One of the best ways to simplify our diet is to return to eating whole unprocessed foods. These are the foods our grandparents ate: fresh fruits and vegetables in season, canned or frozen vegetables out of season, locally raised meat and dairy products, and eggs fresh from the farm. Meals were home cooked with an eye on using what was available, taking care to waste nothing. Bread came out of the oven, not a package.
Even if you know that you are not going to bake your own bread, there are ways that returning to the basic ingredients and methods of cooking will improve your diet, enhance your quality of life and reduce your grocery bill. Look to the produce section of the store for fruits and vegetables that are in season. Look in the bulk section for grains and beans that are inexpensive, easy to cook, and very healthy. Keep a well stocked spice cabinet by purchasing small amounts of bulk spices and storing them in glass jars. You will save a bundle, and you will have the freshest herbs and spices to use for your cooking.
Buying bulk not only saves you money, it saves the earth from the burden of unnecessary packaging. Bulk items arrive at our store in 25-50 pound bags. We bag, weigh, and label the items and stock them on the shelves. After your purchase, be sure to store bulk foods in glass jars once you get home. Not only does it look beautiful, it will keep your food fresh and keep pests out. We sell large and small glass jars at a very reasonable cost for all of your bulk storage needs. You can purchase jars individually or buy a case of 12 and receive a 15% discount. Ask about options at the customer service desk.
When you price shop in the bulk department, you will discover one of the secrets to eating organic foods on a tight budget. For a nutritious breakfast, or dinner in a pinch, try the Organic Steel Cut Oats. They have a great texture, full flavor and are very inexpensive. If you want something full of nutrition and quick cooking, why not try quinoa? This ancient grain, native to the Andes, is packed with protein and contains all the essential amino acids. It can be steamed plain and served as a side dish, or combined with other ingredients to make a quinoa salad or main dish.
Another staple of the simple kitchen is rice. We stock several varieties of rice to meet every need. If you are intimidated by cooking rice, look no further. I once read how to make rice in an interview with cartoonist Lynda Barry, and I have used it with great success. According to her grandmother, simply put as much white rice as you want in a pot, put your finger at the level of the top of the rice. Fill the pot with water until the water reaches the level of your first knuckle. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Believe it or not, it works like a charm.
Beans are another way to express simplicity in a meal. If you can boil water, you can cook beans! Some, like lentils, are quick cooking. Just boil them in a pot of water until they are tender, then drain. Other beans are best if they are first soaked overnight. Discard the soaking water (this is said to decrease gas forming oligosaccharides) and boil in fresh water. Add seasoning as desired.
So, picture this simple and exquisite dinner. Your plate holds aromatic and steaming rice, or quinoa, or couscous; your favorite steamed or sautéed fresh vegetables; and some tender beans, or broiled wild-caught salmon, or roasted pasture-raised chicken. The addition of spices and accompaniments can add infinite variety and interest. Nothing could be simpler or healthier.
The Slow Food movement was born out of the desire to support local and traditional foods that celebrate the uniqueness of a region. Goals include: forming and sustaining seed banks to preserve heirloom varieties in cooperation with local food systems; developing various political programs to preserve family farms; Lobbying for the inclusion of organic farming concerns within agricultural policy; Lobbying against the use of pesticides; Teaching gardening skills to students and prisoners; Encouraging ethical buying in local marketplaces.
