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I’ve added to our food spending for the month of December. The picture below shows some of the items from one store stop. I actually forgot to get a picture until everything was already put away so I grabbed out what I could remember. Total spent that day was $30.63 that wasn’t all for the week though…
A week ago after church Joe and the girls wanted to go out for lunch. Subway was the chosen place (I find it incredibly hard to eat out these days) for a total of $25.17. This past Friday, our youngest girl turned 13. For her birthday dinner she asked for sushi. I tried my hand at making it. Sushi ingredients (and stuff for dinner that night) came up to $31.38. Joe and the girls liked the sushi so much that they asked me to make it again on Saturday. Another stop at the store for sushi ingredients (I had some leftover) totalled $20.02 ($5.98 of that was for naturally smoked salmon on sale that I stashed in the freezer).
A week ago after church Joe and the girls wanted to go out for lunch. Subway was the chosen place (I find it incredibly hard to eat out these days) for a total of $25.17. This past Friday, our youngest girl turned 13. For her birthday dinner she asked for sushi. I tried my hand at making it. Sushi ingredients (and stuff for dinner that night) came up to $31.38. Joe and the girls liked the sushi so much that they asked me to make it again on Saturday. Another stop at the store for sushi ingredients (I had some leftover) totalled $20.02 ($5.98 of that was for naturally smoked salmon on sale that I stashed in the freezer).
Last but not least, our Beef CSA was delivered. This month we received 3 pounds of hamburger, 1 large roast, 2 sirloin tip steaks and 2 rib eye steaks (RIB EYE!) for our usual cost of $50. The rib eye’s were put in as a treat for Christmas. That’s a pretty nice treat!My previous food total for December was $84.97
Adding in the most recent purchases brings us to a December running total of $211.54. I’ll be adding to that this week with my order from Azure Standard and my cow share (raw milk) will come due. Plus I’m sure there will be other purchases and we haven’t yet decided what we are having for our Christmas meal (my sister and her family will be joining us) so that will up the spending for sure.
Adding in the most recent purchases brings us to a December running total of $211.54. I’ll be adding to that this week with my order from Azure Standard and my cow share (raw milk) will come due. Plus I’m sure there will be other purchases and we haven’t yet decided what we are having for our Christmas meal (my sister and her family will be joining us) so that will up the spending for sure.
Tracking my spending and purchases has shown me a few ‘holes’ in our quest toward eating a nutrient dense diet. One night Joe asked if we could deviate from our plan and have hot dogs. He rarely asks for anything special for dinner so of course I said yes. What I discovered standing in front of the hot dog buns was that every single package had HFCS (high fructose corn syrup). One package said HFCS or sugar (which is it?) so that was the package I chose hoping it really was sugar. Then on to the hot dogs. WOW. That was a challenge. I ended up getting Hebrew National because they had the least offensive ingredients at the most reasonable cost ($3.28 for 8 very skinny dogs).
What do you do when you want something like hot dogs? Do you just buy them and say “Hey, I eat good most of the time.” Or do you have a proven brand that you are comfortable with?
>When I buy hot dogs, I usually buy one of the locally processed ones that has no scary ingredients (but the meat isn't the best quality); I figure that's a good compromise. Sometimes I buy the really good quality nitrate-free ones, but they are more expensive. I can buy the other ones in a box and then freeze them so we have hot dogs for quick meals.
With the buns, I usually buy the storebought ones for the family although I can't have wheat so I can't have those. I tried making sourdough spelt buns and they came out OK. There are several hot dog buns recipes online for wheat buns, I can dig up the links I was looking at to see tips on shaping them and send them to you.
>I haven't found a local processor yet but I'm still looking. I was toying with using my sourdough recipe and forming into hot dog shaped buns and stashing them in the freezer for when we want them. Hot dogs are not something I plan for us to eat it is more of a special request last minute type thing. If you get time I'd love to see links on buns.
>Applegate Farms Organic Grass Fed All Beef Nitrate/Nitrite Free Hot Dogs. I get them from my United Foods Co-op or Whole Foods. You can order on-line as well. For buns…well…make your own! (I buy sprouted ones from Whole Foods)
http://www.applegatefarms.com/Products/ProductDetail.aspx?id=2496
>Angela,
Applegate Farms has some great looking items. If I can't find a local source (which I really need to get serious about looking for after the New Year) they would be a great option.
>Hi Millie!
Thanks for visiting my blog! You're my first follower! I get my Applegate products via a buying club that orders from https://www.unfi.com/Default.aspx
I think they serve the entire country so you might be able to find one somewhat near you. (Mine is located about 30 minutes away). We've tried calling and asking Azure to carry their products but they won't. 🙁
I've been reading your blog for a few weeks now and you've been inspiring me to return to the Nourishing Traditions Fold! Just today I started some Sauerkraut because of your posts!
Angela
>I'll be saving that Applegate Farms link for sure!
When we're in the mood for hot dogs, I usually go for the Hebrew National brand … it's the best option at the store here.
Hey Millie, can you email me about your beef csa and raw milk share? I'm not sure if we can swing it RIGHT NOW, buuuuuut it's something we're definitely interested in. We've talked SEVERAL times about finding sources for BOTH of those things!
>Brandy,
I'll email you. If finding a local hot dog source doesn't pan out maybe we can go in together on an order through the applegate farms. They have free shipping when ordering $100.