Me vs. the Supermarket
by Sara Mae, guest blogger
It’s intimidating. We feel it every time we need to restock our family’s pantry. Walking into the grocery store, list in hand, feeling the need to rise above the thumb of the big food companies that are pressing down on every aisle we need to be in. Why is it that 99% of each food aisle has poorly marked labels? Sure, they are bright and the pictures of the contents look mouthwatering, but what is inside?
Since 2007, I’ve made REAL food an important part of my life; fruits and vegetables in their purest form providing the nourishment that they were created for. If it was available and not outrageously priced, I’d spring for the organic varieties. It wasn’t until last year that I started to pay attention to WHERE my food comes from, as well as what goes into making it, even if it IS considered “healthy.”
Do chickens really need to be injected with steroids to make their breasts bigger and juicier? If I’m hungry for more chicken breast, I can eat two steroid-free breasts. Oh, and forget about buying salmon at the grocery store. Atlantic Salmon? If you look closely at most signs, in small print it will say farm-raised. I wonder how an Atlantic Salmon can be farm-raised and still be considered Atlantic.
The FDA has not stepped forward to push food manufacturers to label their products when they contain GMO’s (genetically-modified organisms). These are foods that have had their DNA modified, mostly to be more appealing to consumers, and to lessen the cost of production. This is why I feel it’s my duty as a consumer to read labels, fine print, and do my research about where my food comes from.
It takes me at least two hours to get my grocery shopping done on a weekly basis. This includes stalking the aisles looking for the most natural, non-preservative containing products that I need for my meal plans. I have small children and a husband at home. I care very much about what I am putting into their bodies. I am doing my part to promote and support our local farmers as much as possible, but I can’t help but feeling like I’m a tribute in the Hunger Games when I walk into a super market. Somewhere in this well-organized place is a tomato that hasn’t been grown to be perfectly round and bright red, and that’s the one I want.
“May the odds, be ever in your favor…”
About the Author
I’m a wife and mom in my 30’s with with 2 kids; a sports-fanatic 6 year old son, and a feisty, princess/I can do anything my brother can do/mommy-wannabe 4 year old daughter. I’m also my husband’s biggest fan and best friend. In my teenage and young adult life, I was fit and trim, and could eat and drink anything I wanted. I also could handle a 10pm workout because I didn’t have anybody to look after but myself. For the last 6 years (you do the math on that one), since my metabolism took a nose dive, I’ve struggled with gaining and losing the same 10-15 pounds. Up until I started following the The Dolce Diet, I thought that’s just how my body was going to stay. I’m in my 30’s, I’ve had two kids…I suppose I could be comfortable with a permanent roll over my jeans. Now I know I don’t have to settle for that. I pushed my body to the limit this summer (June through August 2013) using UFC FIT and have never felt better. I stuck to the program religiously and lost more than 20 inches from my body. I plan healthy, whole food meals for my family. I’m also an avid couponer and try to get those same healthy, organic food options at the best price possible.
