17 Nov 2012 Quality food is worth it
by Kellie Dye
Money spent on quality food is well worth it. I’m not talking about restaurant food. I’m talking about quality produce, oil, vinegar and other fine food specialty products.
It’s funny to me that some people spend a lot of money on beauty care products for appearances, but they will choose to spend very little on what goes inside the body.
Money spent on quality food is well worth it. I’m not talking about restaurant food. I’m talking about quality produce, oil, vinegar and other fine food specialty products.
It’s funny to me that some people spend a lot of money on beauty care products for appearances, but they will choose to spend very little on what goes inside the body.
I’ve been a “foodie” from birth, and food gives me a lot of pleasure, especially if I know that the food I choose to eat promotes health. I would rather spend money on good food than prescription medicine and expensive diet programs. I don’t blink at spending extra money on fresh blueberries, extra lean meat or whole grains.
Some people who complain about the expense of healthier food are often the same people who spend a lot of money on poor quality restaurant foods. If they would only reduce their eating out, then they could spend a little extra on healthy food. The cost of healthy food always outweighs the cost of eating out. If you did a cost comparison of eating from the dollar menu to buying ingredients for a healthier version at home, the healthy home version is often cheaper per serving. It’s also good to know that you have control and you know where the food comes from when you make it at home.
I also like to invest in good quality olive oil and balsamic vinegars. I’ll never forget a trip I took to Napa Valley where I sampled some of the best olive oil and vinegars around. Some of the vinegars were so rich and delicious that they could be used in place of butter on breads and vegetables (vinegar has no calories or fat).
I left Napa with several bottles, and from then on I order them online. If you search Napa olive oil and vinegars, you’ll find some amazing products at various price ranges. My favorites are from St. Helena (sholiveoil.com).
So if you still don’t like the idea of spending money on quality food, there are many inexpensive healthy food options. One of the most nutrient rich food groups around is legumes. Dried beans, lentils, peas, etc. are full of so many vitamins and minerals along with fiber, protein and an abundance of phytochemicals. Dried beans and peas are one of nature’s most perfect foods.
Other inexpensive healthy foods include canned fish, whole grain breads, wild rice and of course, fresh, local fruits and vegetables in season.
If only we would care more about what goes into our body as opposed to what goes on the outside of our body. Once you begin eating high quality food, it’s hard to go back to junk food. Caring more about the quality of what we eat leads to better health and an appreciation and enjoyment of food.
