Comments on: Q&A- My Grocery Budget http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/05/qa-my-grocery-budget.html Naturally inspired living for the Christian homemaker Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:36:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Stephanie @ Keeper of the Homehttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/05/qa-my-grocery-budget.html/comment-page-1#comment-20261 Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home Mon, 18 May 2009 15:11:39 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/05/qa-my-grocery-budget.html#comment-20261 Jen, I try to work my meal plan around the foods that will go bad the fastest. This means that we're more likely to have leafy salads in the first week (if it's not summertime when my garden is growing). Other items like tomatoes, mushrooms, asparagus, etc. are eaten closer to buying time, since I know they won't last. Some vegetables, like celery, carrots, potatoes, peppers (usually), squash, etc. will last the entire time. We eat fresh fruit most days. I've found that fruits like apples, pears, oranges, lemons, etc. if they're kept in the fridge and not on the counter once they're ripe. Bananas not so much, so we eat those while they're nice, then freeze them when they're too ripe. If we're running low on fresh fruit at the end, we just rely more on frozen berries or home canned fruit, but it's usually not a big problem. Juicier fruits like apricots, plums, and other summertime tree fruits never last for 2 weeks (though they've come close sometimes) but we usually eat them faster anyways. Jen, I try to work my meal plan around the foods that will go bad the fastest. This means that we're more likely to have leafy salads in the first week (if it's not summertime when my garden is growing). Other items like tomatoes, mushrooms, asparagus, etc. are eaten closer to buying time, since I know they won't last. Some vegetables, like celery, carrots, potatoes, peppers (usually), squash, etc. will last the entire time.

We eat fresh fruit most days. I've found that fruits like apples, pears, oranges, lemons, etc. if they're kept in the fridge and not on the counter once they're ripe. Bananas not so much, so we eat those while they're nice, then freeze them when they're too ripe. If we're running low on fresh fruit at the end, we just rely more on frozen berries or home canned fruit, but it's usually not a big problem. Juicier fruits like apricots, plums, and other summertime tree fruits never last for 2 weeks (though they've come close sometimes) but we usually eat them faster anyways.

]]> By: Jenhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/05/qa-my-grocery-budget.html/comment-page-1#comment-20260 Jen Thu, 14 May 2009 17:50:47 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/05/qa-my-grocery-budget.html#comment-20260 How do you get by only buying fresh produce every 2 weeks? Does it stay fresh? Do you eat fresh fruit every day? How do you get by only buying fresh produce every 2 weeks? Does it stay fresh? Do you eat fresh fruit every day?

]]> By: Ravenhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/05/qa-my-grocery-budget.html/comment-page-1#comment-20259 Raven Wed, 13 May 2009 00:38:06 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/05/qa-my-grocery-budget.html#comment-20259 Just FYI for folks who are wondering, we've found our grass-fed beef to be much LESS fatty than typical storebought beef-- and the fat has a nicer flavor. After you get used to it, storebought conventional beef tastes really weird. Just FYI for folks who are wondering, we've found our grass-fed beef to be much LESS fatty than typical storebought beef-- and the fat has a nicer flavor. After you get used to it, storebought conventional beef tastes really weird.

]]> By: Laura@HeavenlyHomemakershttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/05/qa-my-grocery-budget.html/comment-page-1#comment-20258 Laura@HeavenlyHomemakers Wed, 13 May 2009 00:06:50 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/05/qa-my-grocery-budget.html#comment-20258 Ooh, I love Kamut! Ooh, I love Kamut!

]]> By: Heidi @ ggiphttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/05/qa-my-grocery-budget.html/comment-page-1#comment-20257 Heidi @ ggip Tue, 12 May 2009 23:25:27 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/05/qa-my-grocery-budget.html#comment-20257 I learned a lot from this post. Thanks! I learned a lot from this post. Thanks!

]]> By: Stephanie @ Keeper of the Homehttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/05/qa-my-grocery-budget.html/comment-page-1#comment-20256 Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home Tue, 12 May 2009 22:43:22 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/05/qa-my-grocery-budget.html#comment-20256 Jamie, here's a post with some good places to start your search: <a href="http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/12/nutritional-foundations-finding-high-quality-sources-for-a-whole-foods-diet.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/12/nutritional-foundations-finding-high-quality-sources-for-a-whole-foods-diet.html</a> I would suggest the Eat Wild and Local Harvest would be among the better links to begin with. Once you start finding sources, just ask around to get a feel for whether they are really good or not. Some stores will sell smaller amounts of meat from a store front as well, which lets you try it out before you make a larger purchase. Sarah M, if you're celiac, kamut won't work for you unfortunately. It's lower in gluten, but it still has some. It's better for people who are sensitive to wheat specifically, as opposed to gluten. Also, in regards to the dehydrator, you do need to use the plastic, flex sheets (sometimes called Tefflex or Paraflexx or other names). I actually have tried with plastic wrap and with parchment paper, and neither worked because of the heat of the dehydrator. You can often buy the sheets online, places like Ebay and Amazon, and possible for a good deal if the one you have is older and not in high demand. Hope you're able to make some fruit leather! Sarah, welcome and good for you! That's so awesome! Nola, I'm really glad it was helpful for you, and yay for finding affordable eggs! :) Jamie, here's a post with some good places to start your search:
http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/12/nutritional-foundations-finding-high-quality-sources-for-a-whole-foods-diet.html
I would suggest the Eat Wild and Local Harvest would be among the better links to begin with. Once you start finding sources, just ask around to get a feel for whether they are really good or not. Some stores will sell smaller amounts of meat from a store front as well, which lets you try it out before you make a larger purchase.

Sarah M, if you're celiac, kamut won't work for you unfortunately. It's lower in gluten, but it still has some. It's better for people who are sensitive to wheat specifically, as opposed to gluten.

Also, in regards to the dehydrator, you do need to use the plastic, flex sheets (sometimes called Tefflex or Paraflexx or other names). I actually have tried with plastic wrap and with parchment paper, and neither worked because of the heat of the dehydrator. You can often buy the sheets online, places like Ebay and Amazon, and possible for a good deal if the one you have is older and not in high demand. Hope you're able to make some fruit leather!

Sarah, welcome and good for you! That's so awesome!

Nola, I'm really glad it was helpful for you, and yay for finding affordable eggs! :)

]]> By: Nolahttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/05/qa-my-grocery-budget.html/comment-page-1#comment-20255 Nola Tue, 12 May 2009 21:05:50 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/05/qa-my-grocery-budget.html#comment-20255 thanks for the answers and I look forward to more! By the way I have broken my budget down like you did in your post and I found it gave me more insight into where our money was going, and enabled me to make a few changes, so that is great! Thank you for sharing. I also (finally) found a source of more affordable free range eggs that I can get on a fairly regular basis! I am thankful for that. thanks for the answers and I look forward to more!

By the way I have broken my budget down like you did in your post and I found it gave me more insight into where our money was going, and enabled me to make a few changes, so that is great! Thank you for sharing.

I also (finally) found a source of more affordable free range eggs that I can get on a fairly regular basis! I am thankful for that.

]]> By: Sarahhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/05/qa-my-grocery-budget.html/comment-page-1#comment-20254 Sarah Tue, 12 May 2009 19:59:17 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/05/qa-my-grocery-budget.html#comment-20254 Stephanie, I just found you over the weekend via simplemom. Yeh! At the same time I'm reading Nourishing Traditions and it's all coming together. So thanks! I just bought the e-book and am ordering raw milk. My husband and kids are lactose intolerant and am wondering if the enzymes in raw milk will help them. Anyway, lots to learn. Take good care and blessings. Stephanie,
I just found you over the weekend via simplemom. Yeh! At the same time I'm reading Nourishing Traditions and it's all coming together. So thanks! I just bought the e-book and am ordering raw milk. My husband and kids are lactose intolerant and am wondering if the enzymes in raw milk will help them. Anyway, lots to learn. Take good care and blessings.

]]> By: Sarah Mhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/05/qa-my-grocery-budget.html/comment-page-1#comment-20253 Sarah M Tue, 12 May 2009 19:22:22 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/05/qa-my-grocery-budget.html#comment-20253 How ironic--I just decided to borrow my mom's dehydrator for the week and wanted to make fruit leather--however, here's a question- Her's is an old one (she can't find the book that goes with it nor does she remember how to make the leather) that only comes with the mesh layers...if I were to put puree in it it would fall through! Have you ever put cling wrap or something on the bottom? Does that work just the same as what you have? Any tips would be great! Sarah M How ironic--I just decided to borrow my mom's dehydrator for the week and wanted to make fruit leather--however, here's a question- Her's is an old one (she can't find the book that goes with it nor does she remember how to make the leather) that only comes with the mesh layers...if I were to put puree in it it would fall through! Have you ever put cling wrap or something on the bottom? Does that work just the same as what you have? Any tips would be great!
Sarah M

]]> By: jamiehttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/05/qa-my-grocery-budget.html/comment-page-1#comment-20252 jamie Tue, 12 May 2009 14:30:56 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/05/qa-my-grocery-budget.html#comment-20252 i would love to know the best resource for finding out how to buy grass fed meat from a cow! i know i can ask around, but we are new to the area where we live. a few people i know have purchased beef and it was very very fatty and just plain yuck. i want deliciousness. your thoughts? i would love to know the best resource for finding out how to buy grass fed meat from a cow! i know i can ask around, but we are new to the area where we live. a few people i know have purchased beef and it was very very fatty and just plain yuck. i want deliciousness. your thoughts?

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