Challenging ...

Last month I was challenged by this . The range, quantity, quality and cost of the food varied so much as did the amount of processed food and packaging used.


I realised that although I try to use home-grown, buy healthy alternatives, avoid plastic bags and excess packaging, buy from growers at markets and support small businesses by refusing to shop at the two big supermarket chains, I really had little idea about the quantity and cost of what our family ate each month.


To find out I decided to photograph the food purchased over the following four weeks with a view to assembling a collage of the total, have a visual record of the packaging, know the total cost and ultimately shop for non-perishables monthly (as I used to do) and cut down on any excess.


My recording time is up and yesterday I totalled the cost. It gave me quite a shock and I'm whispering it here ... $811.00! Our family spoke about it last night over dinner - all underestimating the amount except our delightful son who really had no clue. My darling, although surprised, accepted it as we had made the following choices:-

* to support small businesses: fruit, vegetables, deli items, fish, meat etc. This translates to personal service, better quality, usually higher prices but at least I know what farm the meat comes from!

* to buy/consume organic or free range: once again the quality is higher, the food better for us and the animals/land have been cared for in a more responsible way.

* to avoid processed food: cooking itself is not only enjoyable, the eating of the meal is as well, and we have control over the ingredients. The end product is healthier and cheaper.

* eating wheat-free: once again better for our health. A delicious but a more expensive option.

Although we are on the right track, it is obvious there is room for improvement so I will now endeavour to:-

* shop for non-perishables once a month
* make and use net bags for the fruit and vegetables that need weighing to reduce plastic further.
* bake more fruit loaves myself - I'd started buying expensive but delicious wheat-free ones
* reduce the (necessary?) chocolate purchases
* be more aware of, even stick to, a limit. It is here I'll try and introduce that fearful word - or is it liberating? - 'budget'.

When all this is converted to a healthy, balanced diet which is tasty and nutritious, trying to involve responsible consumerism and costs $7.25 per adult per day, it sounds very positive. I'll see how we go implementing the changes ...

*** The above images are a selection from the recording period. They include home-grown, farmer's market purchases, and items bought at an Asian supermarket as well as our local independent grocery store. I included all packaging in the photos - I'd love to eliminate plastic altogether.

*** An update on Roger - he is making good progress and it looks as if he'll avoid a second operation, for which we are very thankful.