try, try again
Monday, July 12, 2010 at 5:00PM 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.
I am the first to admit that I'm a lackluster housefrau -- cleaning takes a backseat to going for walks; cooking is mainly left to my (much better chef of a) partner; laundry gets done... well, when it gets done. I have books on these topics and I've read them all. Devoured them! A good cookbook, beautifully photographed and wittily composed is one of my most treasured bookstore finds. I dog ear the recipes that sound most delicious and vow to work my way through those before tackling the ones with main ingredients I find less than tempting. (Beets? Err...we'll wait 'til Fall.) If I make three dishes from one book, however, it's a feat to be commended because I enjoy the hunt a lot more than the preparation.
But now -- now, we're on a budget. Because guess what, you guys: teachers don't make a lot of money! And stay at home moms, if you can believe it, get paid exactly NOTHING. I mean...those cherished moments with my son don't exactly keep us in spelt pasta and agave nectar for my tea, if you know what I mean. So, we are at an impasse with our family diet. I flatly refuse to feed George anything that isn't certified organic though we are living barely above the poverty line; there are just too many scary things in non-organic foods. I want his little body learning to navigate our living room without stepping on cats, not sagging under the weight of neurotoxins and carcinogens and dyes that make him hyperactive.
Well, it turns out that vegetables -- ones you grow in your own backyard -- are practically free if you start them from seeds. Vegetables you don't grow yourself are still cheaper than a three-times-a-week burrito habit, and can be bought from -- get this! -- the people who grow them! If I had a mind to, which I often do, I could mosey on down to the farmer's market on Saturday and, for ten to fifteen dollars, purchase an astounding haul of colorful gorgeousness from my neighbors. And the next week, I can come back and say hey, neighbor, thanks for that beautiful chard/those crazy fiddlehead ferns/the garlic-looking thing I've forgotten the name of!
The availability of wholesome food isn't going to make me a better cook any more than my collection of unused cookbooks. But one thing it does: makes me a more enthusiastic consumer. Friendly farmers and dairy owners soften the blow of not being able to eat out when I want. The bummer of poverty is often feeling deprived. If I can support my community, feed my family with a clear conscience and spend my days feeling energetic and healthy, I can't imagine feeling like I wont for anything at the dinner table.
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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)
Reader Comments (29)
[...] Try, Try Again — Stefanie at very very fine has become an enthusiastic consumer of locally grown food. [...]
I love shopping farmers' markets - partially because of the health value, but also because of the people! It's so awesome to see some of the ones who actually worked the field, who can tell you exactly how they grew it.
[...] Try, Try Again — Stefanie at very very fine has become an enthusiastic consumer of locally grown food. [...]
[...] Try, Try Again — Stefanie at very very fine has become an enthusiastic consumer of locally grown food. [...]
Oh how lovely to have such a positive take to 'poverty'. I love combining frugality with health and green living and it seems you are taking powerful steps along that journey too. I understand when you say that it's great to be able to go back the next week and say Thank You for such great food - it's such a gift isn't it? Wonderful post; thank you so much!
I love gardening, for those very reasons. Sure, it takes some work but it can't be beat for cheap food. Plus, convenience! If I want a salad, I take my colander out to the backyard and select some lettuce, tomatoes, green onions and whatever else looks good. And it is guaranteed fresh.
[...] Try, Try Again — Stefanie at very very fine has become an enthusiastic consumer of locally grown food. [...]
I wonder if there's a CSA in your area that you could join. For a couple hundred bucks a season you can get monthly (or bi-monthly) deliveries from your local farms. But I commend you on your determination to go organic. Some day, hopefully soon, all our foods will be organic so no one will have to choose between safe and healthy and cheap.
[...] Try, Try Again — Stefanie at very very fine has become an enthusiastic consumer of locally grown food. [...]
That is absolutely right and lovely. Thank you so much for this post. I'm so glad you've been able to find ways to feel nourished and pampered, even when living on a very limited budget. I know from experience that that's really hard to do, so this is an inspiration.
When you were saying "cleaning takes a backseat to going for walks; cooking is mainly left to my (much better chef of a) partner; laundry gets done… well, when it gets done," I had to check you weren't talking about me! ;) But I agree that gardening and going to farmer's markets is the fun part of food. And then I leave the rest to Sam!
[...] Try, Try Again — Stefanie at very very fine has become an enthusiastic consumer of locally grown food. [...]
There are lots of CSAs here and I've had baskets in the past. But I've found that I'm more likely to use the stuff I get if i choose it myself. Also, most of the CSA farms have farmer's market stalls so I'm supporting the same farmers either way.
glad i'm not the only mama who doesn't exactly relish all the chores!
I feel if everyone had access to farmer's markets and knew how cool they are, the obesity epidemic among the poor would be less widespread. I've heard from so many people that they'd love to eat more healthfully but it's just too expensive -- not necessarily true! And yes, making friends with the farmers is easily my favorite part. Well, maybe tied with eating the goods. :)
Your blog is AMAZING and I'll be using some of those tips for silica gel and coffee grounds today!
It’s nice to think that living on a budget can actually be an inspiration to eat healthier. It’s easy to forget just how much gardening and farmer’s markets have to offer. Great job at doing wonderful things for your family!
Hello, veryveryfine! Those are the same reasons I started gardening, CSA shopping, and farmer's marketing. You have to be careful, it can get a little out of control, and you find yourself moving to the country, starting a market garden, and having to explain to the toddler why you can't bring home the neighbour's extra goat! (Even if you secretly want to.) :)
Um... not that I know anybody that this has happened to.
On a completely unrelated note, did you know the going price for an adolescent milking goat is only about $50?
Oh, you have no idea what damage you've done! Goats are on my wish list. This is ammunition.
how have we not talked about this?
1. We are below the pov line...like more below than my husband wants me to admit.
2. We are only organic feeding Noele and pretty much only O for ourselves too...pretty much.
3. We farmers market and CSA weekly.
Super well written post, I love it.
[...] Try, Try Again — Stefanie at very very fine has become an enthusiastic consumer of locally grown food. [...]
I love going to a farmer's market where I can talk to the people who grew the food, and organic food always amazes me by being so.much.tastier than the non-organic counterparts.
Thanks for sharing your story - I am inspired by your determination to eat organic on a limited budget.
[...] Try, Try Again —Stefanie at very very fine has become an enthusiastic consumer of locally grown food. [...]
I don't know why our local farmers market isn't organic. I assumed it was, the day I was filling my basket with veggies, until I got to the register and asked. It's not ... none of the stands were. I wonder if people automatically assume that it is organic. Cause I doubt all my food-smart neighbors in town would be buying all that non-organic food...
yeah, everything at our market isn't organic, but there's a lot that is. i imagine it comes down to cost/benefit for the farmers who choose not to be organic, unfortunately. for us, i get what i can organic and do my darndest not to buy anything non-organic off the "dirty dozen" list (http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php).
[...] Try, Try Again — Stefanie at very very fine has become an enthusiastic consumer of locally grown food. [...]
[...] Try, Try Again — Stefanie at very very fine has become an enthusiastic consumer of locally grown food. [...]