The Trolley Challenge: Only Buying Real Food.

[Mak]

Good ideas - I have been trying to cook as much from scratch as possible and get back to basics with our food. I had gestational diabetes and was amazed at the difference eating home cooked vs prepared items made to my blood sugar levels. Not that I should be surprised I guess but the difference was astounding - so I have resolved to make a few permanent changes, without turning the rest of my family into rebellious eaters!!!
Is it appropriate to ask for any recommendations for F&V markets/wholesale butchers in SE melb?

[Bathsheba]

Regarding recommendations: I find that as well as shopping at Farmers markets you can also find some good quality real food at places like Leo's and Phillipas (supermarket and bread). In Melbourne we are spoilt for choice... it's only that sometimes I find I have limited time and have to try to get everything at one place ie Coles/Safeway instead of going around all the specialty places. In an ideal world I would have the time to go and hand-pick everything from the best outlets. At least once a month I do... but sadly not every weekend.

[cindyb]

Not sure if i am meant to post places on here but I am in Narre warren and go to a meat place in rowville and get my fruit and veg out at cranbourne- if you want specifics send me a personal message and i will pass the names on

[Bathsheba]

Cindy: as far as I know you can recommend a place or product just as long as you personally don't have a vested interest. And as long as you don't post a link. Large multi-national companies are always being recommended (eg Cadbury's) so why not smaller companies?

One of my favourite Farmers Markets is at the Collingwood Children's Farm... then a snack at the Abbotsford Convent next door... makes a great day out!

[Astrid]

It is frustrating. I am in the country now, but do you think I can find a decent farmers market nearby?? Same with meat, there is massive abattoir, but it's "wholesale' outlest is just as expensive as the supermarkets and some of the items full of additives.

[*Ali*]

This is something I have been trying hard to do, partly for our health, and partly for our pocket. I also do all of my fruit and veg shopping at our local farmers markets, I have switched to butchers meat and free range chicken (which is all I will ever buy now, because it is tastier and better for us). I am a bit slack sometimes buying pre packaged snack foods- rice crackers, muesli bars etc. We hardly ever eat prepackge or preprepared food at dinner time, I much prefer to cook from scratch- never use recipe bases, or the instant pasta packets etc, never have though. My aim is to get better at baking and preparing snack foods, especially as Tori starts school next year and I would much rather she have homemade in her lunchbox.

[Bathsheba]

Yes! I am so avoiding buying those mueslie bars for school! They are rubbish, honestly. Just as easy is cutting a few sticks of real cheese (not the single wrapped flappy stuff) and popping that in the lunchbox for recess. My DS also like BabyBel cheese but I only buy it on special. My DD went to stay at her cousins over the school holidays and they asked her what she wanted on a sandwich... she said cheese so they pulled out that Kraft flappy stuff. She politely declined and asked if they had some real cheese... the kids didn't even know what she meant... they had only ever eaten that soapy plastic stuff that doesn't even melt when you make a jaffle. My DD once ate a whole wedge of blue cheese from Tarago... cost us about $8.... we found her age 2yo sitting in front of an open fridge stuffing it into her mouth... at least the girl knows what real cheese is!!! And the idea of bottled Kraft cheese spread makes her want to puke... good girl! Sorry if I'm sounding like a food snob

[luna moth]

One of my favourite Farmers Markets is at the Collingwood Children's Farm... then a snack at the Abbotsford Convent next door... makes a great day out!

This, Leo's. You. Are. Making. Me. HOMESICK!

But I have found an incredible farmer's market here in brissy - it's at the broadway hotel in the gabba. Food there is SO fresh that I freak out when I buy stuff even from other markets!

Michael Pollan is a great read. I love giving it to people as a wedding/engagement present