The Rumors of My Demise Are False...

To answer some questions I've received via email in the last month or so:

Yes, I'm alive.

Yes, I'm still Paleo.

Yes, I'm still watching my pennies when it comes to our food budget.

The last few months have been a bit crazy....but really, every month since I broke my leg (July 2011, if anyone is interested) has been a bit insane!

The biggest change of the year - the kids and I moved.  We're now sharing a house with a couple friends to help everyone save on expenses.  The kids and I share the large master bedroom - a seriously HUGE change for us but we're getting used to it.

Why the sudden change?  Well, we live in one of the most expensive places in the US (San Fran Bay Area) and with the economy the way it is, this was one way we could assure everyone could pay their rent AND eat - two VERY important things when you have kids!  ;-)

Thankfully, my roommates are gluten-free and semi-Paleo (they like an occasional GF noodle, rice, or potato at dinner) so we get along well.  We're pooling our food resources to ensure that everyone eats.  I kick in $100 / month plus whatever I get through the Family Harvest program from the local Food Bank and they kick in what they can from their budgets and other sources...and we seem to eat well!

Yes, I do participate in the local food bank's Family Harvest program. I take the kids' wagon to the local community college once a month where they fill it with some packaged and canned foods, rice, beans, a protein or two (usually frozen chicken or ground turkey), some fruit, and LOTS of vegetables.  The first time I went, I was amazed at the sheer amount of fresh stuff I got.  They say that Family Harvest provides each family with 100 to 120 lbs of food a month - I believe it!  Some months are hit and miss (like the one month I got a full box of canned green beans - we're still eating through those - or the month we got another box full of frozen mac & cheese - my son ate half and the rest went to a local homeless center) but most of the time it's pretty good.  The non-paleo stuff that we won't eat gets passed on to friends or others who are struggling so nothing goes to waste.

Now, as you can guess, I had a hard time stepping up to the plate when it came to accepting food from the food bank....but then I realized something: if I had to decide between my pride or feeding my kids, my kids would win every time.  We weren't actually starving - my frugalness and tight food budget kept that away - but I do have other bills that need to be paid off....and that wasn't happening as long as I allowed my pride to win.  So, yes, I swallowed down that hard pill and did what I had to do. 

This grown-up stuff SUCKS.....but sometimes, a Mama's gotta do what a Mama's gotta do, right?  ;-)

Anyway, I promise to be back here a little more often to share our new exploits and adventures of eating Paleo on a Budget.  Can't wait to see what happens next!