Economics of Healthy Living

[aimeecc]

For Aliantha...

Not only is buying healthy and organic foods expensive, but contrary to claims that its better for the environment, its worse for the environment when the organic food has to be shipped 3,000 miles to the consumer.

I don't buy all organics, but do when its not much more expensive. Probably half of my little one's food is organic. My mom's visiting in 2 weeks and will only eat ALL organic. Its going to be a pain. Oatmeal has to be organic slow cook - no quick cooking Quaker Oats.

One of the funny things is there are 2 stores nearby that carry a good selection of organic foods. One is incredibly expensive. About once a month I get a $10 coupon in the mail from them, so I go shopping there then. The other store isn't too bad on price, but their selection is hit and miss. And their farther away. There's another store that carries some organics, but its 20 miles away, but way cheaper on everything. So usually once a week I go there. My husband says I waste time, and money on gas, but when a box of cheerios is $1 cheaper, and its the larger box (x 3 boxes a week), and the diapers are $2 cheaper, and the chicken is $3 cheaper (x 3 packs of chicken), and the baby food is 20 cents cheaper a jar (x 18 jars of baby food)... it adds up quickly. My husband thinks it funny I remember all the prices.

I was thinking of going organic toys for little one with all the scare over lead in childrens toys (it is IMPOSSIBLE to find toys not made there). But organic toys are incredibly expensive. So I figured I'll take the risk along with the millions of other parents who buy the China toys.

[monster]

Just save all your organic packaging, and next time your mom visits, decant all your regular crap into them

Buy second hand toys -not only is it cheaper and more environmentally friendly, but someone else's kid will have pre-chewed the lead paint off for you

I'm a mine of helpful tips, aren't I?


Seriously, resale stores are great places to get good domestically made toys at a reasonable price.

[glatt]

You're in Arlington. Have you been to Kinderhaus toys? They have many more high quality toys there than you will find in Toys R Us. They moved to Clarendon, so you have to pay for a meter spot, or park in a garage.

[Aliantha]

Well thanks for making a thread to tell me something I already know aimeecc.

I wasn't specifically talking about organic food though. I was talking about having a whole food diet wherever possible regardless of it's organic status.

It's cheaper and more filling to eat a packet of ramen noodles than it is to buy an orange, particularly if they happen to be out of season. The oranges not the noodles of course.

eta: About the lead in the paint on kids toys, you should lobby your government about not allowing such things into the country. In Australia, led in paint is illegal and toys found to contain led either in the mechanism or the paint are rejected. Of course, that doesn't stop things like bindi beads from arriving here.

[aimeecc]

Originally Posted by Aliantha

Well thanks for making a thread to tell me something I already know aimeecc.

lol. I know you know. Just wanted a diversion from other topics.

I was listening to NPR the other day and they were talking about how in DC (and I'm sure a lot of other inner cities), the poor really only have unhealthy options. There's not an abundance of grocery stores, so if you're poor, without a car, its much more cost effective to go to MacDonalds than to try to get to a grocery store, and pay high prices for healthy food.

[Aliantha]

btw, you could look at another discussion on the topic of organic food here.

[SteveDallas]

Or as I said to my wife once, "I can get two donuts across the street from my office for $1.58. What the $#%$*() kind of healthy breakfast can I get for that much?"

[HungLikeJesus]

Originally Posted by SteveDallas

Or as I said to my wife once, "I can get two donuts across the street from my office for $1.58. What the $#%$*() kind of healthy breakfast can I get for that much?"

SD, please clarify. The wording of this statement can be misconstrued to imply that donuts are not "healthy."

Combined with a Coke, they make for a nutritious and delicious breakfast.

[Shawnee123]

Tis true: watch previously posted evidence here.

Well poo...says video no longer available?

[kerosene]

Buy a jar of peanut butter and a loaf of 100% whole wheat bread for a total of about 4.50. It will last you at least a week and put your daily breakfast at the cost of about .90. Half of what you pay for your dough nuts. And it will be healthier than dough nuts. Not perfect, but healthier.

Why the hell am I getting all serious?

[aimeecc]

Box of multi-grain cheerios, $2.99, 1/2 gallon of soy milk, 3.50... So a dollar a day for my breakfast. Of course I'm hungry by nine. Cheerios aren't that filling.

[monster]

Originally Posted by aimeecc

1/2 gallon of soy milk.

Apparently, too much soy is now indicated in breast, cervical, ovarian and uterine cancers, so my medical friends were saying. Haven't had time to research this yet (conversation was yesterday, in no hurry because we don't use soy substitutes)

[aimeecc]

Originally Posted by monster

Apparently, too much soy is now indicated in breast, cervical, ovarian and uterine cancers, so my medical friends were saying. Haven't had time to research this yet (conversation was yesterday, in no hurry because we don't use soy substitutes)

I did a quick google...

Although there is some evidence to suggest consumption of soy reduces breast cancer risk in premenopausal women...
A new study shows soy protein may prevent prostate cancer, even male baldness...
Among Asian populations, the association between higher consumption of soy foods and decreased risk of breast cancer is well documented...
Two senior FDA scientists have revealed that chemicals in soy could increase the risk of breast cancer, brain damage, and abnormalities in infants.
Soy's Cancer Prevention Properties in Doubt, Study Review Finds ...

So the verdict is still out. But the American Institute for Cancer Research is all for soy. But are these the folks from "Thank you for Smoking"?
http://www.aicr.org/site/PageServer?...e=dc_foods_soy

Foods That Fight Cancer
Soy
Soybeans are a type of legume, or bean. Foods made from soybeans include tofu, soymilk, soybeans, soynuts, miso (soy paste), tempeh, soy burgers and soynut butter.

Scientists believe that several active ingredients in soy may have anti-cancer effects. These include: isoflavones (which have been studied most), saponins, phenolic acids, phytic acid, phytosterols, and protein kinase inhibitors.

Soy appears to contain some components that resemble very weak forms of the body’s natural hormones. As a result, soy foods can mimic the actions of hormones under certain conditions and counteract these hormonal actions at other times. Because of such complexities, most of the studies that have investigated soy’s role in cancer development have dealt with hormone-related cancers such as those of the breast and prostate.

Soy has been shown to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells in a variety of laboratory conditions. Soy has also been associated with the inhibition of breast cancer cells in some, but not all, laboratory experiments. Diets rich soy have been shown to alter the metabolism of breast tissue in animal subjects in ways that may translate into added anti-cancer protection.

Several human and laboratory studies have suggested that consumption of soy early in life may help protect against breast cancer later in life. Results are less encouraging for a post-menopausal role.

As a general rule of thumb, soy seems to be a good food to include in your diet (along with other beans) as a source of protein and nutrients. For now there is little evidence supporting earlier hopes that soy foods might offer special protection against breast cancer.

One exception to the general safety of soy consumption may be for women who are taking anti-estrogen medications such as tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors. Researchers suggest that these patients limit or avoid soy until more is known.

We are a soy family. I've always disliked milk. I only like skim milk, which my husband hates. And I like soy milk and so does my hubby. So the choice was easy.

[HungLikeJesus]

That was the one with the little chocolate donuts?

[Shawnee123]

Originally Posted by HungLikeJesus

That was the one with the little chocolate donuts?

Yes, darnit. So funny.

@ case: yummmm peanut butter!