While texting with my good friend, Vicky tonight, she emailed me a recipe for homemade orange creamsicles. Uh…YUM. I was like, yes, totally making these with the Littles– until I saw that the recipe called for eggs and cream. Which, hello, they say CREAM in the title but sometimes I don’t process the dairy factor until I read the ingredients. Weird, I know.
Since completing our 10 day juice fast, J and I have been eating a more plant based diet. This is the part where I give you full disclosure and say that I try to eat a mostly plant based diet. There are times when convenience and money plays a factor. And there are also times when we are out and I forget to ask about things like bread– is it vegan bread? Not to mention that sometimes, well sometimes, I take the Littles to McDonald’s because they ask and get all brown eyed puppy dog like and I just.can’t.say.no. All in all, it’s a learning process– one that is slow going as I discover more and more things I need to eliminate or seek substitutions for.
I texted Vicky about the egg thing and she said that she was lucky enough to have several farmer’s markets available to her in San Diego. I responded that I envied her that. There are a few markets about an hours drive from here and that makes for a nice weekend trip with the fam but then it also becomes a drag to drive that far with two kids. Who are four. Who like to do that whole, “Are we there yet-she’s touching me-WAHHHHHHHHH-I’m hungry-I need to use the bathroom-ARE WE THERE YET?” Yeah, that gets old, real fast.
For a while we went to the Dallas Farmer’s Market, until I heard that the vendors receive their produce from around the country just like grocery stores. They re-sell refrigerated produce and items that are grown out of season as to meet the year round demands.
Or so I thought.
photo source: http://warmhotchocolate.com/2010/08/13/foodie-friday/
Turns out, after doing some research, i.e. reading their website, they have one shed committed to local farmers only. These farmers must grow their produce within a 150 mile radius to receive the distinction. This bit of knowledge changes EVERYTHING. If I can go to the Dallas Farmer’s Market once a week, just like a making a grocery store trip, and purchase locally grown produce– yeah– I will be one happy camper.
But this brings up a larger issue for me. Say the local vendors shed has organic fresh eggs for sale? What to do then? My biggest problem with eggs and cheese are they way they are gathered and produced, respectively in this country. It’s not so much I am against eating eggs and cheese because of the animal protiens, although that does play a part, it’s mainly because of the horrible living conditions these poor animals are put through. If you want to see a glimpse, please watch Food, Inc. (Warning– it can be graphic.)
Will I change my stance now if I know I can get local fresh eggs from farmers that let their chickens graze freely? That let them have fresh air and grass and do not set a production quota? Will I re-admit cheese into our refrigerator if I find a local and organic supplier? These are all things I do not know the answer too. I do know that I miss the convenience of both cheese and eggs when I am cooking. We’ve gotten along fine without them for a while but I won’t lie. It would be nice to make recipes like those creamsicles every once in a while.
Are you a plant based eater?
How do you feel about eggs and cheese?
PS– I admit it. I was wrong about the Dallas Farmer’s Market and I will be making a trip to the Market this week to see for myself about their selection and prices.
PPS- I LOVE this Top Ten Reasons To Buy From A Verified Local Farmer. Love it with me.
Yayyyy for blog mentions
I feel special! I admire yours and Js commitment to your juice fast and how you’ve stuck to it afterwards. I have to be honest. I love food. I have never paid much attention to where it came from etc. as long as it tasted good. Sad. I know. I just can’t see giving any particular food group up all together. I do buy local organic produce and like we discussed…the fresh eggs…they. taste. like. eggs. Amazing. I try to buy free range meats too, but $$ is defs an issue. I will also be looking for fresh local cheeses…real cheese bc NOT EVEN GOD HIMSELF can convince me that almond cheese is a perfectly fine substitute for real cheese on nachos. Sorry. PS let me know how the creamsicles turn out 
“bc NOT EVEN GOD HIMSELF can convince me that almond cheese is a perfectly fine substitute for real cheese on nachos. Sorry.”
lmfao. yeah, it’s a struggle but I have found some alternatives. one is daiya cheese. it’s shredded but it melts and gets stringy like real cheese. i find that it works when i am in the mood for cheese.
HA! I just read this one and realized we both are going through a McDonalds issue on our blogs. Hello same brains.
Really in the past few months have I started to have any concerns about food and where it’s come from. I love eggs and cheese and I can’t cut them out of my diet. I’ve been to chicken houses and seen how disgusting they are first hand, yet I still eat the food.
A lot of the time it comes down to money for me as well. I hate that, but I think it’s just programmed into our brains. When we’ve been buying eggs at this price for all our life, and then see the organic eggs and they are twice the price, it turns me off. I know it’s a better product. I get it. But for some reason, my brain cannot see past it.
Also, um, Vicky… I love creamsicles. Just sayin’.
Can I ask if you use ketchup? If you do, I challenge you to this:
buy a bottle of organic ketchup and do a taste test with the “regular” ketchup (the one with HFCS). you will change your mind about organics and their price– i promise you. not only is it a more pleasing color but the flavor…it’s FANTASTIC. this is what i tell people when they say they can’t see spending more or how organic is really that much different. it’s a quick and easy “test” to show you the differences.
in the end, i get it. money is a HUGE factor in our house and unfortunately, when times are tough, we have to resort to the “cheap” food to get by. you have to do what you have to do know.
ok, i have to stop before i get all preachy. GAH. SORRY!!
Hahahahaha! I have NOT tried organic ketchup. I will, cause you told me too. I think the staples like condiments are probably the easiest to switch over cause you buy them so rarely. Like I said, there is a mind thing that needs to change and I have not forced it yet. I am working on it though.
I’m so proud of you guys Lisa, what a huge turn around for you both!! We need to swap some recipes. I usually cook a bunch on Sundays to help prepare for the week. It makes staying on track so much easier. xo
YES! I am so lost when it comes to creating meals now. I pretty much just make some veggies and cous cous and call it a day. I need more variety but it’s all so overwhelming sometimes.
I feel like I’m intruding on a convo here, so I’ll jump in and jump out:
I saw Food Inc and decided unless I know the chicken is organic and cage free, I am not eating it (chicken and turkey, because those are the only things I buy). No Tyson, no Wal-Mart brand, nuh-uh.
OK I’m done. ::jumps out::