I’m trying to make a shift in the eating habits of my family (self included). We’ve given up on the sugary juice packs, that have no juice in them, and switched to bottled water and sugar free alternatives. I’ve replaced the fruit cups they enjoy in their lunches with fresh bananas and grapes. I’m sneaking whole grains in where I can with the waffles they enjoy from the toaster at breakfast and the bread that I make The Boy’s prerequisite peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with.
What I’ve learned from this shift, other than it’s about as easy as turning the Titanic around, is that it’s 1) more expensive to eat healthily and 2) there aren’t as many healthier choices out there as you’d imagine. With my own changes in diet, I’m eating less processed foods and frozen entrees and more lean proteins and fresh vegetables. Chicken isn’t cheap. Neither is enough broccoli & string beans for a week. Since I’ve cut back on the garbage and increased the good stuff, my grocery bill has nearly doubled. This seems wrong in so many ways. It’s like I’m being punished for trying to feed my family healthy meals.
It is mildly encouraging that I’m beginning to see more and more healthy alternatives available to those looking to cut back on sugar and looking to add more whole grains. But I wish someone could tell me why the food producers don’t just leave the crappy stuff off the cart and only provide what’s best for us. It drives me nuts that they get away with pumping us full of preservatives & additives that we don’t need and aren’t doing any of us any good. It drives me even more insane to admit that those same additives make that Pop Tart taste soooo much better than it’s healthier alternative. It’s almost like a scavenger hunt each week in the grocery store trying to seek out the best choices without sacrificing too much in flavor.
But I’m not giving up. I’ll continue to hunt and seek out the best deals on the best foods for my family. I want them to learn that they can make better choices and still enjoy all that is out there available to them. My boy asks me things like, “Is macaroni & cheese bad for you?” I tell him it’s bad if that’s all you eat for dinner every single day but that it’s ok to have every now and then. Ditto for ice cream (the no sugar added variety!) and the occasional piece of candy. Everything in moderation.