A few things to note. I'm realizing that I'll be hitting the farmer's market quite often. More often than I would have thought. Even cooking ahead, freezing and storing dry goods in the cabinets still don't hold you long. As I'm having no food on the fly, I'm having to think ahead as I do at work.

 

So here's the newest assortment of what I picked up yesterday minus the chicken and eggs in the fridge. 

 

Which brings me to another point I'll be talking about.  Price.

Where having my veg add up to considerably cheaper, the chicken cost me a whopping $18. Not easy for everybody.  As a matter of fact, that's a tough price for most. Even a chef working in NYC, seemingly doing well.  (Let's not even touch the subject of NY rents) Price is a big topic among those struggling to keep healthy and yes, prices seem much higher than regular chain supermarkets.

 

But with shopping traceably, you must cook.  And cooking brings us to left-overs and freezing and preserving. The most cost-conscious thing you can do.  No one-meal situations.  You can take a $20 purchase at a farmers' market can feasibly cover you for 5 days of eating. With my $18 chicken (which is hard for me to fathom), I did make 3 quarts of chicken soup, chicken stock for future soups and dinner for my daughter and I.

 

Let's talk about the health benefits of doing so. The big turning point for me and good eating was a visit years ago to a homeopath. Known as Dr. E, he helped many friends of mine cure themselves of lots of ailments western doctors couldn't pin point. Needless to say, a few months later my health did a 360.  Pains, exhaustion and pounds went away. Recently, after returning to pastry (I'd left for 5 years to open an Indian restaurant), many of my health problems have returned.  And I'm tired of knowing why and not doing anything about it.

 

An $18 chicken can play a part in avoiding thousands of dollars of medical bills later on. Think about that.

 

Studies have come out lately that show that 80% of our packaged foods already contain GMOs. In most countries other than the US, there are rigid laws about the labeling of such foods.Even in Japan, a country that has taken packed foods to a whole other level, they have more discretion and, dare I say, respect for their consumers than we do.

 

I'll stop my rant.

 

Officially, my 30 days starts tomorrow (which I just realized is the first annual Food Day. Go know.) but I'm already in full swing.

 

This evening I'll be at a dinner for the winner of the Glynwood Harvest Awards (www.glynwood.org). It is the mecca for keeping sustainable farming alive in America.  I've been honored to be on the nominee board this year. As I'm quick to point out, I won't have to think twice at dinner this evening.

 

Tomorrow, on my way to work, I'll be stopping by the Food Day Eat-In in Times Square. Ellie Krieger will be there. I think she's in charge of the food for the event. Ellie and I met recently as we were inducted into Les Dames D'Escoffier. She has a show called 'Healthy Appetite' on the Food Network. I'm not a big proponent of the Food Network but she and I have talked food and we definitely have the same view of the health and food connection.  And she's a fantastic woman. If you're in the area, check out her tent and tell her I said hello!

 

Sherwin, our producer, has said I need more photos and interesting content. I'm new at this blog thing but I'll be piling it on thick starting with my next post on making my own condiments...just to keep traceable exciting.

(this is also my way of introducing Sherwin).

 

See you next post and think "ketchup".