I was raised to know better about healthy eating.
We shopped at food co-ops…bought granola, wheat germ, rice and beans in bulk. In the mountains, we grew our own food or only ate food from gardens I could walk to.
For a while I slept in a cozy loft overlooking a greenhouse full of tomatoes.
We weren’t afraid to drink “raw” milk from goats and cows we knew and milked. [I’ll never forget the taste of fresh cow’s milk and nearly overripe apricots blended together. My first smoothie.] And I knew the names of the chickens where I gathered my eggs.
Because we didn’t have electricity, ice cream was a rare treat. And anytime someone brought some in from town or made a batch, it was for sharing. Not one to let ice cream go to waste, I could spread the word pretty quick…zipping (likely in my bare feet) from the upper field to the lower field in no time.
So why is it so hard to plan smart-eating menus for my family? The best I could do tonight was a compromise…”traditional” store-bought tacos, but with a ton of sides…black beans, pan-roasted orange peppers and onions.
With access to farmers markets and more organic options at the local Jewel, I’m feeling a little better. But there are no co-ops around here like I remember as a kid.
As much as I like the idea of Whole Foods…it’s just too expensive for everyday menu-planning.
One area farmgirl suggested I check out Northern Illinois CSAs. Definitely something to consider.
For now I’ll just keep daydreaming of my neighborhood landing a Trader Joe’s.
And I’ll enjoy the summer markets close to the office and home.
Virtual Farmgirl 
Trader Joes is no wonder market. I can not stand the place, I know I am in the minority. They feel like a pseudo-organic 7-11 or quickie mart. The veggies and meat dept.s are so wrapped in plastic I can smell the oder of PVC when I walk into the place. It is not all organic, it is certainly not local and besides the cheap wines and alcohol, I find the place to be rather horrible. There is no bulk and I feel like it is set up for the single white male who wants to try and eat smart, not for a family. If one looks closely at the ingredients in many products, it has fillers and not so good ingredients.
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Like most other commercial markets, you have to hunt for the good stuff at Trader Joe’s. It’s still some of the best urbanites can get affordably. Mmm. My favorite are the blue cheese stuffed olives.So what’s your alternative in Chicago, Thea? Unfortunately for us, the closest Trader Joe’s is LaGrange. Weirdly, their prepackaged Indian food got us more hooked on good local, fresh Indian food.
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Trader Joes is no wonder market. I can not stand the place, I know I am in the minority. They feel like a pseudo-organic 7-11 or quickie mart. The veggies and meat dept.s are so wrapped in plastic I can smell the oder of PVC when I walk into the place. It is not all organic, it is certainly not local and besides the cheap wines and alcohol, I find the place to be rather horrible. There is no bulk and I feel like it is set up for the single white male who wants to try and eat smart, not for a family. If one looks closely at the ingredients in many products, it has fillers and not so good ingredients.
LikeLike
Like most other commercial markets, you have to hunt for the good stuff at Trader Joe’s. It’s still some of the best urbanites can get affordably. Mmm. My favorite are the blue cheese stuffed olives.So what’s your alternative in Chicago, Thea? Unfortunately for us, the closest Trader Joe’s is LaGrange. Weirdly, their prepackaged Indian food got us more hooked on good local, fresh Indian food.
LikeLike
These articles are fantastic; the information you show us is interesting for everybody and is really good written. It’s just great!! Do you want to know something more? Read it…:Great investment opportunity in Costa Rica: jcondos house, costa rica beach condos, condos rentals. Visit us for more info at: http://www.jaco-bay.com/
LikeLike