The theme for my final cooking assignment is Thanksgiving. I will be presenting what I helped prepare with my family for Thanksgiving. I prepared a side of Brussel sprouts, sweet potato casserole for dessert, and pomegranate apple salad with honey and lemon dressing.
Here are the ingredients for the recipes:
Brussel sprouts, parmesan cheese, garlic, olive oil, salt
Sweet potatoes, brown sugar, vanilla extract, eggs, butter, salt, pecans, mini marshmallows
Mixed greens, pomegranate, apples, feta cheese, honey, garlic, sugar, olive oil, salt, balsamic vinegar.
Recipes:
Shopping list for ingredients I do not already have:
Brussel sprouts, parmesan cheese, garlic
Sweet potatoes, brown sugar, vanilla extract, pecans, mini marshmallows
Mixed greens, pomegranates, apples, feta cheese
Price Comparisons:
Brussel sprouts, target: $3.89lb , fresh thyme: $2.99 lb
Garlic, target: $1.49 for 3 cloves, fresh thyme: $.69 each
Parmesan cheese, wedge from target: $4.89, wedge from fresh thyme: $3.99
Sweet potatoes, 3lb bag from target: $2.19, fresh thyme, $.99 each
Brown Sugar, 2lb from target: $2.59, 32 oz from fresh thyme: $2.79
Vanilla extract, 2fl target $6.59 2woz fresh thyme: $10.99
Pecans, 8 oz target: $6.99, fresh thyme $16.99 per lb
Mini marshmallows, 16oz from target: $1.99, fresh thyme 16 oz: $2.99
Pomegranates, target: $2.99 each, aldi: $1.89 each
Gala apples, target: $.99 each, fresh thyme: $.99 each
Feta cheese, target 6oz: $3.99, fresh thyme: 6oz $4.99
Mixed greens, 5.5oz target: $3.49, aldi: $2.89
Overall, buying cheaper options for the two stores, I would be spending about $35. This isn’t bad, it is less than my food budget. But overall this would be more expensive than my usual budget for food for the amount of food I am getting. This is because of the more expensive items on my shopping list. But since it is a special occasion I thought it was worth it to get the bigger ticket items like pecans. I feel like usually, I could get more food for a similar price or even less, depending on where I am shopping.
I think my food budget is enough to support a healthy balanced diet. I just need to be mindful of what items I am getting, where I am getting them from and in what quantity.
I have made several changes to my food habits. I try to eat more mindfully, taking 3 deep breathes before I start eating. I am more conscious of the waste I am producing and am trying to find more ways to reduce my waste, such as buying less food at a time and taking note of which foods I bought and ended up not eating in order to not make the same waste mistake again. I am more aware of the prices of foods I want and try to find the best deals rather than throwing everything I want in my cart and being surprised by the price at check out.
Both my cooking and eating habits have changed. I find that I am more motivated to cook for myself and find simple healthy recipes to make for myself. I look forward to times where I can cook. I feel as if my knife skills have gotten much better since the beginning of the semester. I also feel more put together when I cook, bringing out all of the items I need before I start cooking. I also am more efficient with the clean up, rather than waiting to do dishes at the end when I really don’t want to, I do it right away so they don’t build up.
My eating habits are healthier. I am more mindful of what I am consuming. I try not to eat out as much. I try to get as close to a balanced daily diet as I can. There is room for improvement for sure but I have become much more mindful and purposeful with my eating.
Comments
Post a Comment