I didn't know a trip to the grocery store could cause depression

[LastTango]

I was in the grocery store today, and was looking around at all the food items available. I realized that almost everything is processed. How depressing. Things say "whole wheat", but when you read the label, it's not. Or it's full of unhealthy oils or sugar. If you try to buy something healthy, it costs more. Why is it so hard for these companies to just use healthy ingredients, like whole grains? Just do it. Why should it cost more?

This trip also made me feel somewhat deprived....I mean, I would LOVE to have a blueberry muffin, but not for 380 non-nutritious calories. Usually these kind of things don't bother me, but today for some reason, it was really bad. All these yummy things that are soooooo bad for you.

I bought some Wasa rye cripbread, thinking it would be a good substitute for crackers. However, by themselves, they are horrible. Cardboard city. I think this is why most people don't like healthier food. It's not always the greatest in the taste department. I did dress them up with some avacado, tomato, and onion, and that was yummy.

I will be going to Whole Foods tomorrow.

[dania]

I totally agree. I get so sick of everything being such a fight sometimes. Every once in a while my mind gets tired of trying to be healthy, because when your'e already down and mentally exhausted it seems like such a battle! What kills me is when companies charge you MORE money for them to do LESS processing!!!

On the brighter side, I guess we can be happy that we have the knowledge to make informed choices, even though that in itself is a world of confusion. I'd rather know what I know than be someone who eats without that choice.

dani

[chikaygo]

Agreed. 'Cept, even tho it's less processing...they charge more cause they can't use all the drugs and insecticides that non-organic places can...so their crops/cows/whatever yield less. Not that one necessarily has to go organic, Whole Foods prices make me cry sometimes ($8 for a gallon of milk?!?!?), but things like corn syrup are practically free compared to raw whole ingredients. Not to mention, things that have preservatives will last 5,000 years, at least! hehe (i.e. more shelf stable) So losses due to spoilage are less. Sucks, but it's true. :P

And yes, all those labels depress me too. Do we suck it up for the lower prices, or do we lose our paychecks to expensive (albeit, juicy, fresh and preservative free) organic goods? *sigh*

Kay

[LastTango]

I can't afford to buy all my groceries at Whole Foods, so I go there to get things I cannot get at my local grocery store. I don't think you have to go totally organic either....it depends on what you are buying. Organic might be the way to go for fruits and veggies where you might eat the skin, other things I am not so worried about.

My Mother comes from a long line of farmers in Kansas (starting in the 1860s). I was out there a few years ago, and got to go on rounds one morning with my cousin. It was very interesting. They use very environmentally friendly farming techniques, and as much non-chemical, biodegradeable materials as possible. They even use biodiesel in their equipment. Seems like if the farmers are making an effort to be health/environmentally conscious, then the food manufacturers should do the same.

[GMonkey]

I shop the perimeters of the store.

Great snack: toasted Ezekiel bread with sliced avocados a squeeze of lemon juice and sprinkle of Kosher salt.

My mom is type II diabetes and has made great strides in her diet recently. She often snacks on sliced red and yellow peppers with a couple of shakes of natural seasoning mix.

If you cook most everything yourself, it's pretty easy to stay unprocessed, and if you almost always eat that way, an occasional processed snack isn't going to be that big of a deal.

[AmyWI]

Originally Posted by LastTango

I was in the grocery store today, and was looking around at all the food items available. I realized that almost everything is processed. How depressing. Things say "whole wheat", but when you read the label, it's not. Or it's full of unhealthy oils or sugar. If you try to buy something healthy, it costs more. Why is it so hard for these companies to just use healthy ingredients, like whole grains? Just do it. Why should it cost more?

This trip also made me feel somewhat deprived....I mean, I would LOVE to have a blueberry muffin, but not for 380 non-nutritious calories. Usually these kind of things don't bother me, but today for some reason, it was really bad. All these yummy things that are soooooo bad for you.

I bought some Wasa rye cripbread, thinking it would be a good substitute for crackers. However, by themselves, they are horrible. Cardboard city. I think this is why most people don't like healthier food. It's not always the greatest in the taste department. I did dress them up with some avacado, tomato, and onion, and that was yummy.

I will be going to Whole Foods tomorrow.

Have you ever tried Ak-Mak crackers?-(Sorry, not sure on the spelling; I don't have a box handy) I think they taste great! I spread some Laughing Cow cheese on them and it's a great snack. You may like those. Yes, I agree with you....grocery shopping can be depressing when you're looking for nonprocessed, healthy foods. I just stay positive and get the healthiest foods I can.

[kathryn]

Actually, Whole Foods has a lot of processed foods as well.

I pretty much shop in the produce section. A bit in frozen foods. The rest (raw nuts, seeds, superfoods) I buy online.