I hope everyone had a good great long weekend and you are all rested up. I have a couple fun reviews and giveaways coming this week, but I want to get back into things slowly. So this post is just about me, me, me.
Our family has decided to take a shot at replacing the processed foods we eat with healthier versions. It’s going to take a lot of work to make the commitment and I hope we are successful. I have a lot of reading ahead of me to educate myself and my family on free-run, organic, non-processed, whole-foods, etc…. Don’t get me wrong, we will still enjoy some things, but for the most part I want us to move away from the seriously processed foods. Foods which are so processed, they shouldn’t be listed in the ‘food’ category.
We are slowly eating up everything in the house as I don’t like to waste our current stuff. But slowly, as we run out, those items will be replaced with healthier choices.
I need help! I am so lost. I tried to google places around Edmonton where I can purchase meat from that doesn’t use hormones in their meat products, or has free-run chickens and as close to organic/chemical-free vegetables etc (am I even using the right terms?). Barely anything came up. I am looking for some good sites I can start with.
Do you have any suggestions or ideas of websites I can check out? Please list them in the comments and thank you so much for any help.
We are trying to eat a lot better too. One thing that really helped was buying a 1/4 beef and 1/2 pork from a local farmer. If that is possible for you, it is worth the investment. It's nice never having to buy meat at the store. Are there any farmer's markets in the area? Or any farms to buy meat, eggs etc.? And it's a fun outing for kids too!! A few other easy ways are switching to a better flour (whole wheat, buckwheat, whatever you like) and to a better pasta. Most people won't notice the difference if you don't tell them!! I make blends of flours from the farmer's market, refrigerate it (otherwise their natural oils go sour!) and you are good for healthy baking for the winter! I can't wait it see how it works out, it is hard to find stuff like that when you are not in a "big" city
is there a farmer's market in edmonton? i've found some great smaller stores and local farmers at ours. it's only on til the end of october, but if you talk to the sellers, some of their stuff might be available in local stores.
last weekend we bought burgers, pork, chicken pot pies and lots of veggies, but i was too late for the bread.
no clue but I just wanted to say good luck! I can't wait to hear how it goes!
Wow – thanks guys, I will be referring to these comments often – this is great info so far.
There is a place around Spruce Grove, I can't think of what the name is, but it's on a billboard on the way there (I live in Wabamun) I have to go there tomorrow, so I'll try to remember to look and I'll let you know what it's called.
Hi Sheri,
I only feed my family organic meat and animal products (cheese, milk, butter etc). I have found many things helpful when doing this and saving money. The biggest is to do the work yourself and to buy in bulk.
When buying my meat I usually go to our local butcher shop and order a huge bulk order (we are talking 10 pounds minimum of ground organic buffalo and 45lbs of bone in, skin on, back attached chicken breasts). Sometimes I keep all of that and sometimes I split it with my mom. It takes the two of us about 2 hours to debone the meat and vacupack it but it keeps me supplied with 6-9 months worth of meat for around 2.50/lb!
Do you have a butcher shop that you could order from? What about a farmer's market around you? Most of the meat at farmer's markets is organic and so I'm sure you could make a bulk order. This is also good for eggs and cheese. What about hudderites (sp)?
Superstore also has free form meat. It's really pricy but often if you go shopping in the morning there is lots of meat marked 50% off making it a good deal.
Also, eggs (cracked and stored in ziplock bags), milk, butter, yogurt and cheese can all be frozen so if you find a good deal buy it in bulk. Most of it will seperate once defrosted so it's best to bake with it but you get the idea!
Good luck – I can't wait to hear about how it all works out!!