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Balancing frugality and health
Schnookies post about the red koolaid being frugal got me to thinking. I live frugally, mostly. But, not when it comes to food, mostly. Of course, being GFDF, I have to spend money on certain items as they can be expensive. But, I also see it as a health thing. Isn't it more frugal to eat healthy and spend some extra money on food to do that than to eat cheaply but unhealthy? I'll admit, sometimes I just don't have money for the organic. But, I figure that those few times I am completely broke, eating something is better than eating nothing, even if it is not organic. And, luckily, they are mostly few. But, even then I have things I won't compromise on.
I think I am just rambling. I guess I am wondering what do you feel is more frugal, eating cheaply but unhealthy or eating organic for more money but hopefully better health.
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Michelle
-- Mom to Beth, 11 and Sam, 8
Location: Failure is a joyless word. Without risk, there can be no gain. If you don't go out on a limb, you will never see the lovely view.
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That is the way I look at it too-BUT the past month I have been feeling uneasy aobut some of our sandwich meats. (sorry folks, I am not a complete vegetarian-hope it does nto gross anyone out)
But the nitrates can have some serious consequences...learning about this in herb school currently and it justified the concern I began having several week ago.
I decided to do my best not to buy deli style meats if I can help it.
Yesterday at co op I bought 10# grass fed beef to cut down on some fat. It cost double what I get the beef for at our local store.
I bought $400 worth of organic grains, the meats, Braggs, cheeses and yogurt, a few snacks made with organic ingredients, edamame beans (co op has the best!) and the few fresh produce that was instock.
For that money I got healthy whole foods...but not near as much as I woudl have got at the local store.
My desire is to be able to live on this planet and heal my families ails. Preventative medicine is the path I choose to do that mostly via herbs and nutrition.
So the trade off to me is worth it. BUT I cannot always run to Fayetteville and order from the co op so I dont always have these items at home adn have to buy store things.
BUT my next argument is that hand prepared food is far better than pre packed dinners and other foods. So I think a person is ahead if that is what they can do.
I try to be frugal, but mostly trying to hand prepare food and learning to use natures gifts in energy (the sun) and clothesline, etc....
We are trying to get a water collection system made before spring. Those things to me are as much a priority as eating right.
Our lake is so far down that a buried city has emerged. Running out of water is a frightening thought.
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AAGGGHHH.
Koolaid is SUCH a fallacy.
Simple sugar: one cup sugar, one cup water, boiled together, and cooled.
Lemonaid: simple sugar+ lemon juice, over ice+ water to taste.
Blue lemonade: crush in a few (very few) berries, plus the lemonade.
red- pomegranate juice, or strawberries, or other berrries- obviously dilute like crazy, with the lemonade. If you want a blunt taste, skip the lemonade part.
Use lime. Dilute with cocunut, or use the can of juice from canned pineapple.
Use mint. Mint simples are gorgeous, even without liquor, a a la derby day.
Good grief. It is way cheaper than Koolaid. I don't see why everyone thinks KoolAid is cheap. If you don't want to boil, you can mix superfine cooking sugar and water, and let it sit. ( Boiled is better, though).
Kool Aid is not frugal, better to drink water since Kool Aid has no nutritional value. I try buy the top twelve most sprayed fruits/veggies organic and not to compromise on that. I also feel that fats and animal products being healthy/organic is important. But I refuse to kill myself over everything I or my family eat. I feel that balance is important. What is it, Moderation in everything, including moderation.?
It's more frugal to eat wisely/healthy than to eat junk because it's cheaper. The health benefits far outweigh the expense of eating a healthier diet.
yes!
I do agree with Kristerae~the most important part is eating freshly made whole foods...but if you are eating animal products or the top sprayed produce, you should be eating organic. Being vegetarian, eating seasonally and locally, and simply are also ways to be frugal within the organic framework.
It makes me ill to think of all the crap my beautiful get through my polluted breastmilk. Don't get me wrong, I think my breastmilk is best, but I remind myself about how we as animals bioconcentrate everything into our body fat and give that as a legacy to our children.
I look at the other frugal choices I make as a way to fund my healthy organic choices.
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AAGGGHHH.
Koolaid is SUCH a fallacy.
Simple sugar: one cup sugar, one cup water, boiled together, and cooled.
Lemonaid: simple sugar+ lemon juice, over ice+ water to taste.
Blue lemonade: crush in a few (very few) berries, plus the lemonade.
red- pomegranate juice, or strawberries, or other berrries- obviously dilute like crazy, with the lemonade. If you want a blunt taste, skip the lemonade part.
Use lime. Dilute with cocunut, or use the can of juice from canned pineapple.
Use mint. Mint simples are gorgeous, even without liquor, a a la derby day.
Good grief. It is way cheaper than Koolaid. I don't see why everyone thinks KoolAid is cheap. If you don't want to boil, you can mix superfine cooking sugar and water, and let it sit. ( Boiled is better, though).
We don;t drink Kool Aid ir powdered drinks no matter how rich or poor we are. We drink mainly water, which is about as cheap as it gets.
I think that in so many ways, spending a bit more on good food is way better than buying cheap junk. If it comes down to cutting out other expenses or even applying for food stamps, I'd do that before serving up 99 cent hot dogs and kool aid.
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kool aid?!?!? it's a non food in my book and not even up for discussion.
if you want to be frugal and buy/eat organic then only buy whole foods that you prepare at home. grind your own organic wheat berries into flour, make your own tomatoe sauce and ketchup, make your own mayo with your organic eggs and olive oil, and bake your own bread.
This is something I struggle with every time I go to the store. We love our junk and right now have koolaid in the fridge, we haven't had it in a while and it was good My problem is that where we live, Ca, organic is outrageous. I've tried buying at the health food places and spend almost my entire food budget just on fruits and veggies. If it were cheaper here I'd do it in a heartbeat. I'd say I spend about $500 a month for a family of 4 for all our foods, tp, cleaning supplies, etc. I don't count eating out, but my husband, when he's working, takes his lunch so that's about $25 a week right there. Honestly here it would cost me about $70 just buying fruits and veggies, if I added meat I'd probably be looking at $125 just for maybe 1/2 our normal food. I also struggle w/ lunchmeat, my husband eats it daily and my kids eat it several times a week. I do feel fortunate though b/c we are all very healthy.
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Teresa
Homeschooling Mom to Zachary, 9, Brianna, 6, and baby Issac, 1
Location: Failure is a joyless word. Without risk, there can be no gain. If you don't go out on a limb, you will never see the lovely view.
Posts: 23,634
Teresa, I think you jsut need to branch of and start somewhere as a base. Maybe do mostly organic veg or grassfed meat or soemthing like that. It is expensive, but in California, you should have access to some quality produce somewhere so maybe try to find some local folks that do organic.
Like I said I dont do 100% organic, but we do try when we can to invest adn stock our pantry with organic staples. If you start somewhere it helps you keep going, even if it is just a littll at a time.
and Sam, 8 
My problem is that where we live, Ca, organic is outrageous. I've tried buying at the health food places and spend almost my entire food budget just on fruits and veggies. If it were cheaper here I'd do it in a heartbeat. I'd say I spend about $500 a month for a family of 4 for all our foods, tp, cleaning supplies, etc. I don't count eating out, but my husband, when he's working, takes his lunch so that's about $25 a week right there. Honestly here it would cost me about $70 just buying fruits and veggies, if I added meat I'd probably be looking at $125 just for maybe 1/2 our normal food. I also struggle w/ lunchmeat, my husband eats it daily and my kids eat it several times a week. I do feel fortunate though b/c we are all very healthy.
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