Question about expense

[jenna rose]

I haven't yet started the whole raw food lifestyle quite yet. I'm still trying to get all my ducks in a row.

So far, I ordered Alissa's book and DVDs - waiting on that to arrive.
I'm going to be purchasing the Champion juicer and Excalibur dehydrator from a friend (she just never used them)

Still need to get a Food Processor. Am I forgetting any other appliances that would be beneficial?

A few months ago I had gone from an omni to vegan, for ethical reasons. I tried/am trying to buy organic as much as possible but it's really quite a bit more expensive. There's not a Whole Foods here or that great of a Health Food Store (it's really small) and no co-op that I know of (I still need to check on that).

I'm wondering what everyone's monthly/weekly expense on food is. I'm disabled and don't get much money coming in every month. I was just curious what the average amount is that people spend. I would think that it would balance out somehow since you don't buy the expensive stuff (meat, cheese and the like) but then if it's all organic fruits/veggies/etc. it could tip the scale a little bit.

I know some people talk about making things and then freezing them. Frankly, though, the freezer we have can't stand too much extra stuff in it. I like with two omni's and their share of food takes up quite a bit in both freezer and fridge area.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this.

~jenna

[Sweet lips]

Since we all live in different areas with different taste, that questions may not give you the results you need. Try this - I do not always eat organic. I almost always buy the specials provided in the market and I shop local farmer markets - that makes it much cheeper for me, on the freshees, now for nuts and seeds, I shop the stores like BJ's and SAMS - I am not a purist. I am what I am.

[VeganVixen]

Yeah ,all organic seems to be for the rich and REALLY ill....I have done fine on mostly conventional produce ,I can spend up to 170 $ a week and as little as 60$ a week -It depends on what I want that week ,If I want a lot of variety and more complicated meals then the price goes up ?(it becomes this w/ spices, exotic produce and supplements),If I feel like only mono fruit ,salad, soup and hummus then its around 60 , I will need to spend more in the 60$ range when Im in college though,so Im "living it up" while I can :p

[Mike]

Hi Jenna,

You can purchase a blender at Wal-Mart for around $15. Then you can purchase fresh organic produce at the Farmers Market. The farmers market usually sells food for less than the grocery store. Use the produce to make Victoria Boutenko green smoothies.

Sprout your own food. If you purchase organic lettuce in the store, it may cost $2 a head. If you grow your own sprouts and sunflower greens, it only costs ten cents a pound.

You can grow your own wheatgrass juice. If you buy wheatgrass juice in the store, it may cost $1 an ounce. If you grow your own, it costs five cents an ounce.

Good luck!

[rawpriestess]

Victoria Boutenko said that a person could live on $72 worth of sprouts a year, IF they grew them.

That is a lot of sprouts.

Of course, you probably wouldn't want to do that, but you could grow your own sprouts, it's really easy and inexpensive, and you can grow many different types.

You can buy bags of oranges, and bags of whatever you want at Costco, or you might be able to have a local farmer sell to you by the case, or even deliver.

I buy almonds, pecans, walnuts, red pepper, mushrooms, greens and most of my produce at Costco.

If you are living with other people, they could go in on the fruits and veggies with you.

If that would work for you.

As far as overall cost, my food bill went way down, because I cut out all eating out at restaurants, and then my electricity bill went way down too, no stove, or oven to cook with.

[VeganVixen]

Oh yeah ,dont forget about your magnifacent garden RP ,I know that once I started growing my own tomatoes ,bell peppers ,cucs,zucs , and herbs my bill has gone way down - cant imagine you would need a lot of store bought produce ,lol youve got a veggie/fruit zoo!!!

oh btw -I usuallyget more than I need b/c my parents usually get my veggies and cook them :mad: , I went in the kithen the other day only to find my zuchinnis ,mushrooms and peas being stir fried with (ewwww) pork ,yuck :( !!!!! It felt like blasphemy :eek: !!!

[Revvell]

For me, after reading about all the toxins, GMO, etc., that are in "regular" produce, I purchase as much organic as I can. The purpose of being raw, for me, is my health and so why then would I put inferior produce in my body if/when I can do otherwise.

The other thing is, organics contain anywhere from 30-50% (maybe more) more nutrients than "regular" AND one mostly doesn't have to fear what the heck some Dr. Frankenstein has created.

Where I save ~ when we can, we purchase organic oranges by the case. The farmers usually give us a discount from their regular per pound price. We look where the savings are. Right now, our Whole Foods is selling organic juicing oranges for 69 cents a pound.

One thing I've noticed is, folk don't figure things like ~ what they eat before going raw ~ such as chips, candy and miscellaneous purchases they would just pick up and not really think about when out and about. Those things do add up!

I've realized that when I'm out and hungry, at one time I'd pick up a bag of popcorn ~ which, if I ate much of the bag, was rather filling yet, not nourishing. At a Trader Joe's price for a large bag, we're talking about $1.19. For that, I can get a couple/three organic oranges and feel fully satisfied and nourished.

Here are a couple of sites you might wish to peruse:

http://www.foodnews.org/reportcard.php
http://www.vegsource.com/articles/gmo_feed_myth.htm
http://www.leeleffler.com/everyorgfood.html

Injoy ~

Revvell

[angelandarose]

I finally came across some organic apples in my local grocery store (the only grocery store in town). Is all organic produce smaller than the other varieties? These apples are tiny. Are organic banana's smaller?

A friend of mine gave me an organic orange the other day and it was tiny. I ate it then ate one of my bigger non-organic and the flavor was YUCK compared to the organic one.

This smaller organic stuff got me to thinking about how I have this bigger better mentality. And how I do over eat a LOT because I've been trained on this bigger sized foods.

Anyone got any ideas about this?


Love,
Angie

[Revvell]

Now that you mention it, at one time organics were tiny, spindly and sometimes strange looking creatures. Now though, we got some oranges from Be Wise Ranch in San Diego and some of them are HUGE! Also, the apples we've been getting are larger. Avocadoes seem smaller. Our bananas are also of "regular" size.

Thing for me is, overeating is because my body is craving nutrients. Once I started getting them on a regular basis, the overeating has stopped. For breakfast, a rather large green smoothie. Lunch ~ a rather large salad. Dinner, another rather large salad.

Inbetween ~ for smaller meals, a handful of nuts, water and any fruit or veggie that happens to be hanging out in the bowl having nothing to do but waiting to get eaten. :D

Revvell




I finally came across some organic apples in my local grocery store (the only grocery store in town). Is all organic produce smaller than the other varieties? These apples are tiny. Are organic banana's smaller?

A friend of mine gave me an organic orange the other day and it was tiny. I ate it then ate one of my bigger non-organic and the flavor was YUCK compared to the organic one.

This smaller organic stuff got me to thinking about how I have this bigger better mentality. And how I do over eat a LOT because I've been trained on this bigger sized foods.

Anyone got any ideas about this?


Love,
Angie

[rawjojo]

I finally came across some organic apples in my local grocery store (the only grocery store in town). Is all organic produce smaller than the other varieties? These apples are tiny. Are organic banana's smaller?

A friend of mine gave me an organic orange the other day and it was tiny. I ate it then ate one of my bigger non-organic and the flavor was YUCK compared to the organic one.

This smaller organic stuff got me to thinking about how I have this bigger better mentality. And how I do over eat a LOT because I've been trained on this bigger sized foods.

Anyone got any ideas about this?


Love,
Angie


Hi Angie,

I would have to say "no", not all organic produce is smaller. With oranges I think it mainly depends on the time of year and where they come from. I have had some that are huge and some that look like tangerines. The bananas I get are dole organic and they are the size of regular bananas. I will say that apples are usually a little smaller than the overgrown conventional ones especially if you buy them pre-bagged. However, I usually get mine by the case and they are also regular size. I do notice that in our local store which sells only a tiny amount of organic that the produce is usually small and old. I have no idea where they get such yucky stuff.

You are riight about one thing though, the taste is way better!

I just got done reading a scary article about GMO produce. Apparently it was just approved that eateries are now permitted to use any type of produce in thier kitchens including gmo! I swear the government is trying to kill us! GMO is completely void of any nutrients. Of course, it's perfectly unbruised and beautiful but you might as well eat styrofoam! This is so scary that restaurants will probably start really using this crap because it's so much cheaper and will keep forever. STAY AWAY FROM GMO!!!!!

Rawjojo

[angelandarose]

what does GMO stand for?

[PixieGreen]

Genetically Modified Organisms

[Revvell]

Thing is, those who use GMO do not have to label it so one never knows what one is getting ~ soooo, purchase organic ~ helps you and helps the farmers who are growing it.

Revvell

[VeganVixen]

revvel ,Im wondering if te fact that you are in cali (a health consious state) makes organics more accesible and less pricey -here organics range from cheap to VERY expensive - so I TRY to get organic when possible ,but cant afford all organic .....but when I get non-organic I try to get the most vibrant fruits I can find -then wash them

I think there has been alot of food tampering ,b/c

[VeganVixen]

revvel ,Im wondering if te fact that you are in cali (a health consious state) makes organics more accesible and less pricey -here organics range from cheap to VERY expensive - so I TRY to get organic when possible ,but cant afford all organic .....but when I get non-organic I try to get the most vibrant fruits I can find -then wash them

I think there has been alot of food tampering ,b/c a few months ago I found huge fuji apples that were the size of three medium apples .......it was VERY unatural ,the organic were smaller but MUCH tastier :)

[Revvell]

lil fairy,

It's not a "health-conscious" state ~ it's a state where foods can grow year round. There are organic farmers everywhere. I'm not saying what one "should" do. Everyone does the best they can where they are. I do what I do here as you do what you do there ~ with what's available. Ummm, from what I've read, washing doesn't much matter yet, I do that too when not purchasing organic.

Revvell



revvel ,Im wondering if te fact that you are in cali (a health consious state) makes organics more accesible and less pricey -here organics range from cheap to VERY expensive - so I TRY to get organic when possible ,but cant afford all organic .....but when I get non-organic I try to get the most vibrant fruits I can find -then wash them

I think there has been alot of food tampering ,b/c a few months ago I found huge fuji apples that were the size of three medium apples .......it was VERY unatural ,the organic were smaller but MUCH tastier :)

[VeganVixen]

True ,there is that beautiful sunny enviroment ;)

But Cali is considerd (by some) to be health consious -meaning there is more demand for organic (and more competitive prices),here you have to REALLY look for it ,and not many people HERE really care (let alone shop in the produce section :rolleyes: ) It seems like central market and whole woods are the only ones in competition ,so there isnt as much price lowering......

I meant I try to wash the non-organic stuff (with a veggie wash) -even if its not as good as buying the organic produce


You lucky ducky cali girls :mad: , :p

[Revvell]

But Cali is considerd (by some) to be health consious -meaning there is more demand for organic (and more competitive prices),


And much of it is exported out of this state to others... or many places wouldn't have it at all. I grew up in Ct. We only had fresh produce during the summer months. The rest of the time it was Bird's Eye frozen peas and corn. Ick! At least it wasn't nasty GMO's but that was also a time of ddt ~ which, btw, is now banned in the States yet, sent to Mexico where they spray diligently... and that's where much of "our" produce comes from ~ in stores everywhere.

Now, in Ct. and other colder states one can get fresh produce year-round imported from Cal., Fla. and other states. Not as good as purchasing from farmers' markets the day after it's picked though. (YUP! We Cal. folk have it good!) :D

Even in Denmark we found organic produce and almost ALL their home-grown produce is exported ~ then other stuff imported. Weird. Talk about expensive. At one point one orange was $1.20.




I meant I try to wash the non-organic stuff (with a veggie wash) -even if its not as good as buying the organic produce


I know, and as I said, mostly worthless as the pesticides and herbicides, etc., are IN the fruit, not just on the skin. We do the best we can though, don't we? Don't you just hate the slimy wax they put on the veggies? Wondering with all the junk they use they have to cover it with slime to keep it what? Fresh? lol

Revvell

[VeganVixen]

Don't you just hate the slimy wax they put on the veggies?

YES!!!!!!! It makes me feel like slugs have been crawling all over my food! :eek: , YUCK ,is right!!!!

I think parts of texas have almost year round crops , but theyre USUALLY conventional though!!!! When will us Texans learn :rolleyes:
lol!!

[asil]

Hey VV, where do you live again? Here in Austin, we have organic everywhere. We have my favorite, Central Market with lovely organics at excellent pricees; Whole Foods, with good organic at OK prices; Wheatsville Coop, good organics at excellent prices; all the HEB's (except maybe in the burbs) with good organics at excellent prices; some of the Randalls have an OK selection; lots of farmers' markets, including an amazing one that used to be in Westlake but is now more central. I noticed that even the Super Target has a small organic section. :) Oh yeah, and there's Sun Harvest too, a funny seventies hold-over health food store, plus some other smaller health food stores.

Don't know exactly what's happening in other Texas cities, but we're doing Ok over here, IMO. :)

[rawpriestess]

YES, we do have a fantastic garden, so we don't have to buy much, but when I first went raw, I had no garden, but it still lowered my food bill.

Anyway, now we grow all our own produce, and we dehydrate it for winter use, and also we freeze some, but mostly we eat it totally raw and unadulterated.

If you can grow a garden it really helps with getting it organic AND cheap.

We grown about 40 different things, but one of the most expensive things that we grow is asian apple/pears, and also fresh herbs.

This way, we save alot of money.

[Autumn]

We also garden. We have a good size one in the backyard and another about 40 minutes from the house on a 20 acre piece of land. This is our 6th year and we've had a lot of trial and error. We plant a huge variety of veggies and also have apple, pear, and peach trees, blackberry and strawberry bushes and grape vines. It helps tremendously but there are still a lot of things we buy locally. It's amazing what I used to buy before I grew my own. Now I know what this stuff is really supposed to look (and smell and taste) like!

Revvell, hubby and I always wonder about why stuff is grown locally, then shipped elsewhere, then we get their stuff. Doesn't make sense to us either! :confused:

[VeganVixen]

Hey ,we have pear trees but they make me feel bad (my dad planted them on purpose I think ;) ) ,our peach crop was HEAVY but theyve been eaten by bugs down t the pits :( .....anyways we have TONS of foot long zuchinni ......to our eyeballs!

Hey ,I live an hour from houston -thats were we go for produce ,cause Wal mart and brookshire bros DONT have organic (and I DESPISE walmart)


We have a central market , a woodlands market(s.m. /heb hybrid) and 3 whole foods -theyre prices are good ,but not good enough to be ALL organic - we are paying lawyers now( my dad was sued by a local group who want to keep the "good ole' boy system-and hes a city "slicker"...I hate pety local politics!!!!) ,and since my dad became D.A.(he was private practice) in this small ,poverty stricken town we are in the midst of financial adjustments .......and just cant do ALL organic , soon Ill be going to out of state college ,then hopefully med-school ,so Im going to have to be VERY frugal .....but I try!!!!