, and today I'm down to none. I can't say I'm trilled about it just yet. But I know in a week's time I'll feel tons better.
I'm still having some caffeine. I drink coffee in the morning. On a side note, I've switched my coffee sweetener from Sweet N' Low to honey. This is one change I'm thrilled about. It just takes a tiny amount to do the trick and it's delicious!
There's something weird about Diet Cokes though. The people who drink them seem addicted. I know I was/am. I started having anxiety with just the thought of cutting back. I don't like letting something have that sort of control over me.
It's always been my goal to live a life of moderation. But with me and Diet Coke, there is no such thing as moderation. Like my title says, "One is too many, one hundred is never enough."
It's going to be a rough week.....sigh.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Frustrated
I am not one of those mothers that claim to be able to do it all. Nor do I want to be one of those mothers. I love having a life outside of the house. I love that Free Range Hubby helps a lot. I LOVE that I get to be a little selfish every once in a while! With that said, I'm feeling a little discouraged the last few days. It may be that I've been sick, but we'll get to that in a bit.
#1: What's the point of making all this food from scratch if Free Range Bennett doesn't even eat it!?!?!? We had like an hour long tantrum last night because he didn't want to eat what I made - all ingredients I know he likes. But after an hour of him crying, he gave in and ate! I did compromise and left the sauce off the pasta, but I consider it a victory!!!! Just wish it wasn't so much effort. I'm hoping he'll get used to it over time, but it would be so easy just to go back to the junk food.
#2: I feel like I go to the grocery store every day! Maybe I just need to plan better, but how can you stock up in fresh fruits and veggies? They go bad! It may be partly my fault. I feel nervous buying 2 bunches of bananas, because I'm afraid they'll go bad. Never mind the fact that Free Range Bennett eats like 2 a day. We usually go through a bunch in 2 days. So I'm going to the store every other day for bananas, not to mention all the other stuff. These stay at home moms obviously don't have boys. My child can go through an entire container of blueberries in one sitting. I just need to get over my fear of buying too much.
#3: All this homemade food is supposed to make you feel better and what do I get? Strep throat. Exept I'm not entirely convinced it was strep. Five days later and I still feel a little puny.
This switch to more whole foods is stressful, but I know in my heart it's worth it. I really do enjoy learning to cook and feel like my skills in the kitchen have increased tremendously. It's so overwhelming getting started, but I just keep telling myself it will get easier.
#1: What's the point of making all this food from scratch if Free Range Bennett doesn't even eat it!?!?!? We had like an hour long tantrum last night because he didn't want to eat what I made - all ingredients I know he likes. But after an hour of him crying, he gave in and ate! I did compromise and left the sauce off the pasta, but I consider it a victory!!!! Just wish it wasn't so much effort. I'm hoping he'll get used to it over time, but it would be so easy just to go back to the junk food.
#2: I feel like I go to the grocery store every day! Maybe I just need to plan better, but how can you stock up in fresh fruits and veggies? They go bad! It may be partly my fault. I feel nervous buying 2 bunches of bananas, because I'm afraid they'll go bad. Never mind the fact that Free Range Bennett eats like 2 a day. We usually go through a bunch in 2 days. So I'm going to the store every other day for bananas, not to mention all the other stuff. These stay at home moms obviously don't have boys. My child can go through an entire container of blueberries in one sitting. I just need to get over my fear of buying too much.
#3: All this homemade food is supposed to make you feel better and what do I get? Strep throat. Exept I'm not entirely convinced it was strep. Five days later and I still feel a little puny.
This switch to more whole foods is stressful, but I know in my heart it's worth it. I really do enjoy learning to cook and feel like my skills in the kitchen have increased tremendously. It's so overwhelming getting started, but I just keep telling myself it will get easier.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Breakfast Blitz!
Last night Free Range Hubby and I made nearly a month's worth of breakfast foods to put in the freezer. We started at 7:40 right after Free Range Bennett went to bed. Including the cleanup, bagging, labeling, and storing, we finished at 9:45. I think we even lunches for the following day during that time.
So after 2ish hours we had plain pancakes (whole wheat), berry pancakes (made with frozen berries bought from the store), cinnamon-vanilla pancakes, french toast sticks, and breakfast burritos. I'm excited about having all of these homemade breakfasts to enjoy throughout the month!
Like I said before, breakfast is the meal that we rely on most heavily for processed foods. Most of the other blogs I read talk about doing lots of lunches and dinners, but I haven't found many people who premake breakfast foods. If you can't do the whole once-a-month freezer cooking thing, I suggest doing what we have done. Just pick out what time of day you're most likely to resort to the processed stuff and prepare a couple of things ahead of time. One of the things I've learned through all of this is the transition to whole foods is not an overnight process, true change comes when you do it little by little. Baby steps!
So after 2ish hours we had plain pancakes (whole wheat), berry pancakes (made with frozen berries bought from the store), cinnamon-vanilla pancakes, french toast sticks, and breakfast burritos. I'm excited about having all of these homemade breakfasts to enjoy throughout the month!
Like I said before, breakfast is the meal that we rely on most heavily for processed foods. Most of the other blogs I read talk about doing lots of lunches and dinners, but I haven't found many people who premake breakfast foods. If you can't do the whole once-a-month freezer cooking thing, I suggest doing what we have done. Just pick out what time of day you're most likely to resort to the processed stuff and prepare a couple of things ahead of time. One of the things I've learned through all of this is the transition to whole foods is not an overnight process, true change comes when you do it little by little. Baby steps!
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Homemade Granola
This is the recipe for granola I made the other night:
4 1/2 cup oats
2 cup chopped nuts
2 cup dried fruit
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp cinnamon
1 tbsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup maple syrup
Mix all ingredients together. Spread on cookie sheet and bake at 425 for 40-50 min. Mix halfway through. Cool and store in freezer.
What I love about this recipe:
1. It tastes AMAZING
2. It makes the whole house smell like cinnamon
3. It's so easy to modify.
I didn't have enough maple syrup so I added a little honey and it turned out great. I'm thinking just about anything sweet would work. I used pecans in mine because I had some fresh ones, but any nut would work. I also used raisins, but you can use craisins, dried apricots, dried apples, or any other dried fruit. I can already tell this recipe will be a favorite in my house!
Thanks to simpleorganizedliving.com for this fantastic recipe!!
4 1/2 cup oats
2 cup chopped nuts
2 cup dried fruit
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp cinnamon
1 tbsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup maple syrup
Mix all ingredients together. Spread on cookie sheet and bake at 425 for 40-50 min. Mix halfway through. Cool and store in freezer.
What I love about this recipe:
1. It tastes AMAZING
2. It makes the whole house smell like cinnamon
3. It's so easy to modify.
I didn't have enough maple syrup so I added a little honey and it turned out great. I'm thinking just about anything sweet would work. I used pecans in mine because I had some fresh ones, but any nut would work. I also used raisins, but you can use craisins, dried apricots, dried apples, or any other dried fruit. I can already tell this recipe will be a favorite in my house!
Thanks to simpleorganizedliving.com for this fantastic recipe!!
False Alarm
Great news! I expected to come home yesterday to a crockpot full of charred apple goo. What I did come home to was a perfect pot of apple butter! I guess the cleaning lady just didn't realize what it was and thought it was burning or something. Here's the recipe that I modified from one Allrecipes.com:
Crock Pot Apple Butter:
5 1/2 pounds apples, peeled and chopped
2 cups sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp salt
Place all ingredients in crockpot and cook on high for one hour. Then reduce temp to low and cook for 9 hours or until thick. Remove cover and cook additional hour on low. Allow to cool before placing in containers.
A few pointers: I halfed the recipe and it made 4 jars, which is way more reasonable for a family of 2 and a half. I also added a little allspice. This recipe will store in the freezer indefinately, and is good in the fridge for a few weeks.
This weekend I'm making a bunch of breakfast foods to put in the freezer and have throughout the month. This apple butter will go perfect with almost everything I'm making, and it's WAY healthier than syrup!
Crock Pot Apple Butter:
5 1/2 pounds apples, peeled and chopped
2 cups sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp salt
Place all ingredients in crockpot and cook on high for one hour. Then reduce temp to low and cook for 9 hours or until thick. Remove cover and cook additional hour on low. Allow to cool before placing in containers.
A few pointers: I halfed the recipe and it made 4 jars, which is way more reasonable for a family of 2 and a half. I also added a little allspice. This recipe will store in the freezer indefinately, and is good in the fridge for a few weeks.
This weekend I'm making a bunch of breakfast foods to put in the freezer and have throughout the month. This apple butter will go perfect with almost everything I'm making, and it's WAY healthier than syrup!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Mishaps in the Kitchen
Last night I made homemade granola. OMG!! It's worth making if only for the smell. I'll post the recipe in a bit. I cook really awesome things like this and it makes me want to say, "Suck it, stay at home moms!"
But then I'm immediately put in my place with my next project....
I also thought it would be cool to make some homemade apple butter to go with the breakfast foods I'm making this weekend.... FAIL. The recipe is easy enough. You pretty much just cut up a bunch of apples and place them all in the crockpot with a bunch of sugar and spices. How could someone possibly screw that up, right?
Well, not only did I screw it up but I almost burned down our house in the process. I acidentally left the crockpot on high (it was only supposed to cook for an hour on high, then cook on low for 9-11 hours). Good thing the cleaning lady came today and saw that there was about to be a fire in my kitchen. OOPS! And now instead of coming home to the delicious smell of warm apple butter, I get to come home to the smell of charred apples. Awesome.
That's what I get for trying to be super mom.
Once I actually get the recipe right, I'll post it.
But then I'm immediately put in my place with my next project....
I also thought it would be cool to make some homemade apple butter to go with the breakfast foods I'm making this weekend.... FAIL. The recipe is easy enough. You pretty much just cut up a bunch of apples and place them all in the crockpot with a bunch of sugar and spices. How could someone possibly screw that up, right?
Well, not only did I screw it up but I almost burned down our house in the process. I acidentally left the crockpot on high (it was only supposed to cook for an hour on high, then cook on low for 9-11 hours). Good thing the cleaning lady came today and saw that there was about to be a fire in my kitchen. OOPS! And now instead of coming home to the delicious smell of warm apple butter, I get to come home to the smell of charred apples. Awesome.
That's what I get for trying to be super mom.
Once I actually get the recipe right, I'll post it.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Freezer Cooking
I've been reading a lot about freezer cooking. A lot of ladies out there devote just one day a month to making a ton of dishes to be frozen and eaten throughout the month. I'm intrigued.
At this point, I don't know if I have several hours in one day to devote to the project. So I've come up with a plan of my own. When I make a dish we eat often, like meatballs, I'll make a double batch and freeze one. I'm already cooking anyway, so it's not an extra time committment to just roll out a few more meatballs. I'm going to work this weekend on making some freezer breakfasts. We rely heavily on frozen waffles and pancakes. I'm thinking it may be healthier and cheaper to make a batch from scratch and freeze them. I've also read that you can make breakfast burritos and freeze them, so I'll give that a try as well. Breakfast is the meal that we rely on processed foods the most, so I think starting with some freezer breakfasts would make the biggest impact.
Wish me luck!
Is there anyone else out there into freezer cooking? Advice and comments are welcome!
At this point, I don't know if I have several hours in one day to devote to the project. So I've come up with a plan of my own. When I make a dish we eat often, like meatballs, I'll make a double batch and freeze one. I'm already cooking anyway, so it's not an extra time committment to just roll out a few more meatballs. I'm going to work this weekend on making some freezer breakfasts. We rely heavily on frozen waffles and pancakes. I'm thinking it may be healthier and cheaper to make a batch from scratch and freeze them. I've also read that you can make breakfast burritos and freeze them, so I'll give that a try as well. Breakfast is the meal that we rely on processed foods the most, so I think starting with some freezer breakfasts would make the biggest impact.
Wish me luck!
Is there anyone else out there into freezer cooking? Advice and comments are welcome!
Greek Meatballs
These meatballs have been a regular dinner at our house for years. They are super easy and delicious! I've been reading a lot about freezer cooking to save time, so I made a double batch and stuck one in the freezer. This recipe normally makes 4 servings, so Free Range Hubby and I each get a serving for dinner and a serving for lunch the next day. I usually serve them with some steamed veggies on the side.
Greek Meatballs
1 pound ground beef (I use 91% lean ground beef)
1 cup uncooked brown rice
1 small package feta cheese
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 jar pasta sauce
Cook rice and allow to cool. Mix rice with beef, oregano, and half of the feta cheese. Roll mixture into 16 balls. Place in casserole dish and cover with jar of pasta sauce. Sprinkle remaining feta on top. Bake at 450 degrees for 45 minutes or until the meat reaches 170 degrees.
Greek Meatballs
1 pound ground beef (I use 91% lean ground beef)
1 cup uncooked brown rice
1 small package feta cheese
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 jar pasta sauce
Cook rice and allow to cool. Mix rice with beef, oregano, and half of the feta cheese. Roll mixture into 16 balls. Place in casserole dish and cover with jar of pasta sauce. Sprinkle remaining feta on top. Bake at 450 degrees for 45 minutes or until the meat reaches 170 degrees.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Procucts I Love
In the quest to find balance between whole foods and processed foods, I often spend A LOT of time in the grocery store reading labels. One fine Saturday morning, I stumbled upon these little blessings: Sweet Potato Pancakes. They are the most delicious frozen pancakes I have ever eaten, and Free Range Bennett loves them too! With just a little bit of butter and a banana, they are the perfect breakfast. They are made with real food ingredients like eggs, whole wheat flour, cinnamon, sweet potatoes, etc. - and not a bunch of chemicals. Even better, they are from a locally based company! De Wafelbakkers headquarters is actually right across the street from Free Range Bennett's daycare. I would love to tour their factory. Sometimes when I pick up Free Range Bennett they're baking at the factory and it smells HEAVENLY!!!
I always try to support local businesses when I can, especially those that care enough to make quality products. I buy ours at Whole Foods, and they have a few different varieties, not just sweet potato. I'm pretty sure they're sold nationwide, so check it out!
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