About Sweetmama Editor
Nadine Silverthorne’s love of journaling began in Grade One with the entry, “I am the greatest dancer!” Two babies (and countless diaper changes) later, she has found her home away from home as editor of SweetMama. Don’t miss her humorous bi-weekly accounts of the joys and pains of working while raising them fabulous.
Lunch Recessed
silver spoons canada
(Apr.27.09)
Hi, it's your faithful Recessionist-ugh here, thinking about lunch. Specifically, how much I like to buy it each day and how I can't afford to do that anymore.
Our office lunch options numerous and delicious. The budgetary problem arises when I choose to deal with my inbox after the kids are asleep -- instead of preparing the next day's meals. (I know this will change once my kids are old enough to be having lunch at school.)
I like stepping out to grab a bite. It's the only me-time in my day and it's nice to have someone serve me for a change. But if you add up all the $5-15 lunches in a week, it's a pretty hefty chunk (that could be spent on shoes I can no longer afford guilt-free). So I thought it through and decided there were only so many leftovers I could do (not to mention the meal-prep part). I headed to the grocery store near our office.
I bought enough salad fixings, snacks and frozen entree thingies to last me roughly two weeks for $45. Already a big improvement. Except I started reading the labels on the frozen entrees, and well, I got a bit creeped out. So perhaps I'll be cooking after all...
My husband asked me to cancel my fabulous organic produce delivery service. I couldn't do it in good conscience. Nor could I suddenly switch to non-organic milk and yogurt. Hey, it's my kids were talking about! (Don't hate me, but I'm blessed with kids who love fruits and vegetables.) OK, so they probably wouldn't notice the switch, but I'd be up all night thinking about those sweet grain-fed cows I put out of work! Am I just buying into the hype?
This article in Today's Parent says no. Loads of studies are coming out to prove that organic food is higher in vitamins. Since most who buy organic choose to buy local when its available, you're really giving your family the best food option (short of growing your own -- which is not happening due to the fact that squirrels eat everything I've ever tried to plant.) Another Today's Parent article outlines the produce with the most and least pesticide use/residue. So perhaps I can skip the pricier organic mango, avocado and bananas.
But then I lay awake feeling socially irresponsible. By choosing the cheaper choices I am costing the planet huge. I am forcing someone else's child to live near a pesticide laden farm. Gah! How does the modern mother avoid going completely insane due to knowledge (a.k.a. the internet) and choice? (I can't even begin to articulate my neurosis at the liquor store!)
Yet another dilemma I haven't sorted out in this new world order. But I did have to clean my house myself this week. I'll tell ya all about it next Monday...
Image Credit: Stephen Coburn