Family Food: Seeking Balance Between Healthy, Sustainable, Affordable

Welcome to the July Carnival of Natural Parenting: Let’s talk about food

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama. This month our participants have written about their struggles and successes with healthy eating. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.

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As a mama to a family of 5, I spend a fair bit of time thinking, planning, shopping for and preparing meals and snacks.  We rarely eat out (or get take out) due to the logistics of eating in a restaurant with three small kids, and because of my husband’s food allergies (dairy and beef –all things cow) which make eating out more challenging.  Lonnie works (and eats) from home 2-3 times a week, too, and also takes his lunch sometimes on the other days as well.
Making Sushi. Yum Yum!

We go through a LOT of food.  A little more than a year ago, when Elsie and Delia had just turned one and were ramping up their solid intake (eating anything we gave them, oh, I miss those days!) I was shocked to discover how huge our grocery budget had become.  It was amazingly high.  Lonnie and I both love to cook and are "foodies" by nature; while we don’t spend much at all on entertainment, travel and recreational activities, we definitely splurge on the types of food we buy, both for taste and convenience.  Not tons of processed foods (those are hard with the dairy allergy!) but things like storebought breads & cereals, crackers and other snack foods, special jarred sauces, fresh and dried herbs, imported ethnic ingredients. Tons of fruit. Some frozen prepared foods.  Quite a bit of meat & fish.  We don’t eat vegetarian much — maybe once a week. 

After my initial freakout over the the high grocery bills, I started trying to rein in our spending a bit.  Not all that successfully at first, but over time things got better.  I stopped buying breads, and mostly made our own with our bread machine.  I tried to buy less crackers and snack foods.  I started buying in bulk more, and stocking up  and working our menus around what I found on sale.  I started shopping at bargain food places like "Grocery Outlet".  I started meal planning.  I stopped trying to replace everything we ran out of, and just worked with what we had in our (very plentiful) pantry and extra freezer.  

These things did help, though I know I could have taken it a lot further, too.  I could have been a better shopper and planner.  I could have clipped coupons.  We worked on being better about food waste, but it still happened.  We still ate somewhat extravagantly.   On the other hand, I was sometimes sacrificing things that I really wished I didn’t have to.  I stopped buying as much organic foods and "natural" brands, and bought more conventional ones.  The meats & dairy products we were buying in those super cheap "family packs" at the regular grocery store were not the nice free range, local, organic options I’d have liked my family to be eating.  But, oh, the prices were so good!    

A few months ago, Lonnie and I watched the movie, Food Inc.  I had known about it for awhile, and was kind of avoiding it (both the movie itself, and the big problems with our food system in general).  But, it was time.  After watching that movie, I made a commitment to shop and feed my family differently.  But how to do that, and also stay on budget???  It’s so unfortunate that there can be such a disparity in cost between "good" and "bad" foods (not only for our bodies, but our society, and the planet, as well).  

In the couple months since then, I have made some changes, gone back to my previous ways on others, and have more in mind to tackle. Here is a list of some of the things I do (or am hoping to do) to balance our desire for high quality, sustainable, healthy food while keeping our food bills from rocketing through the roof.  I will totally admit, we are not there yet!  

Fruits and Veggies

• Belonging to an organic CSA.  We’ve been doing this for a couple years now, and will continue.  I feel like it’s a pretty affordable way to get organic fruits and veggies and "buy local" (though I will admit our current one, which we love, does not grow all its own produce — we get some things from California, too, especially in the off-seasons).  With ours, I can edit or substitute what I want in our box online, to best fit our needs and make the most out of our money.
• Growing our own!  We have two raised beds and a host of other little beds with tomatoes, beets, chard, lettuce, peas, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, apples, plums, artichokes and a ton of herbs.  We don’t always get enough harvest to feel like we are being super productive, but it’s something, and we know our own fruits and veggies are healthy for us….  
• Buying local whenever I can.  Buying organic for the "dirty dozen" and conventional for the "clean 15".  All the others — it depends on the source and the price.  But, if conventional is the only option, I go for it — I figure conventional fruit & vegetables are better than no fruit & veggies, right?
• Buying in bulk what is in season (and therefore inexpensive), either to flash freeze or to can (ha ha, we’ll see)
• Buying canned or packaged frozen fruits & veggies in bulk or in deep discount, as sales happen 
• Farmer’s markets.  Sadly, we don’t do this much, right now.  I want to!   It’s been hard, though, with three little ones that get bored pretty fast.  I think it should be doable, though, and could be a great outing for us — I just need to work on the timing and logistics.  

• Spending more money on high quality meats, but cooking less of it and doing more vegetarian meals to balance out the cost.  I need to work harder on the vegetarian stuff, for sure.    
• Buying a large quantity (high quality/free range/sustainable/organic) meat share — half a hog, for us, since we don’t do beef.  For Seattlites, we bought from Thundering Hooves.  I am still looking for a good (and affordable) organic chicken source — for now, it’s organic chicken from Costco.  I also want to find a good, somewhat cost effective source of sustainable fish & seafood.  Any ideas, Seattlites?
• We get our milk and eggs delivered to our doorstep, and while it’s not always cheaper than the store, it’s competitive enough for me to keep using it.  I like having a face-to-face connection to the person we buy from and our supporting (our milkman, Jerry).  This also means I don’t have to make unnecessary trips to the store (meaning fewer impulse buys) AND I know the milk is local and fresh off the cow.  I splurge for organic for the kids, conventional for me, though I toy with getting all organic. 
• Someday (not now!) we want to raise chickens.  Lonnie also wants bees.  I, however, can’t handle caring for (and cleaning up after!) any more beings, right now.  This is definitely a future goal.    

Other Foods & Shopping

Pancake Thief!

• Baking our own whole grain breads with the bread machine.  Making muffins,waffles, and pancakes in large batches and freezing them. 
• Making more of our own snack foods, like granola and granola bars, popcorn, somewhat healthy (am I kidding myself?) cookies, cereal bars.   Easing back on buying as many packaged snacks such as crackers — and getting them on sale when I do. 
• Drinking water instead of juice or other beverages (other than milk for the kids & me)
• Buying in bulk (and doing the research to know for sure if it’s truly cheaper), buying sales, buying from discount stores.  
• Sticking to the list in the store.  Oh, man, is this hard for me!  Especially because I can only get to the store once a week or so, sometimes, and just want to stock up.  Must stick to the list, unless I am truly on a bargain hunt and needing to fill the pantry.  
• Using coupons?  I really don’t do this regularly.  Perhaps I should.  I know some folks swear by it!  Any pointers for a busy mama?

 Meal Planning

• Planning ahead enough to shop and use food efficiently, but being flexible enough to work around great sales and fresh ingredients. 
• Planning not just dinners but breakfast, snacks, and lunches too, so I don’t just grab what’s easy or in front of me without thinking it through
• Budgeting time in the morning to pack snacks and lunches for outings with the kids, so we don’t resort to high-priced snacks or unhealthful fast food when we are out (the occasional treat, though, is still totally fine by me!)
• Consciously using pantry foods instead of letting them sit. 
• Looking up/creating (and writing down so we remember them!) new "budget friendly" meals that we all enjoy
• Making double batches of meals, and freezing them, in large sizes for family dinners, or single serve portions for lunches. 
• Incorporating leftovers into the meal plan, and using them more efficiently
• Serving my kids smaller portions (with second helpings available, of course) and teaching them to self-serve their own portions effectively, so that there is less kid-related food waste. This is hard, and on one hand drives me NUTS, but on the other is really just a part of kids learning to estimate their appetite.   A very hard, but critical skill! 

I know we have quite a ways to go, and also that we are lucky to be able to afford what we are currently doing.   Also, I know that some of these things will become easier to follow as my kids get older (and hopefully less picky!).  What have I missed?  What are your thoughts or ideas about how to plan, budget, shop & cook in a way that is healthful for growing bodies and the planet, time efficient, and pleasing to the palate, as well?  

 
Picking Organic Blueberries at Finnriver Farm 

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Visit Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

(This list will be updated July 13 with all the carnival links.)

• Welcome to Two — All About Food — In case you hadn’t heard, there is a conspiracy afoot from the two year olds of the world. Shana at Tales of Minor Interest stumbled onto their newsletter!
• Four Seasons of Eating Locally — Jenn at Monkey Butt Junction has pointers for what fresh produce can be found year-round. (@MBJunction)
• Happy Families Can Have More Than One Diet — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now has figured out a way for her family to live happily as vegans and vegetarians with relatives who eat meat. (@DebChitwood)
• My Own Omnivore’s Dilemma — Seonaid at The Practical Dilettante prioritizes responsible consumer choices for her family.
• No Gluten — No Cry — Joni Rae at Tales of a Kitchen Witch Momma learned to cook balanced meals when her son’s food sensitivities prompted a diet overhaul. (@kitchenwitch)
• Try, Try Again — Stefanie at very very fine has become an enthusiastic consumer of locally grown food.
• CSA — Week 1 — Casey at What Love Is wants her children to know where their food comes from, so she joined a friendly CSA. (@CBerbs)
• Food: Parenting or Homemaking? — Michelle at The Parent Vortex sees food as part of a parent’s nurturing role. (@TheParentVortex)
• 5 Tips to Help Kids Develop Healthy Eating Habits — If you struggle with healthy eating, helping your child develop healthy habits might be a challenge. Dionna at Code Name: Mama shares five easy tips that will help your kids learn to make good food choices. (@CodeNameMama)
• Family Food: Seeking Balance Between Healthy, Sustainable & Affordable — Kristin at Intrepid Murmurings has a whole list of ideas for how she can improve her family’s eating, both now and into the future. (@sunfrog)
• Whole Foods in, Wholesome Feelings Out — Jessica at This is Worthwhile has turned her back on the processed, preservative-ridden food of her childhood. (@tisworthwhile)
• When to Splurge on Organic (and When It Is Okay to Skip It) — Becoming Mamas tell you what foods to prioritize when buying pricier organic food, and where you can find it cheaper. (@becomingmamas)
• A Locavore’s Family Meal — Acacia at Be Present Mama tells a story in pictures of her family taking a trip to the local organic farmers market and then preparing a summer meal together with their bounty.
• Eat Your Food, or Else — Why should we not bribe a child to eat? TwinToddlersDad from Littlestomaks (Science Driven Real Life Toddler Nutrition) explains. (@TwinToddlersDad)
• Food, Glorious Food! — Luschka at Diary of a First Child describes three easy ways her family has started eating healthier. (@diaryfirstchild)
• Celebrating Food — Mrs Green at Little Green Blog believes in food as medicine and thinks it’s worth paying more to keep healthy. (@myzerowaste)
• Oil and Yogurt — What have you been motivated to do with the current oil spill crisis? midnightfeedings has started making her own yogurt. (@midnightfeeding)
• Growth-Spurt Soup (AKA "Beannut Stew") — BeanMa has a special stew to help her baby through growth spurts that keep her up all night. (@thebeanma)
• Why I Love The Real Food Community — Much like many people who follow AP/NP values, Melodie at Breastfeeding Moms Unite! takes the parts of the "real food" philosophy that work for her family and leaves the rest. (@bfmom)
• Feeding a Family of Six — Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children gives helpful tips for feeding a family of six.
• Starting Solids at 6 Months — Did your doctor recommend that you give your baby cereal? Sheryl at Little Snowflakes discusses how whole foods are so much healthier (and more delicious) than traditional cereal. (@sheryljesin)
• Am I What I Eat? — Andrea!!! at Ella-Bean & Co. has figured out a way to avoid grocery stores nearly altogether.
• Are We Setting Our Kids Up To Fail? — Megan at Purple Dancing Dahlias found that cutting out the junk also transformed her sons’ behavior problems.
• Changing your family’s way of eating — Lauren at Hobo Mama has techniques you can try to move your family gradually toward a healthier diet. (@Hobo_Mama)
• Real Food — What kinds of fake foods do you eat? And why?! Lisa C. at My World Edenwild talks about why she chooses real food.
• A Snackaholic’s Food Battle — Julie at Simple Life wants to stop snacking and get into the old ways of cooking from scratch and raising her own food. (@homemakerjulie)
• Food, Not Fight — Summer at Finding Summer doesn’t want her kids to grow up like her husband: hating everything green. (@summerm)
• How Do You Eat When You Are out of Town? — Cassie at There’s a Pickle In My Life wants some tips on how to eat healthy when you are out of town.
• Carnival of Natural Parenting: Food! — Sybil at Musings of a Milk Maker hopes that by serving her children healthy, balanced meals, they will become accustomed to making good food choices. (@sybilryan)
• There’s No Food Like Home’s — NavelgazingBajan at Navelgazing revels in the Bajan food of her upbringing. (@BlkWmnDoBF)
• This Mom’s Food Journey — Kat at Loving {Almost} Every Moment made a journey from not paying attention to food to growing her own.
• Who Knew Eating Was So Hard? — The challenges involved in changing to healthier eating habits take on a whole new dimension when you have a child who has difficulties eating. kadiera at Our Little Acorn shares her own experiences. (@kadiera)
• Loving Food — Starr at Earth Mama truly believes food is her family’s medicine and is willing to spend days preparing it the traditional way.
• Food Mindfulness — Danielle at born.in.japan details how her family spends money on each category of food. (@borninjp)
• Food for Little People — Zoey at Good Goog wants to bless her daughter with happy traditions built around good food. (@zoeyspeak)
• Eat Like a Baby — Have you been told that you should not equate food with love? Kate Wicker at Momopoly shows us why that’s not necessarily true. (@Momopoly)
• Food — Deb at Science@Home tries to teach her children three rules to help them eat a healthy diet. (@ScienceMum)
• Healthy Eating Lactose-Free — MamanADroit gives us tips on how to eat healthy if you are lactose intolerant (or just don’t want cow milk). (@MamanADroit)

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