The way I shop for groceries has evolved so much over the years… and what I choose has changed greatly….
I cringe when I think of the things I used to buy when I moved into my first apartment… a lot of pre-packaged, chemical laden “convenience” foods… I could cook a few things but I was inexperienced and had limited knowledge…
In the post about HFCS I almost wrote that now we avoid processed foods but changed it because really we avoid most processed foods..
Why I almost slipped though is because we do avoid almost all of what some people consider processed foods to be… and what I used to think was a normal way to eat…
Now, I still buy many foods that have been processed, but I make most of our meals “from scratch”….
I bake our bread (but the flour has been processed)
I make cookies (but I buy butter, and chocolate chips etc…)
I use canned tomatoes and canned coconut milk, I buy ketchup and milks and tamari… I buy peanut butter and cheese and oats…
Many of the foods that make it into my home have been processed in one way or another…
There are also some more processed foods that like to buy… frozen perogies are a quick and inexpensive meal (I should try making them though because they are probably not that hard when I think about it) and a box of Annie’s organic mac and cheese has made a quick lunch for the boys more than once… and the list can go on…
but I am comfortable with the ones we buy because they are mostly have minimal ingredients… or at least are made with ingredients that I can understand and can be found in most peoples pantries…
We do also do buy “junk foods” … not on a regular basis….but chips, and chocolate and Ice cream and other treats can be found in our home… I do choose products that have the least ingredients and make sure they do not have anything that we avoid… artificial colours or flavours or sulfates and other chemicals I would rather not consume…
The more time goes by, the more I have been replacing the processed foods that I buy and I will continue that trend… but I have to say that I am pretty happy with the way we eat now and it can only get better…
I buy and eat some processed foods, too, but like you, its probably not what folks generally think of as processed foods. You wouldn’t find any ingredients on anything that isn’t a food. When I go to the grocery store, I go from the produce department to the meat with very few stops in between, like for rice.
When I began adulthood, I was “vegetarian,” which translates to pizza, diet soda, beer, and ice cream. I barely ate any vegetables.
sara
I’ve actually started making my own ketchup… it was a recipe in “Deceptively Delicious” – – – it’s a bit different than store bought – but so much healthier! And the boys LOVE the fact that mommy makes ketchup special just for them…
For shame. Do not call chocolate- junk food. Especially not when it’s good quality! Chocolate is an important part of our diets. *nodding assuredly*
omg pierogies….. i cant get them here!
i am going to make my own bread and this summer try making ketchup 🙂
LOL I think I have to agree with Annie. Chocolate – junk food? No!!! Don’t tell me that 😉
I’m going more and more by the rule “if it has an ingredient I can’t pronounce, it’s probably not good for me.”
Yeah, I get what you mean too. Secondary food products are uncommon in our house compared to most and they are usually a result of our laziness more than anything.
I have an interesting vegan recipe for perogies but if I could eat ones that are from the store or the ones the Ukrainians sell I think I would – these other suckers are so time consuming.
My mom used to make us corn chips and can all our veggies and I can’t wait to have a longer growing season so I can work on that second item.
ok… ok… the chocolate should stay out of the list…
especially since my guilty pleasure its 70% or more dark chocolate…
Perogies are just such an easy and cheap meal here… the ones I buy are about 2.85 for a bag that makes a meal for the whole family with leftovers… and really the ingredient list is nothing to be ashamed of…
Sounds like you shop like I do. The “processed” food we DO buy is a fair compromise. I *could* grind my own peanut butter, and have, but I usually choose to let someone else do the grinding – as long as they’re not ADDING stuff. A step or two away from Mother Nature is okay by me; something that is unrecognizable in its connection to earth is not!
I like the way you put that KrisB!