I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. That is like telling someone what you wished for when you blow out your birthday candles, win the long side of the wishbone, see the first star of the evening, or catch the clock reading 11:11. Yes, I wish on all of those things. Typically I don’t even give resolutions a thought, however due to the timing; my current focus could be considered a resolution. I prefer to think of it as making a conscious effort. Unlike most of America, my conscious effort was not to join (and actually go) to a gym. This year, I’m trying to teach myself how to make better food decisions and pay attention to what I am putting in my body.
It started during a conversation with a co-worker late last year about high fructose corn syrup. Of course I’d heard of HFCS and knew it wasn’t good for you, I just hadn't done anything about it yet. His challenge was to read the labels as I went grocery shopping. Turns out, HFCS is in EVERYTHING. So step one was to cut down the amount of HFCS I was exposing myself to. I started doing more grocery shopping at places like Trader Joe’s, and occasionally Whole Foods, where I was hard pressed to find food with HFCS in the ingredients. When I go to a brand name grocery store (Safeway, Fred Meyer, etc.), I do my best to stay out of the middle of the store. I have also attempted to not buy things I see advertised on TV. You know those Yoplait yogurt ads that look enticing and make eating yogurt sound good for you as well as delicious? Turns out the second ingredient in most of their products is HFCS.
Step number two was to eat more natural foods. Fresh fruit, vegetables, meats, etc. My fridge is now stocked with some pretty healthy foods. I learned something though in doing some research and label reading. Just like HFCS is in everything man-made, there are chemicals in or on just about everything. And if you want natural or organic foods, it’s going to cost you.
I was recently going over my spending for the past three months. Thanks to my favorite budgeting program, mint.com, I’m able to see exactly how much I’m spending and what I’m spending it on. Aside from learning that I need to cut back on shopping, I was shocked at what I’ve spent on food these past three months. We’re not talking excessive eating out, it was all on groceries. By attempting to eat healthier and ingest fewer chemicals, my grocery bill has just about doubled.
Each year when the weather gets cold, I sit around my apartment wearing layers and blankets. By mid November, I finally have a conversation with myself, reminding me that I have a good job and can afford heat. I had to have a similar conversation with myself regarding my grocery bills. There are other ways I can cut down the bill, less impulse purchases, making a menu, etc., but I feel like it’s worth it to pay a little extra to be putting fewer chemicals in my body.
Trying to eat more natural foods makes it so I have to plan a little more. I have to think about what I’m going to eat the next day and prepare a lunch the night before rather than just grab a frozen dinner. I have to spend some additional time in the grocery store reading the list of ingredients. I have to spend more money to buy fruit not covered in pesticides and meat that isn’t running rampant with growth hormones. It makes me thankful I’m in a position to be able to afford those things. And while I’m not obsessive about it (if someone offered me a regular apple I’m still going to eat it), I feel pretty good knowing that I am making my conscious effort. And it’s lasted three months already. So there gym-going resolutioners.
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