I wrote in a previous post that our grocery bill is around $150 a week. Sometimes it is a little more, but we try to stay within that budget. I know for a family of 8 that seems impossible to achieve. However, I should mention that we do not eat meat in our home. It is SO expensive and WAY unhealthy. Sure, you could go for the lean meats or the chicken breast. However, that's only going to reduce the amount of fat intake. It won't help with the high levels of cholesterol, toxic pesticides, antibiotics, growth hormones, and all the other garbage that are in the meat you eat. Why not eat organic then? Well, in this area good luck finding it and this is a blog for frugal living; ever seen the price of organic meat?!
I'm not making a call for everyone to be a vegetarian. My entire family are not vegetarians, they just don't eat meat at home. I have 9 children and only 2 of them are vegetarians at all times. In our goal of being a healthy, frugal, and an environment friendly family we just don't consume meat at home. Below is a chart showing the affect raising meat has on our Mother Earth.
So, my challenge to you is to try the Meatless Monday challenge. Why not? You will have a healthier family, help to do your part to reduce your carbon footprint, and save some $$! What is there to lose? I'm not an animal rights activist but I do believe in living healthy, being frugal, and taking care of the planet that Heavenly Father has blessed me with.
Meatless Mondays? I'm a Catholic and that sounds so strange. A rule for Catholics is that during Lent (the 40 days before Easter), we have meatless Fridays. Also, on the remaining Fridays that aren't in Lent, we can either refrain from meat or make another sacrifice of our choosing (for example, say some extra prayers, refrain from consuming something else that we love, etc.)
ReplyDeleteThe point of all this for Catholics? We believe that Jesus Christ made the ultimate sacrifice (His Passion, Crucifixion and Death) on a Friday. He did this because of His love for us. We make a very small sacrifice for Him (giving up meat once per week) as a small token of love for Him.
Laura, I am not Catholic, but my children do go to a Catholic school. Their school does not serve meat of Friday's for lunch. The purpose of the meatless Monday has no religious base behind it. However, I do love the symbolism behind the no meat on Friday. I have never had that explained to me, so thank you. =) I have a very strong believe and faith in my Savior and the atonement, sacrifice, and resurrection. I also feel very strongly about the life He lived and the example He set forth for us on how we should live our lives. It may seem strange, but I feel that not eating meat has made me a more spiritual person then I was before. I feel more in tune and more clear and focused. I am a vegetarian all of the time. Saving money, helping the planet, and being kinder to animals was all just a perk that came along w/me trying to improve my health. My choice to become a vegetarian was not much of a choice; it was either eat it and be sick or give it up and get my life back. Thank you SO much for your comments. =)
DeleteWhen I was in my twenties, I dappled into vegetarianism and vegan-ism. This was probably for many of the same reasons as your family. However, at the same time, I was researching different farming methods. I came to the conclusion that in order for a farm to be truly sustainable, it should have a mix between raising crops and animals. Different species of animals and different varieties of crops all bring something different to the farm in the way of putting things into the environment and taking things out. True sustainability is finding that balance.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the factory farms where they raise animals for meat are anything but sustainable. I would even argue that even if you could afford organic meat, that doesn't necessarily guarantee true sustainability. For example, it would be more sustainable to get hay from a neighbor than organic hay from a thousand miles away.
The organic certifications are very legalistic and they may not necessarily result in meats and such that are raised in a way good for the environment.
If you have the option, I think the best way to truly eat sustainably is to opt out of the whole commodity system. Buy directly from the farmer when you can.
Laura, I could not agree with you more. This was very well said. When I have my dream of Living off the grid through sustainability I have plan to have chickens and goats. You should follow me on Pinterest. Do you have Pinterest?
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