tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34429570.post6369919557829710740..comments2010-01-21T16:20:19.945-05:00Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16958981528207127681noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34429570.post-48706710315251673702010-01-21T16:20:19.945-05:002010-01-21T16:20:19.945-05:00You haven&#39;t failed! I think you are an inspiration to many of us. If we had unlimited time and money, we could do so many things, but we all have to set priorities. <br />Hugs<br />KathyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34429570.post-81208332222213598692010-01-20T23:12:29.513-05:002010-01-20T23:12:29.513-05:00Your not a failure. The challenge is just for fun! Don&#39;t beat yourself up. It is SO HARD to buy organic and not spend a lot of money. I just spent $6.50 for 5lbs of locally grown flour for crying out loud. I feel for you. As much as we want to do some of these things we can only do what we can. Don&#39;t think of it as a failure. You are learning so much by teaching yourself about healthier eating. Hang in there, Spring will be here before we know it and things will look a little brighter.~Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15190205304276427805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34429570.post-78034190538246333392010-01-20T21:00:37.647-05:002010-01-20T21:00:37.647-05:00Jennifer,<br />I am so sorry you are feeling this way. At one point, I had set out to trade in all of our non-organic for organic. This included overhauling our cleaning and paper products to be more environmentally friendly as well.<br />Then, I stopped working in order to stay at home with the kids. Then, the economy took a downturn.<br />We have constantly revisited how we approach the healhiest lifestyle we can without breaking the bank.<br />We make choices based on what we feel is most important and necessary and we bite the bullett on other things that we wish we could change, but financially can not afford.<br />I think you have really succeeded in the pantry challenge. You have seen how your pantry can and can not serve you. You recognized a lot of things about your eating habits and now you can take what you have learned/experienced and set forth a plan and goals.<br />Start by deciding which part of healthier eating is most important and find the most economic way to work toward that goal.<br />Our goals right now are no HFCS, which we&#39;ve been doing for a little while, and more fresh fruit and veggies. We can&#39;t afford organic, but we can try to buy produce that is less likely to be sprayed (or when in season buy from no-spray farms, even if they are not organic certified).<br />I bet when you started, you never thought you could spend just $100/wk on groceries, either!Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521344998979381702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34429570.post-8573020907460932022010-01-20T15:24:41.648-05:002010-01-20T15:24:41.648-05:00You didn&#39;t fail! Changing your diet is hard and there should be a time of adjusting. For us when we first started eating organic we spent a ton...I bought all sorts of organic convenience foods and junk food. Then I realized if it&#39;s still in a box it&#39;s not that healthy even if it is organic! <br />It&#39;s a process...don&#39;t expect it to be perfect. It&#39;s also hard with food allergies. You&#39;ll get there! <br />Spring isn&#39;t too far away!autumnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091997875083650670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34429570.post-27242145356263583952010-01-20T14:55:29.513-05:002010-01-20T14:55:29.513-05:00I didn&#39;t do the pantry challenge either and it is just my husband and I.. Please don&#39;t think you are a failure...look at what you are doing you are taking charge of your health..I don&#39;t think that is considered a failure. Yes healthy foods are costly. We are changing one thing at a time..when I run out of something I replace it with organic or natural...with natural I am reading what goes into the product..I make my own augratin potatoes instead of boxed..I buy butter not maragine..I haven&#39;t bought organic butter just yet..the changes I am making are better choices then what we have been doing..From going from a family of 6 to 2 is my hardest challenge in cooking..I know cry me a river....Sorry I was having a pity party for a second..I miss my kids...they are all in college and soaring like eagles..Don&#39;t be so hard on yourself..Your doing great..Lisalisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10476106116117964270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34429570.post-8702609034905730812010-01-20T14:00:48.723-05:002010-01-20T14:00:48.723-05:00Jennifer, <br />I agree with Mary Bailey--you are being way too hard on yourself! I didn&#39;t even try the pantry challenge, because like you, we are trying to change the way we eat (just read &quot;The Omnivore&#39;s Dilemma&quot;--what an eye opener!). I find myself wondering how we can actually pull off eating more organic/minimally processed foods/grass fed beef. Our grocery budget is $125/week and it&#39;s still difficult! Hang in there!<br /><br />I&#39;m still planning on emailing you about the EE, life has just gotten in the way!<br /><br />Take care,<br />AnneAnnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09046751529154298830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34429570.post-77377013800623093012010-01-20T13:29:37.156-05:002010-01-20T13:29:37.156-05:00No, Jennifer! Don&#39;t think of it as failing! That puts way too much pressure on you. Your family&#39;s food purchases and consumption are your own. Just because 3,439 other blog moms are doing the Pantry Challenge this month does not mean that they have all gotten it right. There&#39;s no magic formula. I think you are doing great to re-evaluate what food priorities you have for your family. Don&#39;t be so hard on yourself :-)mary baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17025238880344665982noreply@blogger.com