I just heard Michael Pollen on a local radio program. If you're not familiar with his work, he writes about the food industry, nature, our relationship with food, etc. "Omnivore's Dilemma" is one title I recall. anyway, he was talking about processed food and what's wrong with the American diet and said two things that struck me: That Americans spend less money on food than any other country (we spend 9- 1/2 % of income vs. Italy, for example, that spends 15%). And fewer and fewer Americans know how to cook. He even mentioned that he saw that Sara Lee has created a frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

I have a friend (from an Italian heritage) who never ever shops for price when it comes to food, and just gets what she wants (mostly regarding produce). My husband and I decided we decided that we only have this body and will never get a replacement, so we should treat it well. We buy organic almost entirely (we also both have reactions to a variety of different foods, but some of the severity is lessening.).

The kids are grown. I have to say that the kids absolutely hated organic and healthy food (like whole grain, natural peanutbutter, etc.) My daughter once said "I don't like that root beer. It doesn't taste fake enough." Ha ha, now she's a mom and dealing with kid and food issues herself.

I wondered what everyone's approach is to buying food? How picky are you? Is knowing or not knowing how to cook (well) an issue in your decision? I actually love to cook (especially when I have time to) and don't mind eating leftovers (I take them to work) so I'm sure that's a factor.

First of all, there is no guarantee that you are buying organic. We know several farmers and they cannot, I repeat, cannot maintain organic crops...the insects are too plentiful to not use insecticides now and then....every few years. They just can't do it. Unless you are THERE watching them, don't trust it's all organic!

We grow what we can...and eat it. Price? We look at price but we don't skimp on healthy stuff....as we've mentioned here before...stay on the outer parameters of the grocery stores. If other retailers are priced less than Walmart, Walmart honors their lower price. That save much, too!

We do eat well.......rarely a junk food comes into this house.....or I make what we "crave"....using honey or very little sugar.

Well yesterday I bought some groceries and they were cheaper but it wasn't until I got them home that I saw why they actually were not cheaper. I only buy Scott toilet paper because it has 1000 sheets and last a good long time. It was on sale so I bought a case of 12 rolls. BUT when I got it home and was replacing a roll I noticed it seemed smaller. Oh it had the 1000 sheets I'm sure, (didn't count them however, LOL) BUT the roll was an inch narrower. I had a space on both sides of my toilet paper holder. You figure an entire inch removed from every roll and that really adds up I bet.

Also noticed the bottled water, same water, same price, but the bottle seemed different...IT WAS! Instead of 16oz. it has 12oz. now. Be wary, they aren't giving us any deals, not really!

I learned long ago to buy food with health in mind, not my wallet. I grow what I can and buy certified organic or kosher otherwise.

Chatty -- I'm with you on the TP -- same here!
Di-- true about some who present their food as organic, but that doesn't mean I'll go for conventional instead. Where I shop, the managers say the only way for them to guarantee the quality of the food they sell is that they know the growers and the packagers. If they find out they're not producing as promised, they no longer stock their stuff.
I buy conventional produce at farmers' markets, but I do ask them their growing practices.
As for meat, call me crazy, but when I have meat that has hormones or antibiotics I get a hot flash within about 5 minutes. Never happens with hormone and antibiotic free meat. It sometimes happens to me with non-organic veggies too -- I understand that it's because chemical pesticides are recognized by the body as hormones.

DJ, I only buy meat from the Kosher butcher shop here in town. They have farms and raise their own meat, slaughter it themselves in a humane way, and you will never find hormones or anything unnatural inside their animals. It costs a bit more but I'm worth it. I also find lots of low to no salt items in their store. Find a Jewish store and take a look, you may be surprised. Great produce as well.

Chatty -- that's what I also say about paying the price for good food. I like shopping at little local boutique markets, including ethnic ones. We ARE worth it! I also think one saves in the long run on one's overall health.

You're not alone, Chatty. Everything here is more expensive and smaller, including loaves of bread and TP. The Peanut butter isn't any better, but it's more expensive. They've been downsizing our food for years. I used to buy potato chips once in awhile until the bags were only half full of chips, the other half air. I stopped buying them.

I have a great produce store and the Saturday produce market in the library parking lot. I rarely buy meat and eat chicken every day in numerous and wonderful ways.

I'm craving fruit and this morning a friend invited me to take figs right off of her tree. I brought home two dozen. I haven't seen them in my produce market for 3 years. What bounty! She has over 10 fruit trees in her yard all loaded with ripening fruit. I'll be back for the oranges and grapefruits when they're ready.

I'm having a problem finding good tomatoes. I want to eat them every day. I know some of you grow your own but I can't carry all the fixins up the stairs to my balcony. The search continues.

The farmers at my market have to be certified organic before they advertise as such. Undercover food inspectors levy a heavy fine if not.

I always buy quality food. Yes, I'm worth it!

Cheaper food actually costs more in the long run because no one eats it and then we throw most of it out.

Cheap chocolate, cheap ice cream, cheap bread -- are so hideous that we haven't bought them in ages.

Saundra order one of those hanging upside down planters from a catalog and it will be delivered right to your door via ups. You only need a small container of soil and use your own tap water. I have already gotten about three dozen hearty big ripe tomatoes right off my own patio. Plus the graqpe tomatoe plant is heavy with tiny tomatoes which I have been picking. Its so easy and you reuse the planter year after year.

Great suggestion, Chatty. I got lucky at the library market yesterday and found great tomatoes.

Gives all new meaning to the term, "I got lucky.'