I have to say that I am happy that it's the weekend, as this week has been the week from H*LL, for our family. We adore our beagles, and had to send our oldest, Chipper, over the Rainbow Bridge, on Wednesday. Chip has contracted stomach cancer and looked and acted like an anorexic person. The glow and spark was gone from his eyes and he was asking us to send him on. Knowing his spirit was nearly gone, we did the loving things and put him down. We were and are sad, lonely and wondering why...but we know we did the right thing. Although it was a horrible event in our lives, it was a beautiful moment at the end, our vet and his staff were very respectful, considerate and loving. And Chip crossed over to a place with no pain and no illness. God Bless my furbaby.
That said, I've been reading articles about our food and the prices we will or are paying. My question and homework is
"Do you spend more for food now than you did before you started eating healthier or less" Please share with us some of the basics that you buy and what you pay for them. Also, include any tips that you have found helpful in keeping to your food budget financially in light of the high costs of food."
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We aren't and were never big 'junk' food eaters, just out of control portion eaters. So I can say we didn't spend money on chips, cookies, ice cream, etc. But the price of fruit and vegetables (fresh) in our area is out of control. My basics are different kinds of lettuce, we love salads and a head of iceberg lettuce is $1,58 this week. Romaine is over $1.79 a head, tomatoes are $1.39 for four small tomatoes, cherry tomatoes are $2,59 for a small carton. Oranges are 33 cents a piece; apples as high as 2.99 a bag of 8. Bananas are 64 cents a pound. So I have had to adjust my thinking to what is important is going to cost more. I am hoping that as the summer season comes along, we can see a drop in some of these. I buy bread at the wholesale bread store but even that for whole wheat, 1/2 calorie is $2.97 a lb loaf.
So how about you, what are you doing to eat healthy and still not take out a bank loan?
Hugs for a great weekend.
Cathy Jacobson
Summer Challenge Goals:
1. Get out of the house and in the pool four days a week. 2. Schedule meals a week at a time. 3. five fruits and vegetables a day, along with water.
Posts: 3433 | Location: Central USA | Registered: March 11, 2004
Hah! Yes, a garden bed. I'm pretty sure a 10x10 anything, with dressers, would be too big for our bedroom. Though I bet it would keep the dog from trying to push me off the bed all night...hmmm...
Beginning of September is the target date for having the bed built, as I could put in corn, cucumbers, carrots, peas, onions, and peppers and get the "winter" crops going.
Challenge Goals: *10 minutes of unplanned exercise five times a week *Gym time twice a week *Socialize at least once every two weeks.
Then again, I am a justice-minded Libra and I find it difficult to be blase' about that kind of thing.
I'm a Libra, too :P But I fully admit to thinking it was wrong to incarcerate Jean Valjean for stealing a loaf of bread, that rich people SHOULD pay more taxes, and that everyone really does want what's best for society, not for themselves.
I have no idea why I'm so disappointed in life so often....
Challenge Goals: *10 minutes of unplanned exercise five times a week *Gym time twice a week *Socialize at least once every two weeks.
Originally posted by D in St Pete: my mom asked about people "stealing" our food. I really had nothing as a response, other than, "If someone steals corn? At least they'll be eating healthier?"
If you're growing more than you need, I understand that response. However, for most folks who were growing tomatoes on their patios in Virginia, they were only growing a few plants in pots and the thieves were getting more tomatoes than the people who bought and cared for the plants. Then again, I am a justice-minded Libra and I find it difficult to be blase' about that kind of thing.
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But, I really enjoy gardening, so I don't want to sound pushy and like it's the OMG ONLY WAY TO LIVE!
I understand. When I broke it to a former coworker who is a Master Gardener (sort of a degree in gardening) that I now lived in a condo and had no grass in which to plant anything, she was horrified, because gardening is her life. One of the reasons I moved in here is because gardening isn't my thing.
I know! And I can't wait! The downside is that it is right in town, so I'll have to brave the tourist hordes to get there and hope I can find a parking space within a 50-block radius.
Posts: 7153 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
Originally posted by D in St Pete: I'm working on the plan for a 10x10 bed that I think would be manageable for us...
I am so dense! I JUST realized that you are talking about a GARDEN bed...
I was thinking that you were working on plans for a 10'x10' platform bed or something. The managable part???? We can manage to put it in our bedroom? We can manage to sew sheets to make it? And then I could not figure out how it fit in with the garden posts... maybe it is an out door bed... like for sunbathing or something????
And then I realize OH!!!! a garden bed... dirt... in the ground... for plants!
I went to pay for the Y today and it went from $23 to $27 a month...
Food I’ve bought this week: This is breakfast for 3 people (2 adults and a 16 yo boy… basically 3+ adults) Lunches for me and Jamie, Nelson buys lunch Dinners for 3 of us
Only organic items were lettuce and carrots Nearly everything was store brand and/or on sale
Farmers market: 11.00 4 lbs red potatoes & 3 lbs broccoli - $5 ½ flat strawberries (about 18 cups) $6 (this might be slightly less than groc store…)
Cost Plus: Thai green curry paste 2.99
Trader Joes total: 12.25 Box chicken broth -1.99 EVVO -3.99 Vanilla extract 3.99 12 VERY green smallish bananas 2.28
Safeway: 10.57 (Sunday) White choc bar 3.15 Whipped cream 3.69 (choc and whipped cream for a cake recipe) 6 French bread rolls 3.00 2 ripe med bananas .73
Safeway Monday Cinnamon crunch cereal 2.99 Post Raisin bran 2.00 Nabisco shredded mini wheats 2.00 12 granola bars 4.98
Dill pickle relish 1.49 Chinese Chili bean sauce 3.49 baking soda 1.49 shake and bake 3.21 9.68
Frozen foods 32 oz corn 2.00 32 oz mixed vegs 2.00 Shelled edamame 2.49 2 bags Asian mixed vegs 4.50 10.99
6 eggs 2.09
2 gals skim milk 5.39
Store brand 100% ww bread 3.09 (I could have gotten some for $1.50 a loaf... but don't like that kind.) Oroweat ww English muffins 2.50
5.59 3 packages chicken legs quarters (about 14 lbs) 13.66 (with skin and bones .99/lb)
7 ripe med bananas 1.97 1 head organic iceberg 1.49 2 large artichokes 5.00 1 large tomato 2.37 4 smallish rock hard avocados 2.99 2 lbs organic baby carrots 3.00 16.85
“foods” bought by Nelson this weekend (that personally, I wouldn‘t buy): 12 diet Cokes and a package of Necco candies 6.32
Grand total: $119.35
I don’t plan on going back to store until Saturday or Sunday… I have a head of cabbage and a bunch of oranges and grapefruit from last week.
Will check back in with what Nelson spends this week. Today he said, “I had a snack… 85 cents”. “What’d you get for 85 cents???” “An almond Joy”. He skips meals, sometimes. (sigh)
I'm working on the plan for a 10x10 bed that I think would be manageable for us...and my mom asked about people "stealing" our food. I really had nothing as a response, other than, "If someone steals corn? At least they'll be eating healthier?"
I was thinking of your sunroom area--a ha! Found the thread with all the pictures! Your VERANDA! I don't know what your community rules allow for, though, so things I might want to try--like herb boxes outside the windows that open, a row of potted flowers outside the front door--might not fly.
But, I really enjoy gardening, so I don't want to sound pushy and like it's the OMG ONLY WAY TO LIVE! I don't think furniture would have been a concern out there if it was my place, because it would be my own mini greenhouse
Originally posted by SheriaVa: A main reason why I never tried to grow any veggies in my previous apartment--though I had a nice big patio that got sun all day--was that I heard complaints from neighbors that their tomato plants would get raided at night by neighbors just as the tomatoes were ripening.
That's funny -- I had a friend who lived in Boston tell me he had to start locking his car doors because his neighbors had so many tomatoes they would leave them in other people's cars to get rid of them. He didn't mind getting the free produce, it was just that he didn't always find them in time...
Originally posted by D in St Pete: Rather than putting it inside your house at a window, is there a sunny spot near your front door or just outside your back patio area that gets a lot of sun?
I don't have a back patio area. The only entrances to the outside I have in my condo are my front door (which does get some afternoon sun) and my garage door, which isn't an option. Right now, I may be able to avoid having my peppers stolen since there aren't many people living here yet, but all the people walking through the model units come right past my door, so that may be an issue.
A main reason why I never tried to grow any veggies in my previous apartment--though I had a nice big patio that got sun all day--was that I heard complaints from neighbors that their tomato plants would get raided at night by neighbors just as the tomatoes were ripening. Since I don't have any private outdoor space here at the new condo, I hadn't really thought about growing anything here either, though with the price of peppers and y'all's advice, I may give it a try.
I'll have to look into that. I don't get much direct sun in my windows (though I get plenty of light), so I'm not sure if that would be a problem for peppers. Thanks for the idea.
Like Denise said, a 5-15 gallon pot works. OR...you can get a neat looking half-barrel or other large container and have more than one plant. Rather than putting it inside your house at a window, is there a sunny spot near your front door or just outside your back patio area that gets a lot of sun?
You're in Zone 7 (right?), so you'd have the same "seasons" for growing as some of the agricultural areas of the south. A local gardening store should have some plants already started, so you don't have to start from seed. The ones I've grown, both in the ground and in containers, have yielded closer to 10-20 per plant, depending on how well I took care of it.
Your prices probably don't change a lot because I would bet, on the eastern seaboard, you have the advantage of fall/winter/spring-ready produce from the south, and summer/fall-ready produce from the northeast/midwest. Being in the middle of the country (on a north-south scale) cushions you from some of the prices variations others might see.
Challenge Goals: *10 minutes of unplanned exercise five times a week *Gym time twice a week *Socialize at least once every two weeks.
Originally posted by GoingSkiing: But that is why they are outragously expensive right now... but they will get less expensive next month or the month after. You may very well find red pepper affordable in the summer and fall... but not in the winter or spring.
I don't find that to be true here at all. There will OCCASIONALLY be nasty-looking red bell peppers that are as low as $2.99/lb at various times of the year, but I buy peppers nearly every week and I do not see hardly any variation in the price between winter and summer here.
Posts: 7153 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
Originally posted by Brie: The organic ones are $4.99/lb here.
Red, yellow and orange bell peppers are $3.99-5.99/lb here (DC area and Rehoboth) at Safeway and Whole Foods or $2.50-3.50 PER pepper at Harris Teeter--and that's conventional (non-organic). I don't see organic peppers here much. I see organic berries and such, but I can't remember seeing organic peppers much.
Posts: 7153 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
Just got back from the market. I spent $135 for a weeks worth of food for the three of us (breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner). I had to do a bit of a pantry stock up on snacks for Cori so about $20 is for stuff that will last a month. I also bought a huge bag of frozen wild caught, gulf shrimp for $21 which will also be enough for 5 - 6 meals.
I bought all organic.
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Sheri - I love bell pepper but also prefer reds or yellows. I buy them once/week despite the high cost. (The organic ones are $4.99/lb here).
summer 7 challenge goals: - Meditate every day - Start the day with positive imagery and self talk Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; and on our character we build our destiny.
Red and yellow peppers are also crazy expensive here in the midwest. But I have found that if I go to cost-co I can get a huge bag of mini peppers or a mid sized bag of regular sized red peppers for way less than the cost of 3 peppers at the grocery store. The trick is just checking the expiration dates on the bags. I can usually get 3/4 of the way through the bag before they go bad. So I figure that I'm money ahead even if a few go to waste. The other option would be to split a bag with someone.
Originally posted by SheriaVa: Which brings me to my questions. Are red, yellow and orange bell peppers expensive where you live as well? If so, and if you enjoy eating them, do you buy them or do you only buy the green ones because they are cheaper?
Peppers aren't in season in MOST of the US right now and are expensive. We can grow them in the warmer parts of CA, but the plants are just going in the ground right now. The peppers will be red about July or August and September and October.
I've grown peppers. They need a fairly warm and long growing season. They just won't grow at all in cooler CA climates near the ocean. Green peppers are basically the same as red peppers, but are not on the plant as long and are picked "green". One plant makes about 4-6 peppers. If I put a pepper plant in now... in my climate... I'd have red peppers in August when they are cheap(er) any way. But they WILL grow in a sunny spot in a 5-15 gallon pot. And they are an attractive plant... and you can bring them indoors when it gets too cold.
But, for right now, if peppers in the stores are comining from the US... they are probably from a hot house... or if they are not grown here and imported from Mexico.
But that is why they are outragously expensive right now... but they will get less expensive next month or the month after. You may very well find red pepper affordable in the summer and fall... but not in the winter or spring. There are some fruits and vegs that I just find too expensive out of season... but eat a LOT of them when they are in season.
Can you buy them frozen? I know that I've seen them frozen as part of a vegetable medley.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: GoingSkiing,
Originally posted by D in St Pete: Sheri, I always have a bag of frozen, sliced bell peppers and onions (store brand!) in the freezer.
If what I was using red bell peppers for was always in a dish where they were fully cooked, I wouldn't mind using frozen, but a lot of what I use them for is either raw or cooked al dente and I haven't been able to get the same experience (bite) with a frozen pepper. That may be my inexperience with frozen veggies, but I find the texture of some frozen veggies to be kinda mushy.
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Don't know if it interests you, but bell peppers are pretty easy to grow, and grow well in containers.
I'll have to look into that. I don't get much direct sun in my windows (though I get plenty of light), so I'm not sure if that would be a problem for peppers. Thanks for the idea.
Posts: 7153 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
