Choices

Young mom, I have been where you are. Standing in front of the egg display trying to justify the price of free-range eggs verses those on sale for 99 cents. After all, they are just eggs.

Empty nester, I am where you are. You have a little more wiggle room in the budget these days. But is the price of pastured chicken actually worth it? After all, it’s just chicken.

Seniors, I am headed your way. A fixed income means trying to decide where to cut your spending. Can you really afford that organic sprouted-grain bread? After all, it’s just a loaf of bread.

Through the years, David (a certified Health Coach) and I have dedicated ourselves to learning more about the relationship between nutrition and the body. We consider basic foods such as eggs, dairy, meat, grains, and produce to be the fundamental building blocks of our diet. What we choose has become an important decision because these ingredients show up in most of what we eat.
Take for example, those eggs. You cook two for breakfast; add a couple to your tuna salad; and follow the cake recipe by adding three more. Now they aren’t “just eggs.” They are either contributing vital nutrients or depleting the body of its ability to function properly.

By refusing to compromise on food basics, far more than your food budget is affected. Your family seems healthier–fewer trips to the doctor. You have more energy–a walk in the evening is preferable to sitting in front of the television. The food you prepare is satisfying and just tastes better–family and friends compliment your cooking.

And standing there, it dawns on you. Because basic food items are so important, maybe those cheap eggs aren’t such a bargain after all. Perhaps bargains should be left to the toilet paper aisle.

Join me over the next few weeks for an introduction to our farm family–those with fur and feathers. Next week, we’ll start with chickens.