Comments on: Real Food?

By: Milehimama

Milehimama — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 14:34:36 +0000

By the time they mail to Houston it’s not really worth it. There is a local grain distributor but I’ve never ordered from her: http://www.bethlehemharvest.com/

There’s also PleasantHill Grain in the midwest.

By: natural mama

natural mama — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 06:28:10 +0000

Azure Standard does do UPS delivery on many items, but one would have to factor in shipping costs to see if it’s worth purchasing that way. I am also able to get health food and healthier personal care products at iherb dot com for very good prices. They offer free shipping with $40. Amazon also can have good deals on groceries. I buy my liquid stevia there at less than half the cost of my health food store and cheaper than Azure Standard, also with free super saver shipping. The farm I get my grass fed & grass finished beef from ships, but again with shipping I’m not sure if the expense is worth it. alderspring dot com. They deliver to my health food store but my health food store sells it for less than what is on the alderspring website. We were able to get local farm eggs, but one of my children has an egg allergy. We now substitute with chia seeds & water which has worked great in all of my baking recipes, is super healthy, and saves us money on eggs.

By: Milehimama

Milehimama — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 01:39:10 +0000

@Natural Mama Azure Standard comes highly recommended. I wish they had a drop off in TX!

By: natural mama

natural mama — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 00:58:08 +0000

I am on this journey as well. The transition is slow as the budget allows! We are now grinding our own grain and will be dehydrating food this summer. Heavenly Homemakers dot com is a nice blog with lots of recipes based on Nourishing Traditions. Budget friendly and healthy! I belong to a food co-op called Azure Standard that specializes in bulk health food. They are based out of Oregon and deliver once a month to buying groups in about half of the states. They are another resource for better health food prices. Azure Standard dot com.

By: TeachX3 ...aka... Dannielle

TeachX3 ...aka... Dannielle — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 00:07:31 +0000

Kudos! My family too, is riding this bandwagon with you… ‘baby steps’ is a wonderful way to look at it. Back when I first became aware that I needed to make these changes (every single one you have posted here!), I kind of went ‘over board’… I ended up becoming so wrapped up in it all, that I could not get a grasp on a middle ground. It has been a struggle, due to the fact that we are not rich ‘$$ wise’ … but this is something I will not compromise on. I am going to share your page on fb… I hope that is OK. Healthy living to you and yours!

By: Milehimama

Milehimama — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:18:23 +0000

Oh, I need to update. I found a store that sells organic russet potatoes (and for less than $3 for a 5 pound bag.)

By: oyun

oyun — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:43:30 +0000

I think your next steps will be relatively painless for you. And I am a big beliver in baby steps that work for your sources and your budget. Any change is better than no change.

By: The Local Cook

The Local Cook — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:56:06 +0000

I’ve been struggling with the cost of grassfed, organic beef, so I appreciate your priority list! Thank you so much!

By: Kimi @ The Nourishing Gourmet

Kimi @ The Nourishing Gourmet — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:25:38 +0000

Great job! I think it’s always hard to decide what to compromise on when you know you can’t afford it all. I think that you have picked out the important issues.

By: Millie @ Real Food for Less Money

Millie @ Real Food for Less Money — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 02:30:23 +0000

You are embarking on an exciting journey! Since you have already elimated quite a bit of ‘stuff’ for Mr. R and changing your fats, I think your next steps will be relatively painless for you. And I am a big beliver in baby steps that work for your sources and your budget. Any change is better than no change.

By: Mary Alice

Mary Alice — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 02:23:59 +0000

We have no problem finding organic potatoes in Colorado, but then again our state is the second biggest producer of them in the US.
I grow stevia in my garden, but truly I don’t like it. I mix it in with the kids tea, though.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 14:43:36 +0000

Argh just lost long comment

I don’t think that in the UK free-range is necessarily much better than in the USA, though I don’t know a huge amount. I’ve been reading the Rough Guide to Ethical Living book and free-range hens in the UK must also have access to the outside, but they often don’t venture outside their hut. Large stocks are often de-beaked due to high stocking. For organic the standards are more stringent, de-beaking is not allowed and they must have more access to the outside, etc. However, due to high stocking sometimes pecking is a problem. The best standards are apparently those of the Soil Association (Certification: UK5) who stipulate smaller stock sizes.

Of course some free-range chickens will be kept in great conditions. I suppose it’s best if you know where the eggs actually come from, which is hard if everything is bought from the supermarket. Asda organic eggs (near us) I think are soil association approved – though I suppose they may change suppliers regularly.

However, the price of organic eggs (as with most organic products) is rather prohibitive.

As for health, my plans this year are to try to eat more fruit and veg. I always avoid sweetener filled products – I think that – in general – aspartame, etc, are more dangerous to health than a reasonable amount of sugar.

I also pledged to only buy British reared pork products because European standards aren’t as high. Although I did just buy some German Bierwurst – which probably has pork in! A small slip.

So my food manifesto is a bit vague, but I’m going to have a really good think.

By: Milehimama

Milehimama — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:03:26 +0000

Mr Mamasays has a black powder rifle that he is itching to fire, but needs to find someone with land and game!

I’ve never had anything more exotic than a buffalo burger, so it should be an adventure!

By: Hanna

Hanna — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:03:29 +0000

I’ve said it before, Mr. Mamasays should learn to hunt game. You can’t get much more organic and grass fed than that. And as long as you process it yourself, it’s much less expensive, and a lot of guys really enjoy hunting.

By: Nutrition Facts

Nutrition Facts — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 23:06:01 +0000

Nevertheless trans fat is also a critical tool for commercial food producers, from grocery chains to restaurants. Nutrition Facts

By: Susan

Susan — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:10:09 +0000

Yes it probably is easier here. We have some American friends here who said that the price differential here between regular and organic food is much smaller because there is less of a difference than in the US. Things have also changed and improved in the last 20 years though as various additives have been banned. You talking about colourings in white foods reminds me of when I was little and one of my brothers had to avoid various additives. I remember Macdonalds chips (fries) had sunset yellow in them.

By: Denise

Denise — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 11:10:41 +0000

I’ve had some of the same thoughts, especially from an ethical standpoint. Son 2 won’t eat pork or beef since visiting the college farm and looking into their eyes; maybe the whole fam should follow his lead. Son 2 and I are also gluten sensitive, so wheat and other gluten-laden products are being restricted. Thanks for a thoughtful post. Happy New Year!

By: Kim - The Nourishing Cook

Kim - The Nourishing Cook — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:56:51 +0000

You are amazing! great job in feeding your family and keeping your priorities in mind. None of us are perfect and you’ve inspired me to do a bit more sleuthing to see what’s in our food.

I am making all of the recipes out of Nourishing Traditions, so this is keeping me in line lately, I’m not buying nearly as much processed food. Thanks for your suggestions on the blog too, especially the meatless recipes. I just bought a HUGE bag of lentils!

By: Milehimama

Milehimama — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 03:28:25 +0000

Other places artificial colors lurk that you may not think of:
pickles (except for Claussen and certain varieties of Kroger store brand)
salad dressing
soup
frozen entrees
marachino cherries
canned fruit and some applesauce
cookies, chips, crackers. Crackers very often have TBHQ, esp. store brand.
Yogurt, even “healthy” adult yogurt; ice cream; candy. Chocolate “flavored” stuff.
Devil’s Food cake, mix, cookies, etc.

By: Milehimama

Milehimama — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 03:22:52 +0000

I don’t know that I have any deep thoughts on stevia, LOL! I’ve tried it but haven’t baked with it (I usually take my tea and coffee without sugar). I do know it’s all natural, won’t raise your blood sugar, and fairly safe. Once when I was pregnant I was at my doctor’s house (I was good friends with his wife) and he offered me stevia. I personally prefer stevia to artificial sweeteners, especially while pregnant.

When we started the no color diet, the Feingold website was helpful (we didn’t join, but did kind of a modified stage 3 Feingold plan). Just read every label you can, and even after you find a brand that is “safe” check it periodically because food companies change things all the time!