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aubreymAlong with the inner changes I've been going through since becoming a Mom (trying to be more like an adult, trying to be more social), I've just started working on some outer changes as well.
This Saturday we decided to hit the Alemany Farmers Market, since we were awake early and Richard and Judy were still on East Coast time. We got a ton of fresh produce for not a lot of money. While I was picking out some potatoes I was struck by the smell of the carrots. They were a couple of bins away, but I could still smell them. Sweet and unlike the prepackaged carrots I usually buy at Safeway. Even the organic version. I couldn't pass them up. Last night I cooked up the bunch of collard greens that I bought, making sure to get to them quickly so they didn't spoil. They were more flavorful and crisp than anything I've had before. It was surprising. I'm planning on making the weekly trek to the Farmer's Market, if at all possible. Shopping from local farmers helps the environment and it's healthier.
While I was researching the best way to cook Collard greens I pulled out "How to Cook Everything Vegetarian" that Tom had purchased probably a year ago and neither of us had ever used. I spent some time reading it, learning some cooking basics and I found myself inspired. Now that Tai's starting to eat solid foods, I'm going to have to start actually cooking rather than just heating whatever junk we have in the freezer. He's not that fond of pureed baby food in jars - I don't even know if he'd enjoy fresh cooked purees, either. But he does enjoy little bites of whatever we're eating. On Sunday, Judy cooked one of Tom's favorite dinners - Spaghetti squash casserole. Tom gave Tai a bite and he loved it. He ate far more than the jarred food. He likes Thai food, and Ethiopian and Mexican - I don't see why he can't have bits of whatever we're having for dinner. That means less pizza and take-out Chinese for us.
I also want to start using cloth menstrual pads as well. I was thinking about it during my last period - it seems a little odd to be using cloth diapers, but then throwing away a week's worth of plastic pads every month. I haven't purchased any yet, but I'm doing some research online and should be getting some before next month.
I'm reminding myself to go slowly with this stuff, to not get discouraged when I slip back into eating the easy, frozen, prepackaged stuff, or to use disposable stuff rather than cloth. Progress, not perfection. And it takes time to create new habits.
This Saturday we decided to hit the Alemany Farmers Market, since we were awake early and Richard and Judy were still on East Coast time. We got a ton of fresh produce for not a lot of money. While I was picking out some potatoes I was struck by the smell of the carrots. They were a couple of bins away, but I could still smell them. Sweet and unlike the prepackaged carrots I usually buy at Safeway. Even the organic version. I couldn't pass them up. Last night I cooked up the bunch of collard greens that I bought, making sure to get to them quickly so they didn't spoil. They were more flavorful and crisp than anything I've had before. It was surprising. I'm planning on making the weekly trek to the Farmer's Market, if at all possible. Shopping from local farmers helps the environment and it's healthier.
While I was researching the best way to cook Collard greens I pulled out "How to Cook Everything Vegetarian" that Tom had purchased probably a year ago and neither of us had ever used. I spent some time reading it, learning some cooking basics and I found myself inspired. Now that Tai's starting to eat solid foods, I'm going to have to start actually cooking rather than just heating whatever junk we have in the freezer. He's not that fond of pureed baby food in jars - I don't even know if he'd enjoy fresh cooked purees, either. But he does enjoy little bites of whatever we're eating. On Sunday, Judy cooked one of Tom's favorite dinners - Spaghetti squash casserole. Tom gave Tai a bite and he loved it. He ate far more than the jarred food. He likes Thai food, and Ethiopian and Mexican - I don't see why he can't have bits of whatever we're having for dinner. That means less pizza and take-out Chinese for us.
I also want to start using cloth menstrual pads as well. I was thinking about it during my last period - it seems a little odd to be using cloth diapers, but then throwing away a week's worth of plastic pads every month. I haven't purchased any yet, but I'm doing some research online and should be getting some before next month.
I'm reminding myself to go slowly with this stuff, to not get discouraged when I slip back into eating the easy, frozen, prepackaged stuff, or to use disposable stuff rather than cloth. Progress, not perfection. And it takes time to create new habits.
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Date: 2008-12-17 07:26 am (UTC)Absolutely agree with your last point. As you know I am not a fanatic about much of anything, so I've had to give myself lots of good-enough points. It's tempting to go extreme but it doesn't stick.
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Date: 2008-12-17 04:39 pm (UTC)Your words are a good reminder. (Food is one of my huge downfalls, I hate cooking, so we eat out a lot, since M is so tired and doesn't want to cook when he gets home.)