Let's see ... you came in here complaining about your diet being bland and wanted to add some flavor - yet everything suggested so far is either too much work, too expensive or not "whole food" enough.
Let's work through them backwards ....
There is nothing wrong with frozen vegetables - in either nutrition or flavor! They are processed at the peak of freshness, washed, blanched, and frozen (that's the way you freeze vegetables for long term storage). And, as has been noted, they are usually cheaper than fresh. Grab a bag and throw in a handful ...
Oh, for what it's worth .... among that recent bagged greens (spinach and lettuce) recall - they were all grown in the same fields, processed in the same plants, in the same way, with the same wash water - and several were labeled ORGANIC! And, sold in "whole food" stores at a premium price. Oh, yeah - organic does not mean the plants are not sprayed with pesticides, or anti-fungals, etc. .... anyone who has questions about this can go to the USDA website and look it up.
If you think vegetables are expensive ... wait for the "sticker shock" when you start looking for herbs and spices!
Now - about the "meat". It's really inefficient to make stock every day - I don't know any home cook that does that - it's something you do one day a week - use what you need and refrigerate the rest for use the rest of the week, and freeze the excess. As for the cost - I ran up to WalMart a few minutes ago and checked .... Smoked Ham Hocks - $1.29/lb, Smoked Pork Necks - $1.39/lb, Smoked Turkey Wings and Legs - $2.02/lb. The cheapest smoked bacon - $2.68/lb.
Sweet potatoes vary in price - but one doesn't cost any more to buy if you cook it or eat it raw. And, some nutrients are actually not released from their bonding for absorption by the human body until they are cooked (and that is true for many vegetables). Eating it raw sounds more like an act of contrition than good nutrition.
You can eat whole foods that are not labeled "Whole Foods" - and save some money. You can vary your diet and eat just as healthy but with more flavor if you're willing to think beyond your current diet. You just need to learn how to shop .... and be willing to spend a couple of hours on the weekend doing some cooking for the following week.
Find a female friend that loves to shop - and get her to teach you how!
Let's work through them backwards ....
There is nothing wrong with frozen vegetables - in either nutrition or flavor! They are processed at the peak of freshness, washed, blanched, and frozen (that's the way you freeze vegetables for long term storage). And, as has been noted, they are usually cheaper than fresh. Grab a bag and throw in a handful ...
Oh, for what it's worth .... among that recent bagged greens (spinach and lettuce) recall - they were all grown in the same fields, processed in the same plants, in the same way, with the same wash water - and several were labeled ORGANIC! And, sold in "whole food" stores at a premium price. Oh, yeah - organic does not mean the plants are not sprayed with pesticides, or anti-fungals, etc. .... anyone who has questions about this can go to the USDA website and look it up.
If you think vegetables are expensive ... wait for the "sticker shock" when you start looking for herbs and spices!
Now - about the "meat". It's really inefficient to make stock every day - I don't know any home cook that does that - it's something you do one day a week - use what you need and refrigerate the rest for use the rest of the week, and freeze the excess. As for the cost - I ran up to WalMart a few minutes ago and checked .... Smoked Ham Hocks - $1.29/lb, Smoked Pork Necks - $1.39/lb, Smoked Turkey Wings and Legs - $2.02/lb. The cheapest smoked bacon - $2.68/lb.
Sweet potatoes vary in price - but one doesn't cost any more to buy if you cook it or eat it raw. And, some nutrients are actually not released from their bonding for absorption by the human body until they are cooked (and that is true for many vegetables). Eating it raw sounds more like an act of contrition than good nutrition.
You can eat whole foods that are not labeled "Whole Foods" - and save some money. You can vary your diet and eat just as healthy but with more flavor if you're willing to think beyond your current diet. You just need to learn how to shop .... and be willing to spend a couple of hours on the weekend doing some cooking for the following week.
Find a female friend that loves to shop - and get her to teach you how!