Hubs and I went bike riding on the first warm day of spring. Leaving our house at 11:30 with no food in tow, we knew we’d need some lunch by the time we got to our state park destination. We stopped at a local organic market to get some goodies. Now, we hadn’t been to this market in awhile, and their shelves were fully stocked with new items; we went a little crazy. What was supposed to be a quick stop for a bite on-the-go turned into:

-1 package of flatbread (4)
-1 package of Field Roast deli slices (yum!)
-2 avocados
-1 bag of Mary’s Gone Crackers! Twigs and Sticks
- 1 block of raw cheese (for Hubs–he can’t quit cheese)
- 2 bottles of Kombucha (so addicting!)

The total was around $30.00. Ouch!

I’m not complaining, because Hubs and I have made a deal that we will never feel bad about doing good things for our bodies, but we could have easily bought a loaf of white bread, a package of bologna, 2 avocados, 1 bag of pretzels, a package of cheese slices, and two bottles of soda for oh, I’d estimate, $12.00. 

Another example: a few weeks ago, Hubs and I were doing a “cleanse.” We fasted on a Friday night and then all day Saturday. We drank a fiber&scillium-rich drink mixture and juice. Hubs went to the store to buy two bottles of juice for our “meals.” As he waited in the check-out lane, the woman in front of him bought a Banquet frozen dinner, two frozen pizzas, and a two-liter of soda. Her total: $6.49. Hubs bought one bottle of organic apple juice and a bottle of organic grape. His total: $8.99!

We’re pretty good at figuring out how to make cheap and healthy, quick meals. However, a cheap AND healthy meal is ALWAYS more expensive than a cheap, NON-healthy meal.  Add in the fact that most people don’t know how to cook anymore, and there you have it, the disappearance of a healthy diet.

I’m hoping that as organic food becomes mainstreamed the prices on it will continue to drop. Until then, we’ll have to cut out those $30 unplanned lunches…

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Try to ignore the fact that the fireman is nervous, but calm, and the factory-brand morning-show host is, ironically, rushing him through the segment (as they always do). THIS IS THE REAL DEAL. The fireman, Rip Esselstyn, and his fire company buddies got healthy by averting themselves from the Standard American Diet (or, SAD–coincidence?). So, I’m a little miffed that it takes a bunch of “manly” firefighters to have mainstream media take note of the concept of –gasp!– not eating meat nor dairy. But, if it gets the word out there, so be it. But don’t buy the book; spend your money on research from people who have been doing this longer and aren’t necessarily trying to make a buck. Unless you’re a manly-man who needs a fireman book to help you feel more secure in your manlihood when not eating meat…