Photo: Great grandparents at their farm in Blandinsville, IL, with five of their six children .. my grandpa was yet a twinkle in grandma's eye. Stable boy and governess also pictured. Hodges farm, circa 1903-4

Monday, March 08, 2010

Grocery Challenge Update

This is more of a personal challenge (instead of a group effort) to cut down on our grocery bill.  But ... it is rather a good exercise of frugality using up our current food supply ... doing without everything we think is necessary ... and adapting recipes to fit what we have on hand.  Our loot this week includes:
  • One gallon of whole un-homogenized milk
  • Two pounds of butter*
  • One rutabaga*
  • A large onion*
  • (1) avocado*
  • A dozen eggs* (from my neighborhood egg man that lives down the street not in my HOA;)
  • Wedge of smoked natural cheddar cheese (a splurge;)
  • Colombian coffee*
  • garlic*
  • bananas
  • apples*
  • lettuce*
  • cucumber*
  • tangerines
  • corned beef**
  • brick of raw milk natural cheddar*
  • package of sliced provolone cheese*
  • one bottle Kombucha (fermented beverage)*
  • ginger brew*  (alcohol free I think;)
  • pumpkin seeds*
  • wheat gluten*
  • caraway seed*s (for my special recipe bread that I will share one of these days)
  • two bags kettle chips**
  • a gallon of Kirkland liquid dish soap
  • two pounds of Yukon gold potatoes*
* = organic product
**= purchased  by darling daughter with my money at Sprawlmart

Shopping this way sure could start hurting Sprawlmart's business.  From what I've been seeing on a lot of blogs, people are eating more whole foods and cutting out processed junk.  Sorry big ag-business .. but your day to shine is OVER!  Families are taking back their health by cutting out the junk that has been peddled by the Pied Piper under the guise of subsidized corn and soy growers. OK, I'm off my soapbox.  [Total cost = $92, leaving $8 to last the remainder of the week]

7 comments:

Lorie said...

Good morning. I just discovered your blog and love it. I agree about the sprawlmart. I have tried to cut back on many of my purchases in such places. Either go without or find an alternative.

I posted an interesting U-Tube clip on kids and food. It is really interesting and to some could be eye opening. Please visit and check it out. It's worth the time to watch.
Blessings to you this day.

Unknown said...

I have also recently stumbled upon your blog and I am enjoying reading your entries. We are trying eat healthier and cook more from scratch. It is a real learning process for us.
Blessings
diane

LynnS said...

Most of our grocery store purchases are fresh fruits. And I broke-down and bought some fresh lettuce in February since we couldn't get to any of our tunneled greens due to the snow. The price difference between pesticide-laden foods and organic products isn't as bad as it used to be. Maybe that's because ALL fresh foods are getting to be very expensive!

Looks like you are doing fairly well with your 'budget' and tracking.

I'm with you on the GMO poison. When you stop and think of how many products use the corn, soybean, and wheat, it is obvious that the majority of our foods are dangerous. And once that poison pollen crosses with other varieties (like the heirloom varieties), we may be doomed. I wish there was a class-action lawsuit against Monsanto for bioterrorism. I believe We The People need to call it what it is.

Okay, off my soapbox now too. Whew. That felt good.... ;-)

Kathryn said...

I think you might be right about the change in attitude in some of the younger folks, i'm not sure it is happening in an older generation (folks over 65 or so).

My MIL sees "cheap" as the penultimate decision in choosing food. Her idea of "cooking from scratch" is using Camp.bell's soups, & boxes of things, & cake mixes, etc. The cheaper the better. The fact that these things have TONS of chemicals doesn't even register. (She certainly considers me rather over the top on food choices.) My mother cooks the same way & most of her siblings.

I'm kind of sad about this, but am so thrilled to see you & as you said, many other bloggers making healthier choices.

Unknown said...

Coming here always makes me feel like I want to go cook something. :) So I'd be curious to know what your menus are going to be like with that food you have.

:)

SouthernHeart said...

The bread looks great! What kind is it? Enjoying your blog very much...

Kristina said...

I'm shopping less and less at "Sprawlmart" myself. With budgeting, meal-planning, and couponing, I'm finding it more and more unnecessary to trek over there just to pick up cheap eggs and cheese.

I love your blog, and decided to give you an award. :) Go check it out!