Expensive food on a small budget
I’ve realised lately how much I value food that I’ve paid good money for. I don’t take it for granted and devour it to my heart’s content without due thought. We are in the habit of going for the cheapest price possible, with a few exceptions, so most items we eat don’t have to be moderated based on cost. This would include milk, eggs, and bread. Cereal, on the contrary, is an expensive food to be eating as a snack, so my indulgence was limited… until now.
I haven’t finished my long post on it yet, but I’ve learned I have a long list of food and additive sensitivities. The foods are: dairy, corn, soy, sugar, and cashews—and because of cashews, peanuts as well, apparently, though I don’t have to pay attention to trace amounts. Because of this, I’m having to choose some alternative, and therefore generally more expensive, foods including goat’s milk, rice milk, goat and sheep cheeses, stevia and xylitol (natural sweeteners), organic cereals and, eventually, special deli meats. I had already bought muslix before I learned of these diet issues, and now make my own custom muslix* from individual bulk foods. Unlike these previous foods, this cereal is dirt cheap. I can therefore devour it to my heart’s content, with some fresh banana or other fruit. As for the rest, well, when restocking the shelves or fridge of these products costs a good bit, one doesn’t go through them as quickly. It’s easy to realise their value in many ways, and I think that’s incredibly important.
Yesterday, I bought organic eggs for the first time. Organic and local with recyclable packaging: my ultimate desire. At $4.99 a dozen (large), they don’t come cheap, but for 70c more than the free range from the same farm, why the heck not? Their yolks are yellow, which surprised me… they smelled better and they tasted good. (I haven’t had them boiled yet—that’ll be the true test.) I wish I could see a nutritional chart; I bet it’d be impressive. Anyway. I was reluctant to whip up too many at dinner for frugality’s sake.
*My custom muslix is based on the regular store-bought mix:
Large rolled oats (NOT quick oats**), raisins, dried unsweetened coconut, almonds (sliced or whole), flax seeds, sunflower seeds. Add fresh banana or strawberries. Yum!
**I wonder if I scared the poor woman who had to listen to my extended but knowledge-filled explanation answering her question on the difference between large oats and quick oats. Triumphantly for me, she picked the large ones.