I'm getting so overwhelmed with the whole foods/organic foods/plant-based diet information that's popping up everywhere. I wanted to start making some changes for my family, but budget is tight for our family of 6, and I'm still learning and researching. It's definitely a work in progress.
I have lots and lots of questions. For example....
-Is eating a little organic better than not organic at all?
-What kind of eggs do I buy or do we just eliminated them completely (you know, plant based diet)?
-Do we drink milk? If so, how much & what kind?
This list could go on....
Here's my list so far of little things I'm trying to do differently.
I don't know how helpful some of these are, but it's the thought that counts, right?
1- Reading more food labels, looking for natural ingredients
2- Trying to eliminate foods w/ high fructose corn syrup
3- Buying 100% whole wheat bread
4- Using other sweeteners like honey or raw sugar or stevia
5- Buying less processed food and trying to make more things from scratch (granola bars, cookies, muffins, soups... Yes, I know we should probably eat less sweets, but it's hard)
6-Cutting out on foods with hydrogenated soybean oil (this is hard, it seems to be everywhere!)
7-Cooking with real butter & olive oil
8- Buying organic apples (we eat a lot of them!)
9- Natural peanut butter & Jelly (okay, I like Jif Natural, but you have to start somewhere, right?)
10-Eating organic lettuce/salad
Please share your thoughts & ideas! And, please correct me if any of these are off base!
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It sounds like you have your priorities in order and have set realistic goals. I tried eating "all organic" and one VERY EXPENSIVE week later decided that simply wasn't going to be possible for my family. But every small change helps!!
ReplyDeleteGlad I'm not the only one trying to find a reasonable balance. Thanks for you thoughts!
DeleteWe go back and forth all the time! In a perfect world I know what I would feed my family. The reality is we live on a tight budget too. Plus time! I mean I love making things from scratch, but the time it takes is mind boggling sometimes. I think little changes are better than none. And be aware is a huge step. So I try little things while staying in our budget. I also try not to read to much because then I get discouraged when I can't make all the changes I want. Sounds like you have a good plan!
ReplyDeleteThanks Melinda, I've decided not to get too stressed about it, and just trust Jesus to meet our needs too. I figure a few changes are better than none!
DeleteThese are great changes to make, Jenny!
ReplyDeleteI guess I would just add to try to buy stuff in season, locally. If I have a choice between local and organic, I choose local. It's better tasting, cheaper, supports the community farmers, and often even may be organic in process, even if they can't afford the label (or certification) for organic.
Also, if you see some organic coconut oil, it's great for cooking things at higher temperatures, where butter and extra virgin olive oil may burn, like for stir fry or for browning meat.
Thank you for the suggestions. I've heard a little about coconut oil, but wasn't sure what do to with it :)
ReplyDelete