10 Comments

Comment by Jolyn on April 25, 2008 at 11:35pm

I've learned a few things about eating economically and nutritionally from living in Mexico. Although obesity and diabetes are critical problems in the nation, I live in a rural area where many temptations just aren't available. Yet, fresh produce is!

The local tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, squash, green beans carrots, cilantro and so forth are exquisite and have hooked me for life. I'll never settle for bad produce again. Oh, and guess what they put on the fish tacos, tostadas and other Mexican delights here? They don't use iceberg lettuce much, but instead use cabbage chopped very finely. It's wonderful, cheap and very nutritious!

As expected, pinto beans, black beans and rice, including brown rice, are sold in all the small stores here and are great for health. Don't cook the beans in lard, or if you buy cans, get the beans without any fat. Whole wheat tortillas without oil are also sold here, as well as the not-so-healthy ones with oil and white flour. Soft corn tortillas are quite nutritious and low-fat too.

Cheese isn't as popular where I live in Mexico as in other parts of the country, but when it is used, it's used in extreme moderation. The local eateries don't sell much of anything fried that I've seen, and this has broken me of frying burritos for good. They do use a lot of thick cream, not sour cream, on tacos and other dishes here, but I'm banishing that from my diet. Sweets that I would enjoy in the US just aren't as available here and that's been very good for me. On the other hand, most of the fruit is grown locally and is delicious.

Of course, locally grown is one key to this lifestyle and it's inexpensive here, but I know some little produce stands I won't be zooming by at home anymore.

Here are two other tips for a healthy, economical diet. If you can get into the countryside from where you are, you might want to find out where you can forage through recently harvested fields. Often, there's plenty left to rot on the ground. Why not make a few outings during your growing season and pick up some free produce? Everyone in my corner of Mexico seems to do this. Also, have you considered sharing costs on bulk items with family, friends and neighbors? This is another practice that's common here. You can save a fair amount of money this way.

Comment by Deanna Durica on April 25, 2008 at 11:55pm

It might not sound like it would have a lot to do with the overwhelming number of Americans who are city dwellers, but the farm bill has a lot to do with food prices. Get to know what is included, and, among other things, read more about how it can influence lower-income American's food budgets.

Comment by Amanda on April 26, 2008 at 7:13am

Great hints, Jolyn! I know that I have in recent years become a huge fan of beans as a protein and fiber source. Good thing, because my toddler would happily eat them every day! :)

Thanks for the links, Deanna. I think that very few Americans are aware that farm subsidies exist at all, much less what their impact can be.

Comment by Debbie on April 26, 2008 at 8:15am

Thanks for the tips, with raising prices in everything I think we all need to start practicing your tips.

Comment by Felisha Griffin on April 26, 2008 at 2:44pm

With 3 small, growing boys, I have found that cooking my own variations of some of their favorite fast foods is much healthier and less expensive. Instead of ordering pizza, we opt to make our own. It is definitely not as greasy, and it is more appetizing than what I would normally order.

Comment by Felisha Griffin on April 27, 2008 at 11:36am

I also came across a really great news segment this morning that offers some additional tips for reducing your grocery bill.

Comment by Jennifer Cochran-Biederman, MS, MA on April 27, 2008 at 12:49pm

I think you're preaching to the choir, Amanda! I can't imagine how families are managing to squeak by in the face of these skyrocketing food costs. I really, really hope that families and individuals follow your advice Amanda. Not only are practices like having a garden, using up leftovers, and buying from the farmer's market more economical, they're also much more environmentally friendly.

A brand new show aired last night on TLC called Wasted. As a part of the launch of TLC's new green network, this show profiles families as they ditch their eco-unfriendly lifestyles and adopt an environmentally friendly lifestyle. It was a really telling look inside the lives of millions of Americans who routinely, among other things, generate huge amounts of trash and waste by throwing away good food. As they showed the family and all of their garbage in front of their huge suburban house with two huge SUVs in the driveway, I couldn't help but wonder how families can economically manage to consume - and waste - such huge amounts!!

Anyways, I'd better stop my tangent before it gets out of control!! All in all, the show did a nice job of showing how you can live cheaper, better and happier by going green.

Comment by Amanda on April 27, 2008 at 1:48pm

Thanks for the show tip, Jennifer! I will definitely have to check it out. Shows like this do a great job of showing people that living eco-friendly lives doesn't have to be difficult--you can do what works for your family. For example, we used cloth diapers almost exclusively on our son until he was about 10 months old (and washed them ourselves, no service!). It really wasn't a big deal at all, but people are always shocked by that. Come on, it's not like I was down by the river beating them with a rock--it was a cinch to deal with and the soft fuzzy fleece diapers are so much better for babies' skin than disposables. We did it for as long as it worked, and then we had to rethink our approach. It can be that easy and any change is better than no change!

Comment by Janeen on April 27, 2008 at 2:56pm

Thanks for the interesting post Amanda and the great discussion. I'll be checking out those links that you supplied for sure. Our grocery bill has gone through the roof. It doesn't matter how many coupons I clip or if I truly stick to my list and not buy anything extra, the cost always seems to be the same.
One thing we are going to try and do this year is to buy local produce through a CSA. It's been posted on Wego many times but you can find a CSA near you by visiting www.localharvest.org . It's better for the wallet, for you and for the environment.

Comment by Amanda on April 28, 2008 at 8:46am

Thanks for bringing that up, Janeen! I am thrilled that my husband and I finally signed up for a CSA in time this year...I usually don't think of it until March or April, by which time all the CSA's are full. I am looking forward to the influx of fresh local veggies in June!

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