I made a general statement about the weekly cost of groceries for our household, this morning. One of my co-workers said to me (rather rudely, I might add):
Co-worker: You should use coupons.
Me: We do; however, we buy a lot of fresh produce and other organic items. We also don't buy a lot of processed food, and most of the readily available coupons seem to be for processed foods.
Co-worker: I don't understand why anyone feels the need to buy organic foods. They are way too expensive.
Me: REALLY?
Re: S/O Food Preferences
I've heard that same nonsense before too. I usually try to explain that we feel strongly about feeding DD organic to reduce her exposure to pesticides, growth hormones, etc. especially when it comes to dairy, meats and produce. But if I'm dealing with a complete idiot, I don't even try to explain.
Emeline 5.28.13
My Blog
Post-Baby PRs
Esri 5K 7.16.2014 - 21:30
Heart Half Marathon 3.16.2014 - 1:43:30
Canton City Marathon 9.8.14 - 3:30:56
Yeah, eating farm-fresh, untainted fruits and veggies and products from humanely treated and ethically raised animals is SOOOOO new-wave.
Emeline 5.28.13
My Blog
Post-Baby PRs
Esri 5K 7.16.2014 - 21:30
Heart Half Marathon 3.16.2014 - 1:43:30
Canton City Marathon 9.8.14 - 3:30:56
So I'm the only one eating organic because it's trendy?
HA! Yes, we are all just a bunch of lemmings.
Fo' rizzle. Next week you'll be all up on the tyson dino chicken nuggets and kool-aid, with a side of GMO french fries.
*no offense to the dino nugget crowd, it was just the most obvious example of a food that isn't shaped as it was originally intended
Emeline 5.28.13
My Blog
Post-Baby PRs
Esri 5K 7.16.2014 - 21:30
Heart Half Marathon 3.16.2014 - 1:43:30
Canton City Marathon 9.8.14 - 3:30:56
It is very trendy to be green right now. It is a backlash of our generation seeing our parents used those processed foods as a clutch instead of a standby. Also, more research comes out every day that makes some of these things more clear and also media (netflix = food inc, etc) exposing it. I would definitely call it trendy but I would not call it a bad thing that more ppl are informed about their own choices. That said, we do not buy all organic or only farm fresh foods but we do try to live in moderation.
Only if the kool-aid is made with sugar from GMO sugar beets and bottled water.
To be clear, we aren't 100% organic in our household, either. Also, I don't begrudge anyone the decisions they make for their own family. However, in general, I fail to understand the lack of understanding (on her part). KWIM?
Yup, and you can't be brand loyal at all if you are an extreme couponer. It just wouldn't work for us.
Ignorance is bliss so they can keep eating their junk.
Before I was 10 years old, I remember knowing I couldn't ask to eat at Burger King because grazing cows were depleting our rainforests and fast food places were upping demand. :-)
I'm not as enthusiastic about local and organic like my parents but I've found a great balance.Most of the things we buy can't be bought with coupons.
I think for many, it's just so much easier to believe in marketing and advertising. That and so many people are afraid to cook from scratch. There is nothing in rice-a-roni (besides preservatives and MSG) that I can't recreate with my cheap spices and rice.
I don't judge this though because we rely on convenience items a couple times a week. It's all about balance I think.
BINGO-BANGO.
IMO a mix and moderation are best. There are certain foods where it's not as important to do organic. And, I remember a friend told me that if EVERYBODY ate organically produced food there would be a global food shortage. We simply cannot sustain our eating habits without the use of pesticides (which increase yield by preventing crop damage) or growth hormones (which increase yield by making growth cycles faster), etc.
It's great to do your part where you can and by all means data shows it's healthier but really it's probably not sustainable long term and for the masses...if that makes any sense at all...
Latest Blog Update: Peanut Butter Cookie with Salted Peanut Caramel
Why you gotta be hating on The San Francisco Treat like that?
Oh I like it, I am just a potato girl. I also make my spanish rice and those types of things from scratch. Not because I don't like the boxed stuff, but bc it is just as easy for me to throw those spices into a pan of brown rice. I also make homemade chicken stock though bc I am a weirdo wannabe chef.
I love this blog - I find some great links to organic and natural foods on it - printable coupons and amazon deals (just ordered nature's path oatmeal for Around $2/box).
https://organicdeals.squarespace.com/
Stonyfield Farms, Earths Best and Seventh generation have monthly coupons to print.
And Mambo Spouts is a coupon source for natural and organic foods only.
I use coupons as much as I can, but mostly on health/beauty type stuff to get them for next to nothing. And when I can get something free, I do, then I donate it to Interparish Ministries.
I wish someone would have explained organic food to me a little bit before I watched Food inc. I never would have said it like your coworker did, but I always said organic was too expensive for our family.
Now that we eat mostly organic, I wish I would have known that there are some very reasonably priced items out there if you know where to look and what to buy. I was always afraid to read up on going organic because I was too afraid that I wouldn't be able to afford it and would just feel frustrated. Our income is less now than it has ever been and our grocery budget is tight (especially with buying organic food for childcare too!) but we are somehow making it work! I try to tell everyone that it can be done!