Friday Food Face Off: Peanut Butter vs Organic Peanut Butter

Some of you who know me know how much I love peanut butter.

I didn’t get it very often as a kid, but as soon as I moved out  I got myself a jumbo-jar. I love it with apples amd bananas. Sometimes, I even take a spoonful of it on its own…kinda gross, I know, but I’m a big peanut butter fan!

In the interest of rehab, I recently bought an organic version.

Sure, it’s better for me. It doesn’t contain anything other than organic peanuts while my previous jar had a lengthy list of ingredients, mostly ones I couldn’t pronounce.  But I miss the creaminess of the non-organic kind. The oil doesn’t separate and that is NOT the case with the organic PB.  I suppose it’s a good thing that I’m reminded just how much oil/ fat is in peanut butter as it helps me to curb my spoon habit! I just find the organic peanut butter a bit too stiff and a bit too strong flavour-wise.

I always thought I was easy-going when it came to food.  I like most things. But if I can’t handle REAL peanut butter, does this mean that my palate has been damaged forever by the less flavourful, chemically enriched, modified food?

I know that I will get used to it, but at this point I have to give organic peanut butter a Thumbs Down!

Thanks to Capt. Moufette on Flickr for this photo!

The Groceries took all my Money

My fridge is almost empty so I made a trip to the quaint grocery store around the corner from my apartment: The Food Depot.

I was not quite sure what to buy as I do not meet with Meghan until tomorrow.

I knew the shopping regulations though; Local organic first, local second, organic third.

The guidelines seem simple enough, but I had a hard time finding things I could eat and afford to buy! I fear my days at the Depot are coming to an end–I need to find a market with local food–soon!

I got the following:

Stephano’s Breakfast Cereal (basically granola): $6.69 (for only 525 grams!)
Svelte Plain Organic Yoghurt: $5.89 (l750 grams)
Organic Meadow Milk 1%: $4.19 (1L)
Organic Bananas: $2.50 (1 bunch = 7 bananas)
Canadian Cucumber: $.99
Kitchen Table Raw Almonds: $9.19 (318 grams)

I spent almost twice as much on milk and cereal than I usually do.  At the Depot, an entire box of Bran Flakes cereal costs $3.79, while 2 litres of 1% Neilson milk: $4.37 (2L).

Meghan says that I need to think of the price of food as an investment in my health and I see her point, but I cannot help but wonder how entire families could afford to eat organically?

What do you think? Am I wasting my money on organic food?  Are you throwing money down the drain when you don’t buy locally or organically?

Thanks to Rick on Flickr for ‘Canadian Money is Pretty.’

Fresh Food for Lunch

My sister came for a visit yesterday and took me out for lunch. 

We went to Fresh (326 Bloor Street West).

Everything was vegetarian, which is not a huge problem for me because I enjoy most vegetarian food, but I think she found it a bit daunting. 

I thought the menu looked great!  I started with a Dr. Tomato vegetable juice (parsley, celery, red papper, tomato juice, lemon, sea salt and freshly ground pink pepper).  I followed it with a Warrior bowl (chick pea & vegetable stew with rich coconut curry sauce & grilled spinach served over brown basmati rice).  It was delicious!

Things weren’t so easy for my sister.

The vegetable juices did not appeal to her, but to eat she chose an Ayurvedic bowl (steamed seasonal vegetables sprinkled with sesame, hemp & poppy seeds.  This was served atop a bowl of brown basmati rice and her choice of dressing: she got Power House (tahini, lemon, tamari, hot sauce).

Her assessment of Fresh is not quite as positive as mine. Overall, she thought her meal lacked flavour. She did not find the ‘Power House’ powerful at all and said that the meal was a bit ‘blah.’ 

In spite of our differing views on the food, we agreed that the portions were generous (neither of us could finish our rice).   The atmosphere was warm, but casual.  Ideal for an afternoon lunch date, but not for a romantic dinner.  The service was excellent; our waitress was efficient and friendly.  She was also super-cute and smiley, but that’s beside the point.

We were a little surprised by the bill.  It was $31.64 before a tip.  We thought this was pretty pricey for a lunch.

Our (averaged) rating for Fresh is: 6/10

Photo is courtesy the Fresh website: Thanks, Fresh!