My Ever Changing Grocery Cart

When I first moved to California, shortly after college, I believe my diet primarily consisted of Gatorade, Hostess Ding Dongs, Taco Bell and any fried or battered bar food.  This made grocery shopping pretty uninteresting - throwing boxes of processed and prepackaged foods into the cart, nary a piece of lettuce in sight.

Within the first few weeks of my time here, I began to witness a phenomenon at the grocery.  People put fruits and vegetables in their carts.  They also walked around in workout clothes.  They appeared to be at the grocery after having gone to something called "a gym."  And, they all seemed pretty chipper.  Young or old, I noticed fit, healthy looking people, walking around the grocery putting food from the produce section into their carts.  This was also the time when fresh, bottled smoothies, Robek's and Jamba Juice were all the rage.  People would discuss the best, most power packed combinations of fruits, veggies and powders for their drinks. I wondered, "what's so wrong with this simple, delicious Gatorade? Afterall, it's thirst aid for that deep down body thirst."

The other day, I was at the check out counter and a woman commented that my cart was so healthy.  It was healthy for the health food store?  What had I put in there? In previous years, I had not been associated with health.  Food, yes.  Health, not so much.  Who am I now?  I realized that my cart has changed so much over the years that it really demarcates significant time periods in my life.

My cart - take a peak!

1993: Entered College - Gatorade, Pepsi Free, Little Debbie Snack Cakes, Hostess Anything (you name it!), TV Dinners, Mac N' Cheese, Sugar Cereals, Milk, Microwavable Pizza Pockets, etc, etc, etc.  Plus, dinners out - Mad Mushroom Cheese Sticks, Pizza, Taco Bell & KFC


1998: Moved to California - Gatorade, Smoothies, Hostess Anything, Mac N' Cheese, Meat, Eggs, Potatoes, Candy Bars, Sugar Cereal, Oven Baked Pizzas, Blueberries, Bread, Sandwich Supplies, Occassional Vegetable or Fruit.  Still eating lots of Taco Bell & KFC. Definitely not going to win any awards here.

2000: I discover Trader Joes - "Healthy" versions of sugar cereals, crackers, snacks, frozen dinners, Spinach, Bananas, Blueberries, other fruits and vegetables (some are even designated organic), smoothies, "Natural" eggs and meat, power bars, red wine (hey! they say it's healthy!), cheese - oh the cheese, more crackers....

2003: We moved to Italy - Prosciutto, Cheese, Bread, Yogurt, Eggs, Wine, Coffee, Olives, Artichokes, Eggplant & Fruit, Kinder Chocolate, Gelato.  We shopped daily and could only buy what we could carry up 104 stairs.  Hey - what more do you need when you're in Italy?

2004: Joined Slow Food Movement in Indy - Natural and Organic versions of Prosciutto, Cheese, Bread, Yogurt, Eggs, Wine, Coffee, Olives, Artichokes, Eggplant & Fruit, TJs snacks, crackers, sugar cereal. Back then, it was harder to find natural or organic food in Indy but it was there (mostly at Trader Joes.)  Through Slow Food, I learned about raw milk, pasture fed food and CSAs.  Farmer's Markets were scarce but coming on the scene.

2006: Moved back to California - Joined a CSA, started shopping at different Farmer's Markets around town for fresh produce, began eating more and more real food and mostly natural and organic but still eating lots of Trader Joe's delicious processed snacks, sugary goodies, crackers, ice creams, etc.

2007: Discover Whole Foods - Organic everything! Organic meat, eggs, cheese - you name it.  Even wine! Still with the CSA and shopping the Farmer's Markets for produce but getting all organic processed snacks, sugary goodies, crackers, ice creams, etc.

And now, 2012 - getting caught off guard from a compliment by the woman at the check out counter. A cart full of vibrant, organic fruits and vegetables, pasture raised eggs and meat and that's about it.  No processed food.  No Fast Food. No sugar.  Only real, whole food.  Getting complimented that my cart is healthy for the health food store!  How did this happen?

My cart doesn't always look like this but it just goes to show how small, incremental changes can make long-term improvements for your health and lifestyle.  Sometimes, you don't even know it is happening. 

Who am I?  Apparently, I am healthy.

Yogurt: Rich, Creamy Goodness With A Probiotic Kick

A few weeks ago, I purchased a yogurt maker.  Ever since I read, "French Women Don't Get Fat," I've wanted to make my own yogurt.  The author describes a method for making yogurt in a warm oven all night but I liked the idea of getting a yogurt maker that holds the temperature consistently.  So, I purchased the Euro Cuisine Yogurt Maker, 42 oz. of Raw Milk and a packet of yogurt starter.  You can also make homemade yogurt with organic, pasteurized milk.  All I had to do was heat the milk up to the correct temperature, add the packet of yogurt starter, pour the warm milk into the jars and let the yogurt maker do its job for the next few hours.  It only took 15 minutes to make the milk mixture. Easy peasy!

Fresh, homemade yogurt is unparalleled in taste and health benefits.  This rich, creamy concoction is a probiotic powerhouse to soothe your gut.  Many commercial yogurts have loads of sugar and additives to extend shelf life.  Yogurt made at home, where you control the ingredients is delicious and pure and it doesn't take much work at all.  Why don't you give it a try? 

*A note on raw milk - I never imagined I'd ever drink raw milk.  Many years ago, for a short period of time, I moved to an area surrounded by farms and became active in the Slow Food movement.  At one of our meetings at a dairy farm, the farmer brought out raw milk for us to try.  I was hesitant but to be polite, I tried it.  Wow!  It blew me away.  It was like no milk I had ever tasted.  As I drank it, I felt my body being nourished and I didn't have any of the tummy troubles I've often had with commercial dairy.  For that reason, when I do have dairy, I try to get raw milk cheeses and yogurts.  In California, we are lucky to be able to purchase raw milk at several groceries.  I prefer Claravale Farms Raw Milk but there are many other delicious brands.  There is even a Raw Milk Challenge going on at The Healthy Home Economist.  Give raw milk a try....you might be surprised. 

Who out there has made homemade yogurt?  Which type of milk do you prefer?  Join the discussion!