I can’t quite think of the right title for this post. I am beginning it with the title “Grocery Store Rant”, but instead of “rant” I need a better word to describe my purpose. Maybe it will come to me by the time I finish writing this.
First, some background. I don’t go to the grocery store very often. We have Hummingbird Wholesale and Azure Standard to fill up our pantry with high quality, raw, organic, bulk foods. I receive those orders every month (Azure) or every other month (Hummingbird). Then, weekly, from a local organic farm, I get fruit and greens to supplement our home sprout growing with fresh produce. Also, I can get eggs, chicken and turkey from a local natural farm. Our grass-fed beef comes from a local farm as well. I go into a grocery store only a few times a year. Maybe once every other month.
The local produce farm suffered under the snow as we did, so they’re not able to offer much at this moment. The poultry farm doesn’t have chickens at the moment. This is why Mikah and I found ourselves at the grocery store yesterday. We needed greens and organic chickens. Since we were there, got some extra things. Grape leaves to make dolmas and parsley/onions/lemons to make tabouli. Some treats from the “candy” selection in the health food aisle. I picked a Halvah bar (yumm) and Mikah got a carob-cocoa-nut bar (yumm). The girls were at a sleepover.
Now to the point. This is how I feel every time I am in the grocery store, some times more intensely than others. I see other people pushing their carts full of saltine crackers, sodas, packaged breads, cookies, candy bars, sliced meats. I smell the fried chicken and walk by the ice cream counter. I am salivating over it all. I mean, truly longing to eat it all (well, except the sodas). And over and above the delicious aromas and the promised flavors, the convenience of the whole thing calls to me.
I find myself relating to those in our civilized world who are held under the spell of what our grocery stores offer — who can resist the ease of putting something already made into the cart? who can resist those tastes and aromas? I bet my kids feel it, too.
They know that in our home, when they want cookies or crackers or pizza or soup or chicken or ice cream, they have to wait for the flour to be ground, the meat to be thawed, the dough to be mixed, the food to be cooked. Definitely not as convenient. And though our healthy food is very, very tasty — I would pit our simple, homecooked healthy foods up against many of the mainstream alternatives — there is something about the heightened flavor rush from a piece of grocery store fried chicken or a restaurant hamburger (forget the chalky white flour bun, though). I won’t even attempt to deny that those things taste very, very good at the moment of indulgence.
But I’m not forgetting how it feels afterward, when one eats poorly. It doesn’t feel good. I’m not forgetting that many, many people in our country are unwell. Instead of examining their lifestyle and diet for possible links to sickness, they quite often turn to prescription medicines for symptom relief.
I guess what I’m saying is that just like many people, I feel the pull to indulge in the taste and convenience offered by the supermarket.
I still don’t have the right word for my reflections. This isn’t a rant. I’m not sure what it is. Okay, there’s my word: reflections. I’m very interested in your thoughts.
How do you feel when in the grocery store? What helps you overcome the tempting flavors, aromas and promises of convenience?
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What wonderful reflections, Wardeh! Thank you for your most humble insight! I too feel a disconnect from those other shoppers in the grocery store, and I feel sadness for the ignorant ones whose diet is full of such “processed” items. Of course it is not only in ignorance, but most often, as you say for convenience. But my sadness is mostly directed at the children whose health is compromised by the hardships that countless families endure to make ends meet, as both parents must work or are facing unemployment. But if one could analyze the budget it is actually cheaper to eat more healthy. Convenience foods definitely cost more. The health crisis caused by improper diet and poor nutrition in this country is staggering.
Even so, it is possible, like you practice now, to buy an assortment of grains; to learn about cooking basic foods and simplify our taste cravings; to stock up on sprouting seeds (for times of shortage of fresh greens). Beef or buffalo (grass fed) or poultry take a little more research and investment when purchasing. Your style of waiting to eat the baked goods to satisfy dessert time is wonderful training for the kids, for as you know, it not only teaches about wholesome desserts but also about patience and pride in the effort of baking.
Haven’t yet found a way to get past my cravings of popcorn and dark chocolate {and ice cream though infrequently}. If I ever buy a can of soup (which I did regularly before I retired 4 months ago), I look for “organic or low salt” but I could certainly taste that “processed” flavor even so!
The subject you introduced is so vast but we all must come to grips with it, especially in the near future when we may start to see empty grocery shelves, or closing grocery chains.
Love, Mother
You know what I felt after reading your lovely post? That the home-made flour ground from scratch, organic meals, tasteful meats and fresh produce sounded so very attractive and appealing. And that I want to get to the point where I can live like that too! Every time I go to the grocery store, I get overwhelmed by the choice and overwhelmed by the plethora of ingredients that even the simplest product seems to have. I do see the convenience though. Sad to say with a baby and a toddler I seem to be going more in the way of convenience because it just seems overwhelming getting everything done. But this post inspires me to push on in the direction that I want us to be!
I tend to think a bit more “selfishly” when at the grocery store: how could I have ever survived by shopping there exclusively? Can’t help but think about the nitrates/nitrites in processed meats, pesticides on produce, additives, etc.
I have been somewhat “cured” of cravings since I discovered I was gluten-intolerant and probably allergic as well. As much as I think I’d like to taste that bread or fried chicken, I know how bad I would feel afterwards.
Unfortunately, my husband is not much on the healthy food wagon. He’ll eat what I cook at home, but does indulge in soda and other items from a supermarket. I don’t buy them so occasionally he goes into the grocery store and gets his “stash”. I’m trying to keep our 4 year old away from that stuff as much as possible, but I pick my battles.
I have also learned to make a “good” version of just about anything we like. So I rarely feel guilty about having pizza or dark chocolate and such.
I really enjoyed your post.
This same topic has been on my mind lately as well. Sometimes I feel very discouraged…..I am the only one “around here” that really cooks the way that I do. I feel frustrated at times that I can’t just have a meal on the table in 5 minutes AND have my kitchen cleaned up in the same amount of time!! With that being said, I absolutley wouldn’t change the way we eat. The health benefits are too great. I am finding that I have no patience with people who have health problems and are still not willing to change. I had to change everything about the way that I eat, IT WAS HARD but I did it, it is possible. It is so worth it, but I don’t know how to convey that to others.
I feel greatful that I was given the spiritual strength I needed to change.
Wardeh,
I so admire the way you cook for your family and hope to someday follow in your footsteps. We aren’t *horrible*, but could sure do better. I am trying to make changes, a little at a time. I have begun to try and find places here in NE Oklahoma where I could purchase more quality food than what is on the shelves at Wal-Mart (where I am headed here in just a few minutes!) Honestly, cooking just isn’t my bag, and with our schedule it is even more difficult. Thank you for your wonderful web site. Just wanted you to know that you are an inspiration to others. I know that keeping up websites and such takes time and I appreciate you taking time to share with others.
Dawn
Hi Wardeh~
I think I understand how you feel. Sometimes when I make a deliberate choice I eventually feel trapped by it, for example once I felt I could never buy really nice handmade soap again because “I make it now”. Sometimes indulging in that expensive, pretty, hand made bar of soap for the bathroom sink (where it will last a long while) goes a long way to fix it. Identifying how I feel and giving myself permission to indulge in a treat is very therapuetic.
Another way to say this is sometimes when I find myself being too legalistic I give myself permission to break my rule and thereby to call on Grace. Sometimes we want so badly to be perfect in our ideals that we have a hard time being honest with ourselves.
I read this quote in the book “French Women Don’t Get Fat” by Mireille Guiliano that I think is very honest and insightful. In the story, the author as a teenager had visited the USA and gained weight, and the family doctor was invited to dinner and gave her some sage advice:
“Dr. Miracle’s approach was much less confrontational and more civilized (than cold turkey). According to him, there are two selves in each of us: the one who wants to be slim and healthy and the one who wants something else. One sees the big picture– well-being, self-esteem, fitting into the latest fashions. The other wants pleasures aplenty, and now. One is Narcissus leaning over his pool; the other is Pantagruel leaning over his table. The key, he said, was not to conquer the second, but to broker a rapprochement: make friends of your two selves and be the master of both your willpower AND your pleasures. That was the French way.”
So I say, it’s okay to want and even eat an occasional Oreo cookie, just not the whole bag and not every day…
Embracing our whole selves is part of the Art of Living, that is why I love to study French philosophy. Blessings to you~ Love, Christina
Wardeh,
I thought of one way which may help in the “quick fix” scenerio, but still be somewhat healthy. Can your own foods. I have recently started this. For example you can pressure-cook-can your own meats. I know you lose some of the nutritional value in doing so, but then you have instant meat for any dish. All you have to do is cut up the meat or chicken into chunks, place it in a sterlized canning jar, put a little salt in it, and then pressure cook it. Simple and easy. You do not have to add any other ingredients. After they are pressure cooked you can add them to soups, burritos, sandwhiches, tortillas, crackers, salad,etc etc. The possiblities are endless. Another thing I am going to try soon is to make my own chili and chicken soup, maybe beef stew and pressure cook those as well. I will try one batch, see if my family likes it, then make what I think we would use in a year. I am also going to do this with beans. I would like to have a few jars on hand when I don’t prepare in advance.
Hope this helps,
Tiffany
Tiffany, this has been a plan of mine for some time! At least with the beans and also to have some chili ready to go. I have a pressure canner from my mom, but it is old and needs to be checked. Our local extension office offers to check for you but my trips to town never coincided with their summer hours. So the pressure canner sits…. You are reminding me of this, though, and I appreciate it because this could be the gentle nudge I need. Be sure to share with me how it works for you!
Love, Wardeh
Blessing to you, sweet Christina! I appreciate the thoughts you shared so much! You have really encouraged me. Love, Wardeh
Dawn, you just keep at it! We *all* can do better! I am glad that you find helpful information here. Thank you for the kindness you’ve shared with me. God bless you and your family! Love, Wardeh
I might be the odd person but I actually enjoy grocery shopping, and shopping at Whole Foods changed the way we eat. I liked the small store (ours was Wild Oats before it was bought out) and shopping there seemed like going somewhere special, compared to Safeway. My two oldest were toddler and baby when I started shopping there for organic produce and dairy, and after awhile, I began buying organic beef there too. We’d always make grocery shopping fun, and would get the small, kid-sized carts for them to push and have lunch in the deli after shopping (this wasn’t just for fun, but also so they’d get lunch before falling asleep in the car on the way home). Now, I buy grains, rice, beans and some produce in bulk from Azure and buy beef from a local rancher, but I still go to Whole Foods for produce and dairy. But it does feel a bit artificial now, with everything prepackaged (wow, especially feels that way at Trader Joe’s!).
I would love to start eating extremely healthy but it always seems that when I talk to people about this they will say how expensive it is! I’m not sure of this and would love some feedback on this. Also, I’m very naive in this area I guess but how would you buy everyday things if not for the grocery store, Wal-Mart, etc.=toothpaste, toilet paper, personal products=I’m sure you will understand what I’m asking. I don’t want to sound like I am making up excuses but where do you find receipes on how to make everything from home? One reason and like I said I don’t want to sound like it an excuse but I am a working mom, this year I work 7:00-1:30 but in years past I worked 7:00-5:30. Our family does homeschool one child, 3 children go to school, and I have a preschool/daycare in my home. Being a full-time mom/wife is my dream but has never been possible. If you have any helping anwers to my questions I would love a private e-mail and possible exchange questions/answers back and forth. Please let me know if this is a possible thing as I would love to be on the right path for my family.
Have a pleasant day!
Dana
Hi, Dana! Let me say first of all that I didn’t intend for my reflections to make anyone feel guilty, as I know we’re all doing the best we can with what God gives us, and of course, we’re all hoping to improve over time.
Your first question had to do with healthy foods being more expensive. Well, this can be true. If we don’t find other ways to cut back (buying less convenience foods, not going out to eat, buying in bulk, seeking out unconventional food sources) then shopping at a health food store can be a budget breaker. I hardly ever go to the health food store. Maybe if I was single or if it was just me and my husband, but to feed a family at health food store prices could be very expensive (you could keep costs down by being very choosy and mostly buying in bulk, though). When we first started eating healthfully, our budget was high. Over time, we’ve found ways to pare it down, such as buying through two co-ops, getting produce from local farms, and doing without foods that aren’t local or in season. But still, I know we spend more on food than other people. However, we are hardly ever sick and don’t have medicines or doctor visits to pay for. We are content being home and don’t have expenses for eating or entertainment out. I am just speaking for us and don’t mean to suggest that the choices we’ve made are better or more right than anyone else’s. This is how we’ve made it work.
When I spoke of not going to the grocery store, I was speaking specifically of purchasing food there. I realize now that many people purchase toiletries at their grocery store. I am not/was not in the habit of doing this. I didn’t realize that by saying this, I could give the impression that I make all my own toiletries! While I do make soap and I do use vinegar and baking soda for much of my cleaning, we still purchase other toiletries items. I make some of my purchases at a local walmart-type store called Bi-Mart and I also order toiletries through Azure Standard, as well as stocking up on others from my every-few-months trips to Trader Joe’s.
If you’re looking for recipes, the net is full of them. Do you have any specific recipes you’d like? I can help you find some.
Dana, I would love to be a help to you. Please realize though that making these choices is different for every family. This is not only because of what is in our hearts, but also because of where we live and what our situations are. You have challenges with the work you do, so in your case, I would encourage you to look for simple recipes using simple ingredients. Many of my recipes are this way. Now I may use ingredients that conventional stores don’t carry, but once acquired they are easy to use. I hate to cook complex foods/recipes, with a few exceptions.
Please take a look around here and feel free to write to me if you have more questions. I have chosen to answer your questions here in the comments, since I feel that this discussion may be beneficial to others who visit here. I would like to encourage you or anyone else to offer their thoughts, questions or comments. I have so much learn, and money and time to save, and my family is always pursuing the right path, just like you!
God bless you and your family! Love, Wardeh
I agree that healthy choices are always more expensive than poor choices. An example is the cost of one apple verses the cost of… one serving of candy, or a twinkie. However I believe health is worthwhile
Lately I have been reading the book “Sonama Diet” which is how to eat whole foods, low-glycemic, very healthy and very yummy! How to eat less and enjoy it more with fresh, seasonal ingredients found in your local grocery store! Even if someone does not need to loose weight, the guidelines for lifelong healthy eating habits are excellent. This book is a great can-do place to start a change of habits, and I wish Dana many blessings in her desire to change.
I think, Wardeh, people see what you are doing and they do not realize that your journey to get there has been a process of small changes over the course of many years.
After writing my first comment, I remembered that I buy myself a little treat to enjoy on the way home from the grocery store to help me to not focus on the temptations there: I purchase some carbonated spring water.
Christina, that is a very good point to make. Small changes over the course of time. That is just how we’ve gotten here and how we will get even further. Thanks for your thoughts, friend! Love, Wardeh
Hi Wardeh, I just discovered your blog and I love it already. But we are at very different places. I am just becoming conscious of all this food stuff. We have always cooked most of our meals and don’t eat much processed food, but beyond that I shop at regular grocery stores. We don’t buy a lot of processed things (as we love to cook), but I don’t buy much organic. However, I am starting to become aware that I need to pay more attention to my food. I work full-time and have a lot of other hobbies, and don’t feel that I have enough time to devote to making so much from scratch. But I do want to start buying more organic, more local, more savory food. But where to begin. I feel overwhelmed. And a trip to the health food store costs a fortune. I was wondering if you have any suggestions as to where I should start buying (and learning about) better food, if I was to try – is organic meat a place to start? I have already found some local markets where I am starting to shop for produce. The food chain is so complex that I really don’t know where to begin to choose more wisely and even why to choose differently. I just know this for sure: To start, I want to support more local suppliers, eat better quality meat, and start getting in better touch with my food!
I guess I will just have to keep reading your blog!
Terri, I applaud you for wanting to walk down this path of choosing healthy foods! Please don’t be distressed or discouraged or overwhelmed… this shift to “God’s Natural, Organic, Whole Foods, Grown Locally, In Season” (gnowfglins) takes time, learning and patience. We are all on the journey and try to incorporate more and more as we go along.
You are right, the health food store can be expensive. Is there anyone you know in your area who has tapped into the local/health food avenues? Such a person may know of a co-op, a local farm, a local meat provider. Your best bets for economical, healthy foods are direct from local providers. Do you have a local free weekly “shopper” newspaper? I’ve found that local farms tend to advertise there for their eggs, meat, raw milk, gleanings from the harvest, etc.
For non-perishables and pantry items, your most economic choice is to join a co-op with a health food distributor such as Azure Standard or United Natural Foods. If there is no co-op nearby, your health food store may allow you to place large bulk items through them for a discount.
Online sources for local farms (if they have chosen to list themselves) are: http://localharvest.org/
The last Mother Earth News had an article for tips on how to cut a food bill by up to 50%. I will see if I can find a link for you. Well, their page isn’t loading right now. I’ll post again later if I can get to their site for that article.
Please let me know if you have other questions as you read more. Love, Wardeh