So, I walk this tight rope of nourishing our bodies while attempting to maintain some sort of a budget.
In addition, our older children were not brought up on all whole foods as our family has been gradually progressing toward a much better way of eating over the past seven years. As a result, we have some fussy eaters that prefer white starch to whole grains and vegetables. This is another challenge and one that I have had to compromise on.
So last night we had the fried rice recipe from the 30 day vegan workshop - it was excellent. Using toasted sesame oil was new for us, otherwise it was very simple to prepare. I made plain rice for those picky eaters in the family. I also served an organic spinach salad from a local farm. Our lettuce isn't quite ready for picking yet. I added feta and served with a garlic balsamic vinegar dressing.
That is where we are at right now and I look forward to using this blog to share as I learn and put new ideas into practice.
warm wishes,
Tonya
It truly is a progress. There's just the two of us. I would like to eat better, but DH prepares many of our dinners (I work until 6PM and get home at 7PM), and he has limited cooking skills. Oh, when I make something healthy, he eats it, but he "must" have his soda, artificial sweetener, artificial coffee creamer, HFCS laden peanut butter, etc. I compensate by making breads, desserts, casseroles, etc., from scratch. My drinks of choice are water, black tea, or black coffee. Well, keep doing what you can. Remember "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it" applies to more than just religious/spiritual matters.
ReplyDeleteI can feel your pain! When I go shopping for groceries and look into my cart - half as full as all the others and the double or triple of costs, I have to swallow hard... But then I think of the benefits and the health of all of us which makes the paying a bit easier.....
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about the cost of organic food, it's crazy. And there is a little piece of me that says, is it really organic, or did someone just slap a lable on it and charge more? I know, very cynical. We eat much better during the warmer months when we can grow some of our own and get much from the Farmer's Market. It doesn't seem right that the food that is good for you should be so cost prohibitive, does it?
ReplyDeleteOh dear! I would totally be one of those "picky eaters" if I was with you. I WANT to like all wholesome, healthy foods...it's just really hard if you can't stand the taste! ;) I think what you are doing is wonderful. :)
ReplyDeleteI do try to use whole grain, whole wheat, honey and such as much as possible and homemake most things so that it isn't all bad. :)
that sounds like a fabulous dinner to me! But I hear you, I've got some white bread picky eaters in my house. Making the switch to whole grain bread took quite some time, but we're there, so I know there's hope!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. It is so much more expensive to buy organic. I often wonder why that is. I think thats why I love gardening and canning our food. At least, I know what is in it. Enjoy your day and God bless.
ReplyDeleteI did the same recipe but I tweaked it to suit my family :)
ReplyDeleteIt is good to go through this workshop. It is not to become vegan per say, but to learn to eat more vegetables and grains in our diet.
Yours looks delicious :)
m.
If you do not have a food dehydrator, start watching for a used one.....you can dry some of your harvest items and use them during the winter. I found a suitable one for $5 at a yard sale....it may take a little longer ( and maybe not), but I used it a lot last year...this year I hope to even more. I am going to do more food blogging....I can let you know if post something you might find useful in your healthy food endeavors. ;)
ReplyDeleteYou are walking a tightrope that many of us struggle with. I try to lower our cost of eating but it isn't easy when you are trying to buy healthy things but also having to cater for the older kids who weren't necessarily started off with all the healthier versions of things. We keep saying we need to budget better but what cost do you put on healthy food? I don't know, it is so hard isn't it!!
ReplyDeleteI relate so much to the issues you bring up in this post--wanting to provide wholesome, life-giving food for your family, struggling to stay within a budget, encouraging picky eaters...I've been thinking lately about how home gardening can be such a good remedy to all those issues...if we can find the time to incorporate it into our lives! I look forward to reading more of your reflections as you go through the workshop.
ReplyDeleteLooks delicious...I have been inspired by your blog and am giving more thought to the food I serve my family too. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I have slowly changed our taste-buds over the years. I honestly believe processed food has no flavour now, but it took us a while to get there!
ReplyDeleteI find when I make sourdough, I can cheat a little by adding 1 cup organic wholemeal spelt to 2-3 cups white bakers flour. Then I add pepitas, sunflower seeds and linseed (I think you call them flax in the US). This way I get a lovely soft, almost white loaf my 9 year old will eat, with a lot of flavour and good nutrients in the mix.
When I think about how my husband and I have changed from convenience city eaters, to more thoughtful (from scratch) flavoursome ingredients, we really had to get there in small increments. I have such a challenge converting my 9 year old however. She's convinced that vegetables are evil and chocolate should be a meal, LOL.
I've been able to SLOWLY get my family to eat better though they do have their days when they grumble about something very healthy, lol. But I don't want my children to have health problems later on in life because all they ate was processed garbage. I read "Fast Food Nation" and if you ever get a chance, check it out -- it explains why healthy produce costs so much more than that processed stuff; it's pretty heartbreaking when you think about the fact that, clearly, our children's health isn't important enough to invest in.
ReplyDeleteI agree you can spend next to nothing on groceries but, it will be all junk. We rarely eat meat here and our family of four spend about $75 a week on groceries. Right now our groceries are either fresh veggies/fruit and basic items (flour, honey, milk, butter).
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have a plan. We are eating so much better these days, and it makes you feel better. We grow a garden and can & preserve. Buy organic when fresh is not available.
ReplyDeleteYou are doing very well. I just have one question - How are smores healthy or organic?
We have no white sugar or white flour in our house. Smores are yummy - but not even close to being on our diet.
Cheryl