Why I Don't Buy Meat

While I do indeed eat meat, I very rarely buy it. I know it's hard to see beneath the advertisements for "super dinner savers" like Hamburger Helper and the "quick fixes" in magazines like Simple and Delicious, but meat is expensive. Very expensive. If you truly want to cut your food costs, it is the first thing which needs to be reduced or disappear entirely.

I enjoy Simple and Delicious and am a fan of re-Pinning how to prep meals and save money each month. However, I have noticed a strange predisposition toward including meat in those suggested meals, even though it is very expensive compared to beans, dairy products, and other sources of protein.

In the next few weeks, I'm going to present different ways to both save money and eat healthy by reducing your purchase of meat.

1. But what about protein?
I think the largest concern people have about reducing their meat intake is that the lack of meat will cause bodily harm through a loss of protein. This shouldn't be a worry. Dairy, which is used with cereals and accents a number of dishes, is very high in protein. As long as you are eating dairy, you shouldn't worry.

Also, beans and legumes produce a high protein punch when combined with a carbohydrate (corn, wheat, rice, et cetera) and are dirt-cheap. Heck, even if you purchase the prepped organic beans, you are looking at $2 a pound at regular prices.

2. Do you mean NO meat?
I do not, although you are certainly welcome to go that route. You may even choose to after I present just how much money you can save! Personally, I purchase chicken when on sale and canned tuna somewhat regularly, bacon sometimes. The main difference is that meat is seen as a special item and used more to give flavor to a dish instead of being the entire dish when it is used. This idea of reducing meat also means not losing money using meat where it won't matter - many tacos and chilis come to mind.

3. Why do you seem to be singling out ground beef to exclude?
Because I am. One of the greatest lies we are being feed is that ground beef is cheap. It isn't. Where I currently live, it usually goes on sale for $3.99/lb. Chicken breasts go on sale for $2.99/lb. Canned beans go on sale for $0.79/lb. Why would I purchase beef?

When I first started cooking for myself and for my family, I went the ground beef route - making a lot of 'instant meals' (i.e. No veggies), tacos, and chilies. I was very proud of myself. It was only by accident and super tight budget that I realized the folly of this.

Also, red meat poses health risks to one's heart. It actually has a unique chemical in it which makes it unhealthy. Why would a spend more for something that is harming me? I should instead save that money and use it to splurge on a very nice steak.

4. Why do you care?
Because of the children. A lot of parents are turning to blogs for inspiration on how to stretch their budget to feed their children. Unfortunately, most of the money-saving blogs I have seen rely on ground beef for meals. As a result, fresh veggies and fruit are cut from the budget in order to support the exorbitant cost of this meat. This isn't good. If you and your spouse have to live on noodles, so be it, but that is not acceptable for growing children.
Parents and singles need more options for how to eat both cheap and healthy. I am hoping to help fill that gap.

5. But isn't being meat-less/healthy/etc MORE expensive?
No. It isn't. While a lot of vegetarians and vegans enjoy exotic produce and spices to switch up their meals, those ingredients are not necessary to have tasty meat-free meals. Also, there are several industries which make their money by convincing consumers to pay more for 'healthier' options. Don't listen to the hype, just check your labels. You'll often be surprised at what you find!
Also: $0.79 for a pound of prepared beans. No sodium, no fat. Just healthy. You can't argue with what an awesome deal that is!

So Very Grateful!

I went grocery shopping today (you'll find out what later this week) and simply must express my gratitude and God's grace. Nearly everything I needed to buy was On Sale - good sales too! I spent $28 and saved $10. How incredible is that? He truly does answer to our needs and cares, making sure that we are provided for.

In case you don't know, I recently spent an monstrously large sum on food in a two week attack on my poor eating habits. Saving $10 may not sound like much, but it does a lot with keeping myself on budget for the next couple of months. I am truly stunned at God's answer to my concerns.

Praise the Lord for his infinite care and love!

Girding My Loins, French Braids, and Nostalgia

When I gird my loins (i.e. get myself ready to tackle the BIG things in life, like starting a new blog O_O) that means three things:

1. I get a snack - so I can tackle the computer without a break!
2. I change into comfy-yet-structured clothing - so I am not distracted
3. I get my hair up and out of my face - so I don't develop a headache

You see, my hair may be short, but it is heavy and tends to give me a headache if it is left entirely down for several days in succession. So if I am truly going to get down to doing work, I need to get it out of my face and up off of my head.

French braids are the best way to put one's hair up and away for work. They keep it out of your face and away from dirt, but also look nice. My boyfriend is very picky about my hair being down and accessible. So he HATES it when I pull it back in clips or other random ways. French braiding would seem to be a great compromise. Unfortunately I can't French braid my own hair. I never learned how.

Image from http://cf.ltkcdn.net/

Whenever I contemplate braiding my hair and give it a half-hearted attempt (like today), I am reminded of my classmate Ivy in middle school. Those three years I was in awe of Ivy's ability to calmly French braid her own hair into two perfectly symmetrical rows during homeroom. She didn't need a mirror or anything! I couldn't believe it then, and still hardly can now. What an incredibly useful skill! Only someone with a great mind and dexterity could accomplish that.

I look back now and wish that I had asked her to teach me how, or at least complimented her on her extraordinary talent. But you see, Ivy was the most attractive girl in my grade. Smart and funny, but too attractive to be taken seriously with her blond hair and early developed body. We weren't even in the same league - she was social and peppy, I hung out with the same 5 people and kept my nose in books. So while I respected this incredible ability of hers, it never occurred to me to talk to her.

In fact, I'm not even sure that I said two words to her when we were in the same AP biology class in high school! I don't know why. Except that I couldn't see this brilliant star in the same space as myself - we were as far apart as the east is to the west. But I wish I had. It probably wouldn't have mattered, but it might have been encouraging for her to hear as a teenager that someone in the top of the grade thought she was intelligent, was in awe of her hair-braiding skills, and could you teach me please?

The things we miss out on because of pride and misplaced senses of propriety. 

However, that's all water under the bridge. I may sit here with miserable excuses for braids and a creeping sense of shame, but I am quite sure that Ms. Ivy - with her perfect braids - is a very happy and successful adult with absolutely no need for my belated compliments.