Putting My Money Where My Mouth Is

I knew food would be the hard one but I didn't realize how hard. It's becoming abundantly clear how much of our money goes to food and how hard it is to shop on a such a meager budget. It's the daily food decisions that are the tricky ones.

So far, it's actually been easy to cut all unnecessary spending but challenging to change my shopping habits when it comes to what we eat. I'm not someone who insists on buying high-end or name brand products but I am discerning when it come to some things. I feel very strongly about buying fair trade and organic when I can. Not to say that everything I buy has to meet those standards but I am particular about a few things. When it comes to chocolate or coffee I pretty much insist on fair trade, and usually hand-in-hand, organic.

Coffee and chocolate are my two great loves but I really don't like to support the slave trade or do undue damage to the earth – call me crazy. So that means one of two things, I don't buy it or I accept that the indulgence will cost and I'd rather be the one to absorb that cost than marginalized producers that aren't given the choice.


My other "issue" is genetically modified foods and I accept that this is almost impossible to avoid since it seems there is little regulation or disclosure regarding what's actually going on with our food. One thing I do know is that all non-organic dairy contains Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH) and antibiotics and I'd rather my kids not consume those 'additives'. From the time they were weaned, I have always bought them organic milk and I feel strongly about that. And that conviction means I pay at least 2-3x times the price of regular milk.

It's not my intent to get on the soap box or preach but simply highlight the underlying implications of our many food choices. I recognize I am privileged to be able to have the choice but the sad truth is most don't consider, or frankly, cannot begin to fathom this when they struggle to just put food, any food, on their family's table. 

**Update: It has been brought to my attention that Canada bans the use of rBGH so I have mistaken in my reasoning to buy organic milk which is a welcome bit of information. While I will still weigh the costs and benefits to such purchases it's good to know that it is one less thing to worry about. For more info on organics and hormones in Canada click here.

Thursday Spent:  $14 groceries (including $8.49 4L organic milk, on sale)
Friday Spent: $7.70 groceries (Pizza Night - opted to make our own)