Many times we are asked about our grocery bill---how much do we spend each month on eating a raw, vegan diet? It's not something that's easy to answer, though. If we just blurted the amount out, people would be shocked (at a minimum) and insist that there's no way possible they could ever eat a raw diet because they can't afford it.
Our monthly expense at the grocery store has continued to climb since I first began eating raw foods. At this point, now that Jim is eating 100% raw, as well, our monthly expense has more than doubled from the time when it was only me eating 100%. That's a huge increase in money being spent each month. But, you know what? It's okay! Yes, I said it's okay that our expense has more than doubled and I'll tell you why after you take a look at what we purchased last week for our home.
We normally buy even more bananas, but they were all green and we figured we'd go back in a few days to see if any ripe ones were available. On the kitchen table (which is our fruit table--we eat at our dining room table) we have bananas, avocados, grapefruit (three more bags in the fridge), tomatoes (they didn't have many nice tomatoes at the store, or else you'd see more here), apples (there are more apples on another counter, as well), oranges (two more bags in the fridge), and kiwi fruits.
Packing the fridge isn't always easy. We've got it down to a system that works pretty well most of the time, however. I put produce that stays fresh the longest in the back of the fridge. Here are some items that you don't see, since they are behind everything else: cauliflower, three bags of kale, four heads of romaine, two heads of green leaf lettuce, six beets, four Thai coconuts, collard greens, oranges, apples, more celery and carrots, dates, raisins, nuts and seeds (which we also store in the freezer, as well). In the front you'll see about 20 cucumbers, two bunches of broccoli, six bunches of baby bok choi, some more kale, pears, some apples, carrots, celery, sugar snap peas, snow peas, ten sweet peppers (red, yellow, and orange), four packs of blueberries, a large pack of strawberries, a few cooked items KDcat picked up at the hot food bar at the co-op, three bags of lemons, three bags of shredded coconut, and a plastic container with scraps that we use for feeding our dog, Julia. We also have a few small containers of leftovers from the previous shopping trip.
Yes, that's a lot of food for only three people (our dog eats some of the produce with us, too). We finish just about all of it in seven to eight days. If we lived closer to the food co-op, we'd shop daily. However, this is what has been working for us. To keep the greens fresh, I make sure to empty all excess water from the bags and then I tie them up so that air is trapped inside. This has worked well for me for many years. All of the produce is organic, so it's important for me to keep it as fresh as possible---some of the nonorganic produce has chemicals on it to keep it from spoiling too fast.
In the door (see that it has been taped---because we stuff it too full!), you'll see some other items we use. In the doors are bags of date pieces that Jim loves to snack on. On the shelves are things like nut butters, oils, hemp seeds, carob powder, soy sauce, hemp protein powder, seeds, and we also keep scallions and cilantro (and other fresh herbs) tucked on these shelves, as well. We didnt' take picture of it, but the freezer holds more nuts and seeds, as well as frozen fruit for smoothies.
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So, why did I say it's okay that our grocery bill has more than doubled over the past year? Because look at what we are buying: fresh, ripe, organic LIFE! Who can put a price on life? I sure can't. Before eating this way I was ill. My body was struggling for survival. I wasn't only obese because I had a lot of fat that was protecting my cells from toxins, I was also retaining massive amounts of water (edema) because my body was desperately trying to protect itself. My list of physical ill health was a mile long: obesity, arrhythmia, insulin resistance, PCOS, high cholesterol (even though I was vegan!), high triglycerides, depression, extreme fatigue, debilitating migraines, ?edema, scaly and red skin, and so much more. When I changed my diet to one of only raw, vegan foods (I was already 100% organic for many years), all of those health issues disappeared. I was given life again. I woke up from the half-life I had been living and blossomed into someone truly alive in more ways than I can ever explain.
Who can put a price on that? Isn't life vital ! Without a vital, healthy body we can never truly experience life. For those of you who are just learning about raw foods, just beginning your journeys, trust me when I say that you have not felt how beautifully vibrant and healthy you can be. For those of you who are now experiencing the wake up from the half-life you've lived on cooked foods, and those of you who are fully awake, please leave a comment to acknowledge that what I'm saying is the truth. With a raw food diet you become ALIVE!
Anyway, back to the expense of eating this way. Yes, it can be quite expensive---especially if you eat raw foods the way we do (buying whatever we feel like eating, even if it's extremely expensive). I'm not saying eating a raw, vegan diet has to be so expensive, however. You can limit your food selections to those that are in season and therefore less expensive. You can have the bulk of your diet consist of less expensive fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds and not purchase many organics. There ARE ways to cut back on grocery expenses (and I hope many of you will share tips here, for those looking to eat more raw on a very tight budget).
Let's talk about your food budget, however. How much have you allocated to your weekly/monthly food intake? What ways have you found to cut back on the amount you are spending on your food expenses? I'm asking this not because I want to find out how little someone can spend, it's because I want you to take a good look at how much effort you have possibly put into keeping your food budget to a minimum. It's a lot of work to do that, as most of you will agree. I'd like to pose a question here, however: Have you ever considered putting more effort into cutting back on EVERY OTHER expense and allowing your food budget to become a priority? Isn't your health---your very existence, your life---priceless?
To me, the food I take in allows my body to thrive. My goal in life is to THRIVE! I want to be filled with health, vibrant life! If the groceries I buy help me meet that goal, then buying groceries is my number one priority in life. Yes, my number one priority in life is groceries! To many, maybe that sounds pathetic or obsessive. To me, however, I know that without eating a raw, vegan diet my body will slip back into the half-life I was living. I will begin the steep slope into a diseased body and my goal of thriving will be impossible. It's easy for me to place my priority on the foods I eat!
We've been spending an average of about $2,500 a month on groceries (this includes the nuts/seeds/produce for our raw, vegan dog, as well---that's a subject we'll cover another day). If you are mathematically inclined, you may have already realized that we're spending about $30,000 per year to eat this way. In order to spend $30,000, an individual would have to earn about $40,000 before taxes. And here we're only talking about the expense of our food! We haven't even added in other expenses.Are there ways around this expense? Yes! But, they may seem a bit radical for many.
Since I've made a commitment to dedicate my life to the raw food movement (I want others to feel vibrant and fully alive, as well!), and Jim has joined me in this commitment, we are in the long process of severing the corporate/societal ties that are keeping us trapped in the common must-make-lots-of-money-to-survive way of living. Over the past four years we have been cutting back on expenses, preparing for this major shift (that I didn't fully understand at the time---I was just following my intuition). I made paying off our debt a big part of our budget. We cut back on our expenses in as many ways as possible. We don't spend money on unnecessary things: cable television, sattelite dishes, cell phones, a second car (and therefore extra car insurance and expenses), new clothes on a regular basis (we mostly buy only as needed---and items are usually either on clearance or from a thrift store), eating out at restaurants, buying new possessions (it's just more stuff that keeps us tethered to this way of living), credit cards (why go into debt for things you don't need for survival ), superfluous gift giving (we used to equate elaborate gift giving with showing love), and so much more.
Once our home sells, we'll begin our cross-country RV tour to spread the word about the vitality of the raw food diet. At that point, we will no longer have a steady income from corporate America. We will have, however, true freedom to follow our dreams. There's a saying that things will work out if you follow your passions and live your dreams, so we're testing that. With an extremely limited budget, how will we afford $30,000 a year on groceries? We don't know, yet! We do know, however, that our number one priority is the best possible produce for our bodies. So, it will be interesting to see how we juggle our lives to meet that priority.
Selling our home will be necessary (and is one of the radical things I mentioned, above), so that we can have the funds available for the cross-country tour and to purchase some land. We'll eventually settle in a climate where we can grow our own produce year-round, which will be a very big part of meeting our priority on a tight budget. We'll adapt, making the changes necessary to continually meet our priority of having the best possible produce. Again, who can put a price on life? We'll do everything possible to continue living a vibrant existance (and helping others to do so, as well)!
What are your thoughts on all of this? What is your number one priority right now
===========
Note from Jim:
Just to clarify:? Since we're leaving "Corporate America" rather suddenly in favor of a free agent lifestyle, we do anticipate a coming period during which our budget will in fact be tight. That's just reality. However, we're in no way stating that our intention is to exist continually that way. We do not feel that there is anything at all wrong with prosperity, or that one must live with less in order to be healthy. ("Prosperity" is just a word, after all, indicating that one is doing well, often connoting financial well being in particular.) Rather, the question is: If you're fortunate enough to be prosperous, how do you use that prosperity? How are you placing that prosperity into service for others? So, while some of our goals are ostensibly acquisitive in nature (e.g., acquiring land, which is quite expensive in the locale we're considering) or costly in nature (e.g., having enough money to travel the world in order to meet similar-minded people and bring you continued coverage and information from them),? we're approaching the topic of prosperity with what we feel is the highest level of integrity and responsibility in terms of the message Pure Jeevan intends to spread, regardless of whatever our level of fianncial capacity turns out to be.
Original Comments
Below, we have included the original comments from this blog post. Additional comments may be made via Facebook, below.
On March 10, 2009, wrote:
What do I think of all that? Ok, I'm amazed. Its so clear now what is going on. I admire your dedication! That fridge...I think I just died and went to Heaven! At least I thought I heard angels singing! ;)
I am lucky to have some really great produce stores around me and we are able to save quite a bit. I think you've nailed it on the head however, you really do need to prioritize what is the most important to you to be really happy. I believe we can't do that until we realize that in order to be happy we have to have a good foundation, built and centered on our own health. Great job guys!
On March 10, 2009, wrote:
Hey Wendi & Jim,
Confession, I don't have time to read the whole post right now, but I did see the request for comments. Feeding a family of five raw, I probably have you guys beat! ;)
Our food is almost double our mortgage some months (when I buy dates, nuts, and other things in bulk). Other months, it's STILL usually more than our mortgage. Hubby and I were having a discussion one day about how we'd have been out of debt already and had a second car if I hadn't started eating raw & then had the rest of the family joining in. And this is true. I then asked if he would change any of it. His answer? A big, HUGE, emphatic NO! :D I have eliminated 3/4 of the weight I set out to eliminate (I'm getting there) and have NO health problems anymore (my list was a mile long as well). Our son who had every symptom of ADHD but one is now ADHD free. Our son with autism made LEAPS & BOUNDS of progress since going raw (the kind that gives you good goosebumps).
So, I don't care the costs. Damn the costs. The rewards have MORE than outweighed the costs! And I always tell everyone this important fact: Raw is only as hard/easy, expensive/cheap as YOU CHOOSE TO MAKE IT! :D
Love and blessings to you both! :D
On March 10, 2009, wrote:
OMG, next time my family complains that my produce is taking over the fridge, I'll just send them here!
On March 10, 2009, wrote:
Wow! That is a whole lot of bananas! Thanks for sharing this. Do you always keep your hemp seeds in the fridge? Yikes! I haven't thought of that. Thank you for sharing your passion!
My family and I sold our home and traveled the US for 7 months 2 years ago when we started our new life! There is so much freedom in that! If your travels lead you to WA, let me know! I live in a raw-friendly area where we could put together a talk for you and your husband!
Smiles and successful joy,
Rain
On March 10, 2009, wrote:
Dear Wendi,
I'm so glad you posted this. I agree with you. Personally, I have a Law degree from Paris (France) and I am getting a Masters in Psychology, and I also took all the prerequisites to go to medical school. If I wanted to, I could make a lot of money. But then, could I spend all my time with my beloved husband? Could I work on the eBooks I co-write with Tonya Kay (they take a lot of time!)? Could I find enough time to expand my knowledge of raw foods and try out new recipes all the time? I don't think so. My husband agrees, too. We don't make very much (we couldn't spend $30,000/year on food) but we still eat well, and we are happy. I think that's what matters. We are currently working on paying off the mortgage, and I'm buying all the appliances I (think I) need, such as a dehydrator and a little juicer for greens. Once this is done, I won't have much to spend money on, all of it will go to delicious raw foods. We are also frugal people, we don't go to the movies etc. The library is close to the house, and is full of free books, DVDs, etc :)
Here is what I do to save money:
- When I want an appliance, I get it refurbished or on Ebay. I have a refurbished KitchenAid food processor, a vita-mix from Ebay ($293!), a manual greens juicer I bought used from 877myjuicer, and I'm getting an Excalibur on Ebay for less. Nothing has failed me yet.
- I try to get as many coupons as I can. Dole as coupons for frozen fruits on Ebay all the time, same with cat litter, etc. Sometimes I contact the company directly, and they send me a few coupons.
- In the summer, I grow a LOT of food. Tomatoes, salad, peppers, chard, spinach, beets, onions, etc etc.
- Freecyle: on freecycle, I post a message every summer to see if someone will let me pick their trees. I'm in Iowa, so I can't get citrus obviously, but last year I got more than 100 lb of apples. We couldn't even eat them all, we ended up composting what we had left. I got a bunch of free pears too.
We can save money left and right, it's not too difficult, and what we save goes to food. I think the biggest obstacle is accepting to spend so much on something we don't "keep". But we do keep something, vibrant health and boundless joy!
On March 10, 2009, wrote:
Thanks, Sam! I'm sure your own dedication to healthy foods has increased
with the little one on the way! :-)
Lots of love to you!
Wendi
XOXOXO
On March 10, 2009, wrote:
Sunshine,
We have talked about this many times in our home: How would we manage this
lifestyle if we had a larger family. The answer is always the same: We'd
make it work! It really is all about priorities.
Thanks for the comment!
Lots of love to you,
Wendi
XOXOXO
On March 10, 2009, wrote:
LOL
Rawbin, you've always come when we're at the end of our groceries. If we
had a larger family, a second refrigerator would definitely be necessary.
I don't know how you are sharing the space with your family--you are much
nicer than I am! ;-)
Lots of love to you,
Wendi
XOXOXO
On March 10, 2009, wrote:
*giggles*
Rain, we get the comment about bananas all the time (and that picture only
shows about half of what we normally buy). Bananas are my stay-raw
food--they keep me raw because they are easy to carry around, eat, and
satisfy my hunger.
Yes, I always keep the hemp seeds and protein in the fridge. I also always
keep nuts and seeds in the fridge or freezer, unless there is absolutely
no room for them (in which case, as soon as room opens up, they get moved
to the fridge). We don't refrigeate the nuts and seeds for our dog,
however, since she eats them fast enough.
How exciting that you traveled for seven months with your family!!! Did
you blog about your experiences? I'm sooo looking forward the adventure.
Yes, we're stopping in WA and would love to meet you and give a talk. When
we post information about the tour, be sure to contact me again at that
time. We'll be looking for contacts/help in the areas where we'll be
stopping. :-) Thanks for offering!! We appreciate it so much!
Lots of love to you,
Wendi
XOXOXO
On March 10, 2009, wrote:
Joanna,
Thanks so much for the comment. I love that you have made truly living a
priority in your life. I think the work you do with Tonya is wonderful and
helps so many people. You are a gifted writer--have you talked with any of
the raw magazines about possibly writing for them, as well
Thanks for the tips, too!! When we get settled, we're definitely going to
use your freecyle idea. So many people let their fruit rot on the trees
and ground, rather than eating it. We've scored some amazing bosc pears
here in Pittsburgh before. Free food is so awesome!!
Thanks, again!
Lots of love to you,
Wendi
XOXOXO
On March 10, 2009, wrote:
I LOVE YOU!!! It is so validating to read this post. I can totally relate.
On March 10, 2009, wrote:
I'm actually relieved that I'm not the only one spending so much on my groceries!
I too am trying to grow more in my garden- but out here in CA we see a drought ahead- or else I'd fill my whole yard up. But I do admire your dedication- and your transparency!
Thanks
Darcy
On March 10, 2009, wrote:
Hi Wendi, Jim
I really enjoy your blog and they are helping me a lot as I'm still a newbie to raw foods. Todays blog is great as it shows what I need to work towards.
I have always grown as much as I can myself, and I highly recommend viewing this YouTUbe video as it show how much you raelly can grow yourself to allevciate cost, even in a normal suburban home :-)
Check it out:- http://www.youtube.com/watch v=mCPEBM5ol0Q
Renelle :-)
On March 10, 2009, wrote:
Hi Wendi and Jim,
Great post! I love love love your photos of the produce! Makes me want to salivate. :)
Good on you guys for knowing your priorities and living to them. I think you are not at all alone in this community. Looking forward to hearing how it goes for you on the road. I'm sure there will be many great tips and lessons you will have to share.
I also know the cost of my organic raw food would be the last thing to go as it healed me too and makes me feel happy, grateful and joyful everyday. Bring it on!!
Casey x
On March 10, 2009, wrote:
Looks really Great!!
Can you guys Share what to keep in the Frig. I had no Idea you should keep hemp seeds and nut butters in the frig......oops. I save buy planting a Garden...
Thank you
On March 10, 2009, wrote:
Your refrigerator is packed to the brim... Was this a spontaneous photo shoot? It looks too perfect to be true. All you need is a couple watermelon in there, and your photograph will be over the top! Gosh... my food bill is around $20 a day for one person... And, I forage, barter, competitively shop, and grow my own... Any way I can cut some corners, I will. Also, my program is around 70-100% raw vegan, which gives me a bit more flexibility. Thanks for sharing the great article!
On March 10, 2009, wrote:
Hi Wendi and Jim,
What an inspiring post! I admire you for your commitment not only to your health, but to the health of the community as well. Your commitment to serving others is awe-inspiring.
I laughed at the picture of your refrigerator. As a raw-food newbie, my refrigerator used to be mostly empty. It was stocked with SOME fruits and veggies, but mostly processed vegetarian foods. Now, it looks like yours! My boyfriend shakes his head in amazement, but just tonight he asked for a strawberry smoothie. :)
I'm spending about $100 a week on fruit and veggies. That's a jump from the $60 or so I used to spend on SAD food. I'm sure it would be more because I have been buying only a few organics. I'm already in sticker shock! I'm pretty sure, however, as I adjust to the increased grocery bill, I'll incorporate more organics. It's just a mental adjustment. :)
Again, I really loved your post. As I consider looking for new work that's more in line with my principles (yes, I tell others, in THIS economy), you're an inspiration.
Blessings!
On March 11, 2009, wrote:
Your refrigerator looks just like mine. I dont care how much money its costs to eat healthy, if you dont have your health, life is miserable, no matter how much money you have. Im thinking about buying another fridge to put in my garage. I just moved to colorado from florida and i cant wait to plant a garden in my back yard here.
Love, health, happiness and peace, Annie the organic health nut.
On March 11, 2009, wrote:
Dear Wendi,
Thank you so much for your openness on this. It's always validating when I find someone who spends more $ on food than I do (not often!).
I can easily spend $1200 a month on food for myself and my son and I find can't get it under $800 without compromising something important to me (health, pleasure of eating out, etc.). I don't buy many supplements, and I don't buy fruit or veggies from south of the equator, etc. May through October I shop at our farmer's market, which is great. I do buy what ever's on sale (this week at Whole Foods it's Minneola tangelos for 0.99/lb.).
My food budget does seem to have crept upwards in last couple of years, partly because I have gone "mostly raw" and partly because of rising food prices.
But it's ALWAYS been a huge portion of my budget (as much as 25%), and something I could never really chip away at. I've felt guilty spending so much but just couldn't reduce it. I finally started being more honest about my food expenses in my budgeting, not trying to reduce them but acknowledging the reality, and the importance, and cutting other expenses instead.
On March 11, 2009, wrote:
I haven't really kept track of how much I spend on food, but food comes first and saves on unnecessary medical expenses. In order to reduce my expenses I plan
to start buying at the farmer's market. Right now I get a bi-weekly organic produce
box from a CSA. I ended up getting an extra refrigerater to keep in my garage for all
the produce so my active one isn't jammed so full. I enjoy your blogs, and photos.
On March 11, 2009, wrote:
I love you, too, Jen!!
I'm happily surprised that so many people can relate to the post!
*blows kisses*
Wendi
XOXOXO
On March 11, 2009, wrote:
Darcy,
If you read over the comments, it seems there are a lot of us placing high
priorities on our produce!
Thanks for joining in the comments!
Lots of love to you,
Wendi
XOXOXO
On March 11, 2009, wrote:
Renelle,
I'm happy you are enjoying the blog and that we are helping you along your
raw journey! That makes me feel great!
Thanks so much for sharing that video. It's a very big part of my overall
plan for the future. It's rewarding on so many levels to grow your own
produce.
Lots of love to you,
Wendi
XOXOXO
On March 11, 2009, wrote:
HI there, Casey!
Thanks for your comment. We have been pleasantly surprised that many
others can relate to this blog entry!
Yes, we'll be sharing just about everything we are learning as we are on
the road. I'm sure it's not always going to be happy and pretty--all of us
in one tiny home on wheels, but we're up for the adventure!
Lots of love to you,
Wendi
XOXOXO
On March 11, 2009, wrote:
Hi there, Caryl.
Yes, I often take the knowledge I have for granted. I've been living an
alternative lifestyle for many years and have acquired a lot of tips and
tricks that are now just a part of my daily life. I forget that there are
things I can share to help others.
For what to keep in the fridge, it's important to keep nuts, seeds, nut
butters, and oils in the refrigerator. If you don't, they can quickly
oxidize (which eventually makes them rancid and they mess with your body,
giving you a greater chance of cancer). If you are going to use those
items up rather quickly, leaving them out won't be too harmful. Some
things should always be refrigerated, however, like flax (seeds, powder,
and oil) because of how quickly it oxidizes.
If you are still using flour and rice, whole wheat flour and brown rice
should be refrigerated, as well, for the same reasons as stated above.
Thanks for asking. I'll try to include your question in a future Q&A entry
on the blog, so others can learn as well.
Lots of love to you,
Wendi
XOXOXO
On March 11, 2009, wrote:
Hi there, Enzymeluv!
Yes, it was a spontaneous photo shoot. We kept saying one day we'd do a
blog about our shopping but never remembered to get photos after a
shopping day. This time the camera was nearby after shopping, the fridge
had recently been washed, and we decided to do it! ;-) Each week looks
pretty similar, but some of the veggies/fruits change according to
availablity/freshness at the food co-op.
Wow, you are doing great with eating for less! When we get to a warmer
climate we are going to be saving so much money groceries!! I'm looking
forward to it! Maybe you can take us around showing us what there is to
eat locally when we are visiting you during our tour! :-)
Lots of love to you,
Wendi
XOXOXO
On March 11, 2009, wrote:
Kari,
I'm so happy you found the post inspiring! :-) Thanks for your sweet comment.
Congrats on your fridge looking like ours! Your body appreciates it, I'm
sure!!!
Best wishes for finding work that fits in with your beliefs and goals!
Lots of love to you,
Wendi
XOXOXO
On March 11, 2009, wrote:
Hi there, Annie!
I love what you've said. We have always contemplated buying another
fridge, as well. If we were staying in this home, we probably would do
that now that Jim's 100% raw and our produce quantity has increased. We'll
hold off, however.
It's going to be interesting to see how we handle groceries when living in
the RV, since those refrigerators are a lot smaller!
I hope your garden is overflowing with lovely produce for you!
Lots of love to you,
Wendi
XOXOXO
On March 11, 2009, wrote:
Elizabeth,
You are very welcome. I've learned that opening up and sharing more about
myself is helping people even more in their own growth. So, I am happy to
share, even when it's not always an easy thing to do. I was a bit hesitant
to share the amount we spend, but I wanted to be open about it. It's
wonderful to hear so many positive comments about what we've shared.
Yes, the cost of produce has increased and we've seen that afffect our
monthly expenses, as well. Growing our own food is really going to help us
out a lot in the future!
Lots of love to you,
Wendi
XOXOXO
On March 11, 2009, wrote:
Jenny,
That's wonderful that food comes first for you! I'm pleasantly surprised
that so many are agreeing on this subject! We love CSAs, as well!
Congrats on the second fridge! That's fantastic!
I'm happy you are enjoying our blog!
Lots of love to you,
Wendi
XOXOXO
On March 11, 2009, wrote:
I am also happily surprised.
As a follow up I'ld love it if you guys would post a typical daily diet (including serving sizes/ amounts) from a couple days for both of you. I think in addition to seeing how you stock your fridge it will be helpful to see just how much a raw foodist can eat in a day.
On March 11, 2009, wrote:
As I'm sure you understand, there's no typical daily diet for any of us.
Some days we eat together, creating gourmet raw foods. Some days we do a
lot of smoothies. Many days we are each eating what we individually feel
like eating, never eating the same things! LOL
It's a lot of work documenting a daily diet, but it *is* something I'm
going to be doing for an online support/inspiration group that we'll be
launching in the near future (we've been working on it since December and
it's almost ready). It's going to be a paid support/inspiration group for
those desiring daily interaction and motivation to be all they desire in
this life. One thing that will be shared is my daily diet, and so much
more, of course--it has a full-person focus (body, mind, spirit, emotions)
and is about so much more than food and diet. :-)
As for how much a raw foodist can eat in one day...*giggles* I can eat so
much now, compared to when I was obese and my body was slowly starving to
death on cooked foods!
Lots of love to you, Jen!
Wendi
XOXOXO
On March 11, 2009, wrote:
Whoa, that's strange how my comment gets all broken up like that. Maybe it's because I'm sending the comment through my email program. Sorry if that's difficult to read for anyone. :-/ I had no idea it did that.
XOXOXO
On March 11, 2009, wrote:
What a great post! Love the pics of the fridge. I look forward to the day mine can look like that! Currently I share mine with 2 non-raw sons so it's quite a mish-mosh of stuff in there.
A couple of things that I do to help lower my grocery bills ..... I buy bananas on the reduced produce rack at the grocery store. I can usually get them for about 29 cents a pound that way. Bananas are one of the 12 cleanest fruits/veggies so you can get away with buying non-organic ones as these usually are. They are generally prepackaged so I get some funny looks when I roll up to the cashier with 7 or 8 packages of bananas every week!
I also work at a health food store and can special order produce and other things and pay cost for them. Produce is sometimes a little difficult because it's mostly by the case by other things like nuts, seeds, nut butters and such are generally a great bargain.
I also utilize the "Dirty Dozen" list when money is really tight and buy the things they list as cleanest in non-organic.
Again Wendi & Jim, great post. I too would be interested to see a daily "food diary" when you find the time to put one together.
On March 11, 2009, wrote:
Thanks, Robyn!
I know what you mean about sharing the fridge with cooked foodies. Our
fridge didn't look like this before Jim went 100% raw. ;-)
I love bananas---I think they are an important part in my raw diet. They
are relatively inexpensive, tasty, convenient, and filling. Who could ask
for more? You are finding them at an amazingly great price!
I just included a link to a page that lists the "dirty dozen" in today's
post (http://purejeevan.com/blog/p=917). We special order bulk items
through our food co-op, as well. It's not cheap, but it's cheaper than
buying without the bulk discount price.
Thanks for the great tips! We've been getting a lot of great advice from
readers.
Lots of love to you!
Wendi
XOXOXO
On March 12, 2009, wrote:
Hi Wendi and JIm. my fridge looks kind of like yours, but my husband is not a raw eater, so I have to allow his stuff in there. We bought a new regrigerator a couple of years ago that is more efficient, but smaller. So now I use the extra storage below where you can store soda etc for my stuff.
My local Costco (warehouse store) carries some organinc food. I was shopping recently a got spinach, apples, carrots all organic. Sometimes they will have blueberries. You just have to search for it. They even carry pesticide free tomatoes sometimes.
I spend alot of raw foods and I shop often, but I haven't figured out how much I spend. I'm not sure I want to know. I just know I make enough to eat pretty much what I want. I live in California, and I will try to grow as much as I can this summer. Right now I grow my own wheatgrass for juicing, but I want to sprout alot more stuff too.
Raw live foods keep me more focused and have helped me to get off an anti-depressant I was taking when menopause started. I is worth more than the money I spend!!
On March 12, 2009, wrote:
Hi there, Lois!
Thanks for your comment. Congrats on the more efficient refrigerator--ours
is VERY old.
Yes, I heard that Costco carries quite a few organics. That's a great way
to save money. Sprouting is a fabulous way to save money and get some
amazing nutrition. We should do it more often!
Congrats on getting off the meds! I'm so happy for you!
Lots of love to you,
Wendi
XOXOXO
On April 7, 2009, wrote:
There will be an article in this month's issue of RawFu Magazie that touches on this subject. I think people need to understand HOW they can cut back on other montly expenses in their life, and make the food they're eating and feeding their children #1 priority.
Which is more important? Cable TV so Basil can watch hockey games? Cell phones when you have probably have a phone at work and at home? Racking up more consumer debt because you have Shiny Thing Syndrome? Or your health?
On April 7, 2009, wrote:
You completely understand what I was saying with that blog article, Beth. :-) Basic budgeting and financing is something a lot of people never learned. I happen to be quite good at it because when I was growing up it was a necessity since we lived below poverty level. People truly feel they are in a corner and can't possibly juggle their income/expenses to create a better life. It's just not true, however.
Thanks for stopping by!
Lots of love to you,
Wendi
XOXOXO
On May 5, 2009, wrote:
That's a great way
to save money. Sprouting is a fabulous way to save money and get some
amazing nutrition. We should do it more often!
On May 20, 2009, wrote:
How do you begin--when I try to just eat raw foods throughout the day I am starving. I take apples, grapefruit, grapes, oranges, strawberries, carrots, salads, etc to work but never feel satisfied. I desperately need to make some life style changes but have not been sucessfull. My husband is a meat and potatoes man so for now, it would just be me doing this alone.
On May 20, 2009, wrote:
Wow, this was my goal but I've had such a hard time achieving it. Good for you, this makes me want to work harder to get there. Such an inspiration!
On May 22, 2009, wrote:
Susan, you can do it, too! Just keep yourself motivated and enjoying the journey!
I'm happy to have inspired you!
Lots of love to you,
Wendi
XOXOXO
On May 22, 2009, wrote:
Nada,
You should never go hungry on a raw food diet. Please download our recipe book and try to make some of the delicious recipes for yourself. Eating just fruit and simple veggies in the beginning can be a bit difficult to stick with. If you can do it, of course, it's a very healthy way to eat. But, if it's difficult sticking with it, try to make some of the more rich/gourmet/filling recipes we have in our free eBook. :-)
Lots of love to you,
Wendi
XOXOXO