I wanted to bring up this subject again to reiterate why we need to shop locally and buy fresh seasonal produce. I also wanted to show why it's just an excuse for people to say "It's too expensive to eat well".
I went to my local produce market yesterday and this is what I got for $27.00.

1 head large Romain lettuce
2 smallish heads red leaf lettuce
1 lb. red plums (9 small plums)
2 large cucumbers
1 container of Raspberries (not the little half size, but a Hallick that goes in a flat (sorry, spelling)
1 container of Blueberries " "
1 bunch celery
2 lemons
2 limes
2 large Jalapeno Peppers
1 bag REAL restaurant tortilla chips
2 small Haas avocados
2, 2 lb. cantaloupes (2 small)
1.25 lb. donut peaches (4 cute little peaches and yummy)
4 lb. Fuji apples (8 LARGE apples)
2 lb. Pink Lady apples (6 apples)
2.66 lb. hot house tomatoes, (10 tomatoes) 

I thought that was a ton of food for under $30.00! I also LOVE the way the market smells, yum! 
Today we went to Fred Meyer and saw that the Pink Lady apples that I paid $.99 lb for were $2.49 lb there! What a joke!!!!! It really pays to go to produce markets, they usually buy locally and their overhead isn't as high as a grocery store!!!

I also want to check out my local butcher, I heard they do organic meats without nitrates/nitrites. It's time we take back our food and make them do it right!

Friday at work we all wanted to go out for lunch, all of us except 1 guy went to our teriyaki grill and got chicken. The guy went to McDonald's (something he hasn't done in awhile) he said he actually felt high, he is Diabetic and felt like crap the rest of the day!!!!!!! Hopefully lesson learned!

Am I off my rocker on the cost part?

I know what you mean UYC. It does seem that way sometimes. I am lucky, I live in apple and berry country and if I go to a local market I will pay way less, BUT if it's organic I end up paying a lot more. I don't always look for organic, I just look for fresh local. I still watch the ads at the grocery stores, because they can often beat produce market prices from their Loss Leaders (lost leaders?)
I am really enjoying my food now. It took a bit for my taste buds to quit craving HFCS and fats, and God only knows what else they put in our food! Now I crave fresh fruits and vegies O.K. and a big JUICY steak now and again!  YAY! 

I meant to say 'get' not 'gets'

 

Yes Sassy! It is because of you that I am making these choices!  What you say on here makes a lot of sense and I have always wanted to change my eating habits! Thanks Sassy!

I just amazes me how real food smells and tastes! It's YUMMY! 

Oooo tell us more Realist! That is a cuisine I am not familiar with and would love to hear more about! Is it healthy generally  and how are the things on the platter you mentioned cooked?

I have been trying to prep my fruits and veggies too realist, so I have no excuse to not eat them! 

Well, I have never tried to cook Ethiopian food myself.  There are just too many reasonably priced restaurants in my area.  Being single with no kids, I'm not a big "home-cooker."  I eat out a LOT!

In general, Ethiopian food is prepared with lots of spices, butter (or a healthy oil), and most times mashed or cut into small bits so that it can be easily picked up with the bread (injera) which accompanies all meals.  The food is traditionally eaten with your hand (right hand), without utensils.

This site gives a good introduction to the food, how it is prepared/served, and a few recipes.  Other recipes can be found by putting the keywords "Ethiopian Recipes" into Google.

http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Cookbook/Ethiopia.html

If anyone is local to Maryland, or ever passing through, let me know and I'll treat you to a traditional Ethiopian dinner! :-)

We went to our local produce market and bought $21.68 in produce (it was a ton too) I decided to write down everything we bought (with weights) and go to our major grocery store and write down their prices! OMG theirs added up to, $45.86 for the same things (same weights) what a difference!

The price difference on some of the produce was absurd! OMG, like a small thing of raspberries at Spicers was .99 and the grocery store was $4.99!!!! WTF? Zucchini was .69 lb.at Spicers and store was on sale for $1.48 lb. Apples of course were ridiculous at the grocery store!!!!!!

Time to take our food back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yum, nothing better than fresh strawberries!!!!!!