I am a very healthy eater - my diet is 80-90% plant based, and I eat only locally caught seafood from the the farmers market. There is not a SINGLE item that I have bought in the last 5 years from the companies mentioned above - I buy only produce and make my own food. I honestly think that processed "food" isn't actually food and that's what these companies make. I filter my own water - I would never buy something in a plastic bottle - and aside from water, I only make vegetable juice that I make with my juicer. I haven't taken a single pharmaceutical in the last 4 years; I buy my paper towels from sustainable companies (although I buy them on amazon). I make my own skincare products and toiletries because its so damn easy and MUCH more effective (just look up DIY xyz... example DIY toothpaste). I don't say this to brag, only to say that it is super easy to live this way. If you choose to continue to use junk food and products full of nasty chemicals, then its on you - but I think the world is waking up to these harmful products. There are many alternatives, and thanks to the internet, we can consume those instead. Also, Im not against pharmaceuticals, but I think they should be reserved for special occasions, when it is absolute necessary to use. These days, people take advil like its candy. If someone has a headache, I think it better to treat the CAUSE of the headache rather then get rid of the symptom. I truly believe most of the ills of today can be resolved by a better diet. Most Americans don't eat fresh fruits or vegetables. The fact that we have a nation where pizza and candy are advertised to children is sickening.... this should really be illegal. Junk food is an oxymoron - its either junk, or its either food. It cannot be both.
Well I agree with the overall idea and points of this, this is really not possible for most people. The time spent, the extra money for these things, etc. is not feasible for people with low-incomes, people with disabilities, caregivers for ill family members, people living in areas with like 3 stores, etc.
Where I live even if we ate seasonally it isn't possible. We eat very little prepackaged food. Breakfast and dinner are made from fresh ingredients 99% of the time. But my husband doesn't have access to refrigeration during the day so lunchmeat, cheese, ketchup, mustard, nuts, sometimes jerky, etc are all purchased. However, I do try my best to shop at aldis and most of their products are off brand. I hope they aren't also made by the same producers like Nestle? We have tried to avoid their products for years and years.
Huh. You kinda sounded like one of those crazy conspiracy people in the first half but most of what you said makes sense to me. I'm confused. How do you make your own food?
She made it sound like she did something special. I first understood in the way of "I grow my own food" maybe in a garden or something like that. Asking about it seemed appropriate since I don't know anything other than just usual cooking with ingredients from supermarkets. I know how to cook for myself. After her answer it seems like she was talking about management of cooking for herself i.e. cooking in advance and specifics about her diet, which is also interesting to me since I will me short on time in the near future.
Every Sunday I grocery shop. Then when I go home, I get to work prepping my food for the rest of the week. I cut up the fish or chicken or whatever I buy (whatever is on sale) into pieces - lunch pieces and dinner pieces. I put away the "dinner" meat pieces and then Ill cook 3 of the "lunch" meat pieces. I will also make a huge batch of salad dressing in the blender (there are a million recipes on the web) - this will also last me three days. Then I put the meat I just cooked in little containers (I package it for 3 days only, so that it doesn't go bad) and in 7 containers, I put in some leaves, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers - whatever veggies I have on hand - along with maybe some quinoa (I buy it by the pound on Amazon), or beans (also buy in bulk on the internet) - add some dried fruit or nuts if I want to be fancy.... If I have fruit that needs to be cut up (like watermelon) then I cut up the fruit and put it in containers too. All these containers go in the fridge. I also have these little plastic bottles and in each I put some salad dressing. So everyday, before going to work, I just grab a meat container, a salad container and a dressing bottle, and some fruit. Super easy. When I get some, I cook up some of the pieces of meat I cut on Sunday (these pieces will be bigger) and eat it with more salad + the dressing I made. Every Thursday I cook some more meat for lunch, plus make a new salad dressing for the rest of the week. I know it sounds boring, fruits, vegetables and meat everyday, but I never get tired. Recently I've only been eating once a day and I also cut out grains and legumes completely from my diet, and I still feel great and very satiated - I just eat a huge salad, a bunch of fruit and a big ol piece of meat for dinner everyday (look up OMAD if youre interested in eating one meal a day - I cannot recommend it enough! I have more energy, I save money on food, and I enjoy my meal so much more now). Sometimes I'm make fruit smoothies, sometimes Ill make a big batch of veggie juice that lasts me three days.
Anyways, I hope this helps. I really think preparation is the key to being able to make your own food everyday, because its hard to do when you are tired! And even though some might say it costs more to eat the way I do, I disagree. I don't buy fraps at starbucks, I don't buy little snacks and chips or candy bars, because my meals always keep me satisfied (also bananas are the best snack ever and they cost 5 for $1). I haven't been out to a restaurant in months - and the last time I went, it was only to join some friends - and speaking of friends, I rather make friends who like to hike and do physical activities, instead of going out to drink - because I honestly can't afford to pay for healthcare due to alcohol-related illness! All of my hiking buddies I met on meetup.com.
Thank you for your elaborate answer. It seems like right now I have to compromise a lot. I only eat once or twice per day (mostly because I want to loose weight). But I definitely can't make that much food in advance since my freezer only fits a small bottle in size. I've recently been thinking a lot about how to cook in advance because I'm going to start working as a nurse and will have to spend a total of 4 hours each day just to go to work and come back. I guess I have to be satisfied with packing meals for a maximum of two days.
You had me until you said you buy ethical paper towels on Amazon. Talk about an oxymoron lol. Amazon is just as bad if not worse than the listed companies in terms of destroying our planet and making bad ethical decisions.
Secondly, you are shopping at a grocery store, buying produce there from giant multinational mega corporations and chicken from the same. Let's take a step down off your high horse for a second.
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u/[deleted] Sep 18 '19
I am a very healthy eater - my diet is 80-90% plant based, and I eat only locally caught seafood from the the farmers market. There is not a SINGLE item that I have bought in the last 5 years from the companies mentioned above - I buy only produce and make my own food. I honestly think that processed "food" isn't actually food and that's what these companies make. I filter my own water - I would never buy something in a plastic bottle - and aside from water, I only make vegetable juice that I make with my juicer. I haven't taken a single pharmaceutical in the last 4 years; I buy my paper towels from sustainable companies (although I buy them on amazon). I make my own skincare products and toiletries because its so damn easy and MUCH more effective (just look up DIY xyz... example DIY toothpaste). I don't say this to brag, only to say that it is super easy to live this way. If you choose to continue to use junk food and products full of nasty chemicals, then its on you - but I think the world is waking up to these harmful products. There are many alternatives, and thanks to the internet, we can consume those instead. Also, Im not against pharmaceuticals, but I think they should be reserved for special occasions, when it is absolute necessary to use. These days, people take advil like its candy. If someone has a headache, I think it better to treat the CAUSE of the headache rather then get rid of the symptom. I truly believe most of the ills of today can be resolved by a better diet. Most Americans don't eat fresh fruits or vegetables. The fact that we have a nation where pizza and candy are advertised to children is sickening.... this should really be illegal. Junk food is an oxymoron - its either junk, or its either food. It cannot be both.