LIVING AN EXCEPTIONAL LIFE #90

By Rhonda Jones

When I was younger, I remember my mom complaining about prices every time she went to the grocery store. Poor mom would have gone on a hunger strike if she had gone grocery shopping at today’s prices.

I often talk with individuals who say they would like to be plant-exclusive, but the price of vegetables is just too high. My reply to them is, “Have you seen the price of hamburger?” It is true that all prices have gone up, but eating fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, and grains is still the less expensive alternative. Of course, eating at home does save a lot of money.

The key to saving money is staying away from processed foods. I talked about the good and bad of processed food a couple of weeks ago. The real downside is that processed foods are much more expensive. Canned beans are more convenient, but dry beans are more affordable. Packaged cereals are very expensive, but a box of oatmeal costs less and lasts longer.

I see rice in the frozen food section now, as well as pre-cooked packaged rice. Both are much more expensive than just buying a pound or two of dry rice and cooking it yourself. Rice cookers are fairly inexpensive and can save money in the long run.

One reason I advocate batch cooking is that it can save both time and money. Coming home from work and facing a night of cooking is no fun, but with prepared food in the fridge, it is much easier to eat nutritious food and save time, too. Take one day a week to cook up enough beans and rice for the week—then, you can come home from work and put together some bowls of rice, beans, veggies, maybe even tofu.

I admit I have a couple of Instant Pots, which saves me a lot of time. You can find a small Instant Pot at Walmart for a reasonable price, but rice and beans can also be cooked successfully on the stove.

As far as fruits and vegetables go, sometimes frozen is best. Frozen fruits and vegetables often have more nutrients than their fresh counterparts because they are flash-frozen immediately after picking. Also, there is much less waste because you can open the bag, take some out, and then return it to the freezer.

Tofu is really inexpensive and so versatile. A block of organic tofu is $2.99, which is a bargain. Tonight, I crumbled up a block of firm tofu and cooked it with chopped onions and mushrooms. I added turmeric and some low-salt taco seasoning, and it was great. It can be eaten for any meal. It makes great tacos or a nice breakfast with fruit and whole-grain toast.

I also slice tofu, add barbecue sauce, low-salt tamari, and a little low-salt seasoning, and bake it in the oven until it is crispy. It makes great sandwiches and can also be added to salad or baked potatoes. I have a great recipe for chocolate pudding that is made with tofu, maple syrup, cocoa powder, and a dash of vanilla. It is creamy and rich.

The last important tip is to consult the Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen lists of fruits and vegetables and shop accordingly. Lots of veggies don’t need to be organic, and that can save money. Kiwi, mushrooms, carrots, mango, bananas, cauliflower, watermelon, cabbage, asparagus, sweet peas, onions, papaya, avocado, sweet corn, and pineapple are all on the clean 15 list and do not need to be organic, although I recommend non-GMO corn. Save money and eat plant-exclusive!