My cupboards are virtually bare of all canned foods, I'd know for years that the sodium level of anything canned was never a good thing, but I just couldn't resist the ease of always having things on hand, and food never spoiling.
I still have black beans, and pinto beans, garbanzo beans, Kirkland canned turkey and chicken and fluff!! It's still a matter of being lazy and not wanting to soak beans for hours on end before cooking but it's a slow and gradual process that I know we'll eventually conquer.
I still have the humongous bags of Doritos adorning my cupboards and yet I HATE when it turns your finger orange...go figure...
I still have boxes of wheat thins, and Wheatstone crackers as I simply can't live without "crackers and cheese" and a glass of wine.
My most recent "ah ha" moment is recalling when I first came to this country I marveled at the size of the American refrigerator.
The English refrigerator is nothing in comparison.
I have no desire nor time to frequent the grocery store on a daily basis, though the people at BJ's embarrassingly know me by name, But I do need ideas of swapping out the good for the bad....
- potatoes --> cauliflower
- rice --> bulgur, quinoa
- ground beef --> ground turkey
(though what the turkeys fed is surely enough to makes ones head spin and is again enough to make any sane person go vegetarian, less from banging ones head against a wall trying to find free range non GM corn fed poultry. ) - doritos --> ??
- baked beans --> ??
We went on a field trip to an organic farm last week. it was really, really interesting. but what i found encouraging, was that even the farmers said: it's a process. It's not something that can be or is expected to be done overnight. The main guy even said: "look, I'm still drinking Coca-Cola!"
ReplyDeleteIf all you can do is make some better choices to get some of that crap out of your house, then you're doing good!
Personally, I think that things like canned beans, tomatoes, that sort of thing is probably fine. I mean, (especially for a woman who works outside the home) you just can't do everything. Right? I can't!
The little poster on the bottom of your post says a lot and is a great reminder!
Corey thanks for that reminder...there's me trying to go full force as usual as opposed to taking it "slow and steady" so as to not get burnt out.
ReplyDeleteYou're right as long as I gradually make better choices I don't have to worry about everything....
I did end up buying baked beans this weekend especially when I read up that I'd have to soak beans for 4-8hrs...I mean who has that kind of time, you'd have to know you wanted beans for dinner two weeks in advance!!!
I agree with Corey!! It is gradual! Once you start, though, it's hard to stop.
ReplyDeleteI don't buy much at the grocery store anymore. If I do have to run to the store, it's Sun Harvest(the closest thing we have to Trader Joes). Even there, I read labels. I actually found ORGANIC baked beans. I had to doctor them a bit with some local honey, but other than that, they were delicious!
Chips...I just buy tortilla chips. Organic, of course. :) You still get that crunch, but w/o the crap. This week I made homemade hummus to go with them and some homemade guacamole. Yum yum yum. :) Good luck w/the transition! You're doing a great think for your family!!
You really have me thinking about what large refrigerators have done to us. We buy so much because we can store it then we waste so much because we can never eat it all. It might be time to go back to small refrigerators. Meanwhile, we have TWO refrigerators and a freezer. OMG!
ReplyDeleteI usually go to the grocery store each day or every other day. We might do a big shop every month but you're right, the frige isn't big enough to hold everything. But on the plus side, its a five minute walk to the grocery store so it's possible. In America most people have to get in a car and drive to the grocery store.
ReplyDeleteOh btw, coming to your house for wine, cheese and crackers. I could indulge on that until the cows come home. But it must be a good red wine! xx