Before I drag out my soap box..I want to congratulate my friend Hillary.  She has the blog, The Other Mama, and yesterday she had a baby girl.  Hillary, enjoy the beautiful gift from God.

Now, let me go get the soap box.  I have something very important to say..like always…ahem..

As you know, the American lifestyle is obese.  We have heard it countless times over the news and for many, like myself, are wearing the evidence around our midsection.  All the experts in the medical field are screaming for us to eat healthier and to lose weight.  I can not agree more.

I have dropped a pants size since I started eating vegetarian.  I feel better already just knowing that the fresh foods are supplying the energy I need to live throughout my busy day.  And it has been easy to make the switch.  I am buying most of my veggies from local produce stands in my community.  But, I realized something.. summer is almost over and well… the stands will be gone.

Upon realizing that my time is going to be cut shorter than I’m ready, I decided to find healthy alternatives in my grocers’ frozen veggie section.  I was shocked…  Most frozen vegetables are affordable and I can most definitely fit them into my budget.  But what I discovered really upset me…  the veggies that were around the $1 mark were mostly the stems, leftover pieces, and the portions of less nutritional value.  For example Broccoli.  The  $1 bag was stems with just a few florets.  The $2 bag was mostly florets with just a few stems but the florets were small.  The bag that was $3 had the biggest and greenest florets and practically no stems.

Then I realized something even more…we are told to eat whole wheat/ whole grain breads because the white breads are mostly sugar.  So, do the experts realize that on a tight budget white bread may be the only kind of bread affordable for some Americans?  The whole wheat/whole grain breads run from$3-$5.   That is a big difference from the 68 cent white loaf… of course the white loaf is much bigger too.  So if you are feeding a large family with lots of kids…the 68 cent loaf is more economical.

OH and don’t get me started on the whole cost comparison of a gallon milk verses a 2 liter soda..

This is a real problem..  I watched a segment from Dr. Oz the other day talking about the diabetic epidemic we are facing here in America.  He preached on the importance of eating less sugar in a day’s time.  It amazed me how much sugar is consumed and is hidden in plain sight.  He explained the sugar turns into “shards of glass” in our blood streams and causes clotting.  I sat in horror especially when he explained that the number one reason the lower income citizens of this great nation is obese is because of the cost.  I know we have felt the difference in the budget going from fake to fresh.

Isn’t it time to make a few changes around here???  I mean come on… I want to provide the best for my family and yet I am still having to make a few choices based on price.  If you can feed a family of 4 off the dollar menu at McDonald’s cheaper than a high fiber, green, fresher, nutrient packed, meal, I think something is messed up!

We have been fortunate to be able to afford our switch.  But there are many Americans out there that are not as lucky.  With that, my heart breaks.  Well, guess it is time for the old soap box to be put away.  It is time America to demand the very best at a reasonable cost.

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