Homesteading: A Woman's Journey

Eating Naturally

I am so excited.  Over the past few months, I have been eating a vegetarian diet.  During that time, I have lost 2 dress sizes and my fibromyalgia is gone. 

One of the other benefits is amazing to me.  For years, people have talked about the fact that it costs more to eat a healthy diet than it does to eat the convenience foods you find in boxes and cans at the store.   I now know from experience how wrong that assumption is.

Eating the vegetarian diet can be an adjustment.  Where I live, I have to travel about at the minimum 70 miles to get to a well stocked health food store.  So, once a month I have to make the trip and get supplies that I can't get at the grocery store. 

The great part though is that even having to get some supplies at the health food stores, my grocery bill has dramatically been reduced.  Once my garden is growing and I am able to eat fresh produce from the garden, the grocery bill will drop even further.  I plan to preserve as much as possible.  I have been doing searches online and am finding free plans for building solar food dehydrators.  I may give that a try also.

Besides fresh produce, the main two ingredients that I am using are wheat & chickpeas.  It is amazing how versatile these are.  Wheat can be used ground into flour to make your breads, crackers, tortillas for wraps.  Cracked wheat (bulgur) is used in salads such as Tabouleh and other foods.  I have been making hummus from the chickpeas.  Another food I am experimenting with is tofu.

My average grocery bill for my vegetarian diet is under $150 a month.  The only time it goes up is when I buy the supplies for canning Joe's meals.  Each time he goes out on the truck, he takes along cases of home canned soups, stews, pot roast with veggies, etc. 

Abbie is eating the same diet I am having.  Only additions that she has is chicken and steamed veggies on the days when I am eating a food that would be difficult for her to eat at her age.  One of her favorite foods that I have been making is the homemade Muesli.  Unlike the muesli cereal that you got in the box at a store, this cereal is more like a cooked oatmeal.  You can eat it hot or cold.  We prefer it warmed up in the microwave.  Here is the recipe that I am using:

Homemade Muesli

In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups of rolled oats (not the quick type), 1/4 cup raisins, 1/4 cup chopped nuts, 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon, 2 cups milk.  Mix the ingredients all together, cover & put in the refrigerator overnight.   In the morning, if desired you can add more fruit, yogurt or milk.     When I make it for Abbie and I, we just warm it up and eat it as it is.  If anything, I may add a little extra cinnamon.  This recipe makes quite a bit.  Depending on your appetite, it is enough for 2-4 servings. 

Enjoy!

Untitled Comment

11:19, Tuesday, May 8, 2007 .. Posted by southernbelle

Wow! That's wonderful news to read! Congratulations on your new, healthy lifestyle!

Untitled Comment

11:46, Tuesday, May 29, 2007 .. Posted by Jade

Glad to hear your new diet is working well for you. Perhaps I should take a leaf out of your book and eat more healthy. Jan