IHOP restaurants

Yes, some of the things we need to eat healthy are more expensive but it really does even out in the long run.  DH and I are eating less so even though things might be more expensive the overall cost isn't as high.  DS is following a healthy, natural eating plan (for health reasons, not weight) so he is actually eating more but again it evens out.  His grocery bills is higher, but his medical bills are lower.

Now there are some things you can do to save money and find healthier food:

1.  Use coupons - granted there are not that many coupons for the healthy things we need, but they're out there

2.  Shop the circulars and plan meals from what is on sale that week.

3.  Join a co-op.  Some local health food stores are co-ops.  They are open to the public, but if you join you get a discount.  Also if you volunteer your discount increases.  Others are farm cooperatives where you buy shares for the season and each week get what was harvested for the week.  Some of these require you to volunteer, some don't.  You are however at the mercy of the weather for the crops.

4.  Start a small garden.  Inexpensive and you really know where your food came from.

5.  Use alternative sources of protein - it doesn't have to be meat every night.  Try legumes, egg dishes.

To Painting Chef:  have you seen Food Inc.?  Our family does the same as you, nothing over 5 ingredients, nothing we can't pronounce and nothing Grandma wouldn't recognize.  DS also does no sugar and no wheat.

Wendy -

Food Inc. along with Michael Pollan's book changed my entire outlook on food and the way I cook and shop.  Have you read "In Defense of Food"?  I cannot recommend it enough.  WOW.

The garden idea is FABULOUS.  We have one every summer and there is NOTHING more wonderful than eating a salad full of lettuce, herbs, tomatoes, cucumber and peppers that you grew yourself.  Talk about knowing where you food is coming from... And cooking with fresh herbs?  LOADS of flavor with nothing but benefits.

I still haven't been brave enough to plant a winter garden, during the winter my grocery bill definitely goes up.  And there are a few things that I'm just not successful growing so I always buy those.  But the garden makes a HUGE dent in the grocery bill.  I thought about mentioning it but I figured I'd been preachy enough... LOL

Painting Chef,

I figure the garden kills two birds with one stone - fresh veggies and good exercise LOL.  At least preparing the ground and planting will be.  I haven't read "In Defense of Food" yet, but I'll look for it.  Just finished "Chew On This", that was another eye opener.  We've definitely gotten into clean eating.

My son was the first to get us started.  He has a number of medical issues and went to a chiropractor who specialized in natural and nutritional medicine.  The first thing he did was have my son cut out wheat, sugar and processed food.  The change in his health has been amazing.  Every once in awhile he goes off and has some wheat or sugar, boy can he tell the difference.  When he eats the stuff now he feels horrible.  DH and I started eating the same way because it was just easier to all be on the same page and we've noticed the benefits too.  Wish I had started this a lot sooner!

Can't wait for the warmer weather so I can get my garden going.

Wendy

I've even "borrowed" my mom's bread machine and I've been making sandwich bread for my husband. The other day I picked up the bag of delicious Pepperidge Farm bread we've used for sandwiches for years and about wet myself when I read the ingredients. I asked my mom for her long-forgotten bread machine THAT DAY. It'll be a while before I can try it too but he says it's absolutely delicious.

And my freezer is LOADED with frozen spaghetti sauce and pesto that I made with all the late summer garden bounty before it went bad and ended up in the compost pile.

I have to wonder if I'd been eating this way my whole life if I would have the weight problem that I do today. Regardless, I'm on the road to recovery and very much loving eating real food!! So glad to meet another real foodie!!

I would love to start baking bread again.  I have to look for some wheat free recipes.  I'll have to try other flours.  Unfortunately for DS I also can't use corn, white rice or millet.  So I guess I'll look for brown rice or spelt flours.  I'll have to look for our bread machine.  Not sure if we still have it or not.  If not, I don't mind doing it by hand.  It might be fun.

I know what you mean about wondering if eating this way would have prevented a weight problem.  Maybe, I mean I'm an emotional eater, but how heavy would I have gotten binging on brocolli?  Since DS started his program in November, he's lost 30 pounds and he's eating all of the time.  He's given up a lot, but he doesn't feel deprived because DH and I keep trying to come up with interesting recipes.

I just love how much better I feel eating this way!  Plus it's fun to play with food and come up with new recipes.  Gee, to think they always told us not to play with our food LOL.

Wendy

I love making bread from scratch but it always comes out slightly wonky shaped.  I decided to go with a bread machine for uniform size.  Plus it's SUCH a nice smell to wake up to.

I do miss the stress relief of all the dough kneading though...

In alot of cases it is way cheaper to eat out than at home.  I dont eat very much steak (once every other week, maybe) but when I do I cant afford the ones that are not covered in marbely fat or wont cost me my eldest child.  My family does the all you can eat places but only because it is the one place we can all agree on.  My son love tacos and hates hamburgers, my oldest daughter loves hamburgers and hates tacos, my youngest hates both and just wants the nachos.  Kids 1 & 3 wont eat @ subway, kid 3 wont eat french fries, and 2 of my 3 eat pizza with pepperoni one only wants cheese, and hubby wont eat italian food.  We dont go out often because it is a huge pain in the butt to find somewhere we can all eat.  All you can eat works for us but I have rules the kids must follow before eating fun stuff.  The first plate is a meat and a veggie (they never cover the entire plate with food btw) and the second plate is fruit and a fun food (nachos, pizza etc).  If they are still hungry they can have 1 dessert.  For me I eat a salad with extra veggies and some meat & parmesan cheese on it, then maybe a piece of steak or chicken (can't do fried) with a fruit or veggie, and if Im still hungry a dessert but I usually end up tossing it.  Im sure that will change drastically when I get banded if we even go out anymore.

Ugh now I want to go out to eat, that sounded yummy    No worries though hubby wont be back for over a month and Im not crazy enough to take 3 kids to an all you can eat place by myself  

I think we need a show like Biggest Loser...but all people with WLS...Wouldnt that be awesome!!!???

I agree! I WLS reality show would be cool. I wonder if it would spark any interest? Hmmm...


Jen-