tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post3890993569078681389..comments2024-03-26T00:14:00.509-07:00Comments on Crunchy Chicken: Sustainable Food Challenge report #1Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-71580474085275018492009-04-13T10:47:00.000-07:002009-04-13T10:47:00.000-07:00Hi Crunchy. I'm not in officially but am watching ...Hi Crunchy. I'm not in officially but am watching and doing what I can too.We primarily eat from the pantry, cellar and freezer (CSA share and bulk buys). I purchase fruits and GF flours about once a week, always coming in under $50. We put out $3000 a year ago for a 3 year share in our CSA and it has been a wonderful way to reign in groceries plus be sustainable. It does require a lot of either Ellenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13599350032073143948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-25679253551597235472009-04-07T12:10:00.000-07:002009-04-07T12:10:00.000-07:00I wrote about my first week with the experiment he...I wrote about my first week with the experiment here:<BR/><BR/>http://myfriendoprah.blogspot.com/2009/04/whats-cooking-46-412.html<BR/><BR/>I only spent $65.09 for our family of three, but it did require some careful menu planning and introduce us to our first foray into preparing vegan "cheez" and lunch "meat" because I will not be able to keep within our food budget (preferably $80/week) if we Staceyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04441106582035107314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-63237418700686122442009-04-07T03:49:00.000-07:002009-04-07T03:49:00.000-07:00Folks -- please keep commenting. I'm finding it i...Folks -- please keep commenting. I'm finding it interesting how most feel the same way about the challenge -- a little hard to stay in the budget and a little hard to find local foods right now in many areas. But please don't give up -- its truly a learning process as you're all finding out.Chilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12242725377650947329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-54906188644186339422009-04-07T01:41:00.000-07:002009-04-07T01:41:00.000-07:00Not easy... I live in Switzerland. Buying local ri...Not easy... I live in Switzerland. Buying local right now means no oranges, no bananas etc. I try to buy organic/local/in a glass jar or bottle rather than plastic but this is tricky. Canned peas or tomatoes in a jar come from the Netherlands or Italy. Raw organic local milk in a dark glass bottle is available but expensive. Raw organic butter also. Most yoghurts come in plastic tubs. Local Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-76400361928365588522009-04-06T11:54:00.000-07:002009-04-06T11:54:00.000-07:00I wrote a post on my blog about my first week with...I wrote a post on my blog about my first week with the challenge. We spent roughly $89 at the store, and then we ended up with another $11 on misc. things (a trip to Einstein's and I ran to Whole Foods for pizza dough and a bottle of Naked Juice on Friday, since the day got away from me and I didn't make my dough ahead of time). So for week one, we spent about $100. That means we're on track Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-40156006537825108262009-04-05T23:13:00.000-07:002009-04-05T23:13:00.000-07:00Not taking part persay due to DH working insane ho...Not taking part persay due to DH working insane hours, our garden produce, and mostly because I've already began this change in Jan 2009. I started tracking our grocery expenses, saving money on a few things, cooking from scratch, and using the saved money to buy organic instead. I now buy 50% of our food organic.<BR/>I think it's the pantry staples that are the toughest to find, like flour etc. Spot-Onhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15798035189811731749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-62609335756125754282009-04-05T21:33:00.000-07:002009-04-05T21:33:00.000-07:00for two weeks so far: $180.00 (for 2 people)Not go...for two weeks so far: $180.00 (for 2 people)<BR/>Not good.<BR/>But all organic and a lot local...<BR/>But both my daughter and husband are home full time right now and you can tell they've been snacking all day...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-68755787915025604692009-04-05T20:34:00.000-07:002009-04-05T20:34:00.000-07:00You know, I often think about how much I spend on ...You know, I often think about how much I spend on food, but then I always decide I'd rather be blissfully unaware! I'm a junkie for this and that at the farmer's market, so I would be depressed to know that put me way over budget! Great idea - I'll be following others results, and remain blissfully unaware of my own!Green Fundraising Ideashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02455649047737533864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-9915501169025076672009-04-05T19:48:00.000-07:002009-04-05T19:48:00.000-07:00well, we are doing the challenge but we're also "c...well, we are doing the challenge but we're also "cheating" by eating through our pantry. i figured that was the best way to ease into this...<BR/>i tried to itemize all the pantry goods (rice, dry beans, and baking stuff, also, praise the heavens, 8 sticks of butter from a party i threw earlier this month!!!) but it got to be a little too time-consuming.<BR/><BR/>having said that, we've eaten sheydanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-30856947210129918092009-04-05T18:20:00.001-07:002009-04-05T18:20:00.001-07:00Okay so far- my budget is $283 after figuring out ...Okay so far- my budget is $283 after figuring out that I am 1.5 people. So far, we have lived out of the freezer, I am guessing about $10Robj98168https://www.blogger.com/profile/12449968557883132353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-8440197602358020422009-04-05T18:20:00.000-07:002009-04-05T18:20:00.000-07:00I've spent $43.48 so far (for just one person). T...I've spent $43.48 so far (for just one person). The majority of it was at the local co-op, where I got all organic and (I think) mostly local food. The other sources were a couple farmer's markets and a--gasp--Gelsons. All I bought at Gelsons was a bottle of milk--a GLASS! bottle--from the only dairy in SoCal that still uses glass bottles. More good news on this awesome dairy (Broguieres, forThe Internetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07022124659473756360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-48722570319928791652009-04-05T16:51:00.000-07:002009-04-05T16:51:00.000-07:00After about three days of this challenge, I've...After about three days of this challenge, I've realized that in order to do it I'll have to really lower my standards for variety of fruits & vegetables, and/or cut down on dairy products (mostly yogurt, & some cheese). So, I'm struggling to keep a balance between eating the variety that I'm accustomed to and think is healthier for me, and not blowing the budget entirely.Adriennehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17916355206139673025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-34400558174398750252009-04-05T16:18:00.000-07:002009-04-05T16:18:00.000-07:00I updated yesterday. So far so good. We did have a...I updated yesterday. So far so good. We did have a bit of an oops as I didn't plan a meal for the night the challenge started. I had to run to the store for dinner, but at least it was (frozen) organic. lol It's been better since then.<BR/><BR/>http://ourhomelearning.blogspot.com/2009/04/saturday-at-farmers-market.html<BR/><BR/>I really am thinking differently about our purchases. I'm definitely Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00593786203491334143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-28508483836207629992009-04-05T15:24:00.000-07:002009-04-05T15:24:00.000-07:00I too am watching but not formally participating. ...I too am watching but not formally participating. We do have organic and local produce is showcased in the megachain in the summer BUT I am not finding organic to be anywhere near cost competitive.<BR/><BR/>We do buy organic milk (every drop accounted for since it is soooo expensive) and yogurt for the baby. I buy organic produce when I can (bananas, onions, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, Parma Powerdownhttp://parmapowerdown2.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-85798155943183816612009-04-05T14:00:00.000-07:002009-04-05T14:00:00.000-07:00I think if we only ate sustainably, we'd be fine. ...I think if we only ate sustainably, we'd be fine. But, I do like to have a capaccino a few times a week, and we like going out for beer and nachos on Saturday afternoons. I also like expensive chocolate :( <BR/><BR/>Basically, one day into this week, and we've already spent $60 out of our $80 budget--with $36 on farmers market meals for the week, $20 on beer and nachos, and $5 on pre-farmers stellanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-70344277561718976502009-04-05T12:34:00.000-07:002009-04-05T12:34:00.000-07:00I canceled my CSA subscription. They give me too m...I canceled my CSA subscription. They give me too many greens and neither me nor my husband are crazy about them. Calorie content wise, they don't count for much and with all the calories I've been burning, I need more than some leaves. <BR/><BR/>Yesterday I went to Albertson's to purchase a toilet brush, but wound up buying King Arthur's All purpose flour and a block of tofu (from someplace in Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03068855919147458057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-90858183686066452892009-04-05T10:22:00.000-07:002009-04-05T10:22:00.000-07:00This challenge is harder than I thought. I found l...This challenge is harder than I thought. I found little or no selection for sustainable alternatives at a couple of grocery store chains in my area. So I did most of my shopping a grocery store that offers more sustainable choices but their prices tend to be a bit higher. Some of the prices I couldn't stomach like over $4 for juice concentrate. We don't drink a lot of juice (maybe 2 small Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-90857286311813514652009-04-05T07:27:00.000-07:002009-04-05T07:27:00.000-07:00We live in a fairly rural area. so in some respect...We live in a fairly rural area. so in some respects food may not be as expensive as urban. However, we are still eating a fair amount of food that we put up last summer. We also have food storage for may dry goods. But here goes...<BR/><BR/>When I spent money on groceries last week I bought mostly organic 61.00 dollars. This included organic milk for the kids and conventional milk from a Fleecenik Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-43160315093745478122009-04-05T07:24:00.000-07:002009-04-05T07:24:00.000-07:00I've given up on "officially" doing challenges - I...I've given up on "officially" doing challenges - I've found that once I'm online, too many things come up and I spend too much time documenting things, when I have way too much stuff to do already... It's not that I'm not trying the challenges, just not posting much about them. <BR/><BR/>I've been seriously considering every food purchase, attempting to choose the local/sustainable/organic Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-49934809443558018592009-04-05T07:13:00.000-07:002009-04-05T07:13:00.000-07:00I didn't officially sign up, but the month started...I didn't officially sign up, but the month started out pretty good for me except for one unplanned dinner out. (It was one of those kind of days.)<BR/><BR/>Otherwise, I spent $14.75 at Trader Joe's, part of which is for my mother-in-law's soy creamer and ingredients for her birthday cake this month. My sweetie did buy an overpriced soda at the zoo yesterday, and then only got to drink half of Chilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11406176434011890590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-50072180128846843752009-04-05T07:01:00.000-07:002009-04-05T07:01:00.000-07:00I also am not doing this challenge bc, like Rachel...I also am not doing this challenge bc, like Rachel, $588 for a family of 4 is way more than our food budget. Our food budget for a family of 4, eating predominantly organic is $400/ month MAXIMUM. When my dh was unemployed we were able to drop our food bill to $300 but some organics were dropped and others were purchased at Costco.<BR/> <BR/>PS- When we used to go out to eat, Crunchy, we liked anElizabethnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-4421614051727669152009-04-05T06:44:00.000-07:002009-04-05T06:44:00.000-07:00I think we are also at the 5-600 dollar level. So ...I think we are also at the 5-600 dollar level. So far this month we sent 56 dollars on dairy from our local dairy and another 60 on other local foods. We did also spend 100 dollars on 25 lbs of flour and 25 lbs of dry pinto beans and 2 cases of canned beans so that hurt the budget a bit, but it will last awhile.CoCargoRiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08660935913938910138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-26464039397839602942009-04-05T06:29:00.000-07:002009-04-05T06:29:00.000-07:00Crunchy, I write with some trepidation, but I thin...Crunchy, I write with some trepidation, but I think (hope) you might be interested in hearing this. I am not doing this challenge, but I am following it avidly--and trying really hard not to feel discouraged. Your first post about this challenge amazed and disheartened me. After the bills are paid and gas accounted for, I run a family of 6 on $600 a month -- food, household, field trips and kidsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-45060771091809792932009-04-05T05:57:00.000-07:002009-04-05T05:57:00.000-07:00I just posted an update on this last night. http:/...I just posted an update on this last night. http://farmersdaughterct.wordpress.com/2009/04/04/food-budget-update-and-a-quick-easy-pantry-recipe/<BR/><BR/>I'm not going to make the budget and I already know it. I wonder how people in CT that get food stamps do it?Farmer's Daughterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04993260095409544097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-88149980793117970132009-04-05T04:19:00.000-07:002009-04-05T04:19:00.000-07:00I spent $97.36...I think coming in under my budget...I spent $97.36...I think coming in under my budget of $463 will be a snap since I tend to go grocery shopping only two or three times a month. I pretty much stick to the organic/sustainability guidelines normally, but there are a few things I can foresee tripping me up this week.<BR/><BR/>I would like to make cupcake pops for Easter...so I'm going to put some effort into finding organic candy knittinandnoodlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14426199251573442658noreply@blogger.com