Fed up with 'food'

[Wendy]

Hi. I'm new to the forum and we are, I guess what you call "Expectant Innkeepers" - still in the remodeling/renovating stages. I'm enjoying reading the reality of what we are to be expecting. Well... enjoying and possibly thinking I should be running away in abject horror...
My son is a type I diabetic and I am constantly looking for foods without HFCS or added sodium. Breads are the worst - if you want a whole grain bread, they seem to need to add HFCS into it! Not only is adding HFCS cheaper for the company, it's also easier for their machines to measure.
The good news is that I've noticed over the years it is getting easier to find products without the added junk. Most major grocery stores have started carrying "healthfood aisles" and Giant Supermarkets has started marketing their own organic/health food brand (Nature's Best, I think it's called). Their skim milk is the only one I can stomach! Prices are starting to come down, too. The best prices, though, still come from our year-round local farmers' market.
With the Whole Foods (cooking with unprocessed foods - not the food chain, although it is good, too) movement gaining momentum, I'm starting to see more companies make prepackaged food with less processing. Try Amy's (www.amys.com) and Eden's (www.edenfoods.com). They're both carried at my local supermarket. Generally speaking, I shop only in the perimeter of the supermarket, staying away from the center aisles which contain the highest processed foods of them all.
My suggestion would be to take a day when you have the time (I know, hahahaha.....) and go to the supermarket with notepad and paper. Start reading labels and writing down your favorite products that have ingredient lists that you can live with. For us it's no HFCS, no added salt, no hydrogenated oils and a couple other odds and ends (like having sugar being lower on the list). You'll be surprised at which labels are better than you'd think. Cento isn't bad on many things and the local store brand of canned goods actually is one of the few that carries no-salt-added canned tomatoes. Once you have taken that time, you won't have to read labels again and can more quickly shop. Overall, I bet the grocery store will be cheaper than ordering it online, too.
Good luck. Being a label reader for the last 14 years has not been easy, but I'm glad that I do..

Welcome to the forum!!! We're glad you're here!
When is your "due date?"
=)
Kk.
.

Thanks everybody for the welcome. The "due date" is hopefully in about two years. Yes, it's a long gestational period. If it could be less than that - super. I'm not holding my breath. Unfortunately the house we bought needs some really big system repairs (oh - say - heat...). While I'd like to open in two years, we have watched enough "This Old House" to realize that renovations often take more time and money than expected.
Can't complain too much - we knew what we were getting into when we bought it as far as renovations go.

 

[EmptyNest]

Hi. I'm new to the forum and we are, I guess what you call "Expectant Innkeepers" - still in the remodeling/renovating stages. I'm enjoying reading the reality of what we are to be expecting. Well... enjoying and possibly thinking I should be running away in abject horror...
My son is a type I diabetic and I am constantly looking for foods without HFCS or added sodium. Breads are the worst - if you want a whole grain bread, they seem to need to add HFCS into it! Not only is adding HFCS cheaper for the company, it's also easier for their machines to measure.
The good news is that I've noticed over the years it is getting easier to find products without the added junk. Most major grocery stores have started carrying "healthfood aisles" and Giant Supermarkets has started marketing their own organic/health food brand (Nature's Best, I think it's called). Their skim milk is the only one I can stomach! Prices are starting to come down, too. The best prices, though, still come from our year-round local farmers' market.
With the Whole Foods (cooking with unprocessed foods - not the food chain, although it is good, too) movement gaining momentum, I'm starting to see more companies make prepackaged food with less processing. Try Amy's (www.amys.com) and Eden's (www.edenfoods.com). They're both carried at my local supermarket. Generally speaking, I shop only in the perimeter of the supermarket, staying away from the center aisles which contain the highest processed foods of them all.
My suggestion would be to take a day when you have the time (I know, hahahaha.....) and go to the supermarket with notepad and paper. Start reading labels and writing down your favorite products that have ingredient lists that you can live with. For us it's no HFCS, no added salt, no hydrogenated oils and a couple other odds and ends (like having sugar being lower on the list). You'll be surprised at which labels are better than you'd think. Cento isn't bad on many things and the local store brand of canned goods actually is one of the few that carries no-salt-added canned tomatoes. Once you have taken that time, you won't have to read labels again and can more quickly shop. Overall, I bet the grocery store will be cheaper than ordering it online, too.
Good luck. Being a label reader for the last 14 years has not been easy, but I'm glad that I do..

Welcome to the forum!!! We're glad you're here!
When is your "due date?"
=)
Kk.
.

Thanks everybody for the welcome. The "due date" is hopefully in about two years. Yes, it's a long gestational period. If it could be less than that - super. I'm not holding my breath. Unfortunately the house we bought needs some really big system repairs (oh - say - heat...). While I'd like to open in two years, we have watched enough "This Old House" to realize that renovations often take more time and money than expected.
Can't complain too much - we knew what we were getting into when we bought it as far as renovations go.
.

Welcome to our new innkeeper message board. We all deserted About.com a few weeks ago, so we are just getting things going here now. Where are you located?? Have you taken an aspiring innkeeper course? We would encourage you to do so. We look forward to chatting with you more.
Best wishes from a newly retired innkeeper.

 

[Wendy]

Hi. I'm new to the forum and we are, I guess what you call "Expectant Innkeepers" - still in the remodeling/renovating stages. I'm enjoying reading the reality of what we are to be expecting. Well... enjoying and possibly thinking I should be running away in abject horror...
My son is a type I diabetic and I am constantly looking for foods without HFCS or added sodium. Breads are the worst - if you want a whole grain bread, they seem to need to add HFCS into it! Not only is adding HFCS cheaper for the company, it's also easier for their machines to measure.
The good news is that I've noticed over the years it is getting easier to find products without the added junk. Most major grocery stores have started carrying "healthfood aisles" and Giant Supermarkets has started marketing their own organic/health food brand (Nature's Best, I think it's called). Their skim milk is the only one I can stomach! Prices are starting to come down, too. The best prices, though, still come from our year-round local farmers' market.
With the Whole Foods (cooking with unprocessed foods - not the food chain, although it is good, too) movement gaining momentum, I'm starting to see more companies make prepackaged food with less processing. Try Amy's (www.amys.com) and Eden's (www.edenfoods.com). They're both carried at my local supermarket. Generally speaking, I shop only in the perimeter of the supermarket, staying away from the center aisles which contain the highest processed foods of them all.
My suggestion would be to take a day when you have the time (I know, hahahaha.....) and go to the supermarket with notepad and paper. Start reading labels and writing down your favorite products that have ingredient lists that you can live with. For us it's no HFCS, no added salt, no hydrogenated oils and a couple other odds and ends (like having sugar being lower on the list). You'll be surprised at which labels are better than you'd think. Cento isn't bad on many things and the local store brand of canned goods actually is one of the few that carries no-salt-added canned tomatoes. Once you have taken that time, you won't have to read labels again and can more quickly shop. Overall, I bet the grocery store will be cheaper than ordering it online, too.
Good luck. Being a label reader for the last 14 years has not been easy, but I'm glad that I do..

Welcome to the forum!!! We're glad you're here!
When is your "due date?"
=)
Kk.
.

Thanks everybody for the welcome. The "due date" is hopefully in about two years. Yes, it's a long gestational period. If it could be less than that - super. I'm not holding my breath. Unfortunately the house we bought needs some really big system repairs (oh - say - heat...). While I'd like to open in two years, we have watched enough "This Old House" to realize that renovations often take more time and money than expected.
Can't complain too much - we knew what we were getting into when we bought it as far as renovations go.
.

Welcome to our new innkeeper message board. We all deserted About.com a few weeks ago, so we are just getting things going here now. Where are you located?? Have you taken an aspiring innkeeper course? We would encourage you to do so. We look forward to chatting with you more.
Best wishes from a newly retired innkeeper.
.

We are in the Brandywine Valley of southeastern Pennsylvania. We are registering for the Aspiring Innkeepers seminar as part of the Mid-Atlantic regional B&B seminar in Jan. '09 (it's in VA). That seems to be the most comprehensive locally.
I have some other possibilities for helping out friends with B&Bs during their heavy weekends.
As other opportunities arise, I will be taking full advantage of them, too.
Right now we are focused on getting the house remodeled to include the proper fire codes, permits and all that. Fortunately, my husband is an absolute whiz at navigating those paths.
Thanks!

 

[muirford]

Hi. I'm new to the forum and we are, I guess what you call "Expectant Innkeepers" - still in the remodeling/renovating stages. I'm enjoying reading the reality of what we are to be expecting. Well... enjoying and possibly thinking I should be running away in abject horror...
My son is a type I diabetic and I am constantly looking for foods without HFCS or added sodium. Breads are the worst - if you want a whole grain bread, they seem to need to add HFCS into it! Not only is adding HFCS cheaper for the company, it's also easier for their machines to measure.
The good news is that I've noticed over the years it is getting easier to find products without the added junk. Most major grocery stores have started carrying "healthfood aisles" and Giant Supermarkets has started marketing their own organic/health food brand (Nature's Best, I think it's called). Their skim milk is the only one I can stomach! Prices are starting to come down, too. The best prices, though, still come from our year-round local farmers' market.
With the Whole Foods (cooking with unprocessed foods - not the food chain, although it is good, too) movement gaining momentum, I'm starting to see more companies make prepackaged food with less processing. Try Amy's (www.amys.com) and Eden's (www.edenfoods.com). They're both carried at my local supermarket. Generally speaking, I shop only in the perimeter of the supermarket, staying away from the center aisles which contain the highest processed foods of them all.
My suggestion would be to take a day when you have the time (I know, hahahaha.....) and go to the supermarket with notepad and paper. Start reading labels and writing down your favorite products that have ingredient lists that you can live with. For us it's no HFCS, no added salt, no hydrogenated oils and a couple other odds and ends (like having sugar being lower on the list). You'll be surprised at which labels are better than you'd think. Cento isn't bad on many things and the local store brand of canned goods actually is one of the few that carries no-salt-added canned tomatoes. Once you have taken that time, you won't have to read labels again and can more quickly shop. Overall, I bet the grocery store will be cheaper than ordering it online, too.
Good luck. Being a label reader for the last 14 years has not been easy, but I'm glad that I do..

Welcome to the forum!!! We're glad you're here!
When is your "due date?"
=)
Kk.
.

Thanks everybody for the welcome. The "due date" is hopefully in about two years. Yes, it's a long gestational period. If it could be less than that - super. I'm not holding my breath. Unfortunately the house we bought needs some really big system repairs (oh - say - heat...). While I'd like to open in two years, we have watched enough "This Old House" to realize that renovations often take more time and money than expected.
Can't complain too much - we knew what we were getting into when we bought it as far as renovations go.
.

Welcome to our new innkeeper message board. We all deserted About.com a few weeks ago, so we are just getting things going here now. Where are you located?? Have you taken an aspiring innkeeper course? We would encourage you to do so. We look forward to chatting with you more.
Best wishes from a newly retired innkeeper.
.

We are in the Brandywine Valley of southeastern Pennsylvania. We are registering for the Aspiring Innkeepers seminar as part of the Mid-Atlantic regional B&B seminar in Jan. '09 (it's in VA). That seems to be the most comprehensive locally.
I have some other possibilities for helping out friends with B&Bs during their heavy weekends.
As other opportunities arise, I will be taking full advantage of them, too.
Right now we are focused on getting the house remodeled to include the proper fire codes, permits and all that. Fortunately, my husband is an absolute whiz at navigating those paths.
Thanks!
.

Hi Wendy - I have bookmarked your blog and check it every few days. You sound like you have your hands full. I'm originally from central PA also and went to Penn State but now live in West Virginia. My DH is a native of Philly - you are in a pretty part of the country. Welcome to the blorum!

 

[EmptyNest]

Hi. I'm new to the forum and we are, I guess what you call "Expectant Innkeepers" - still in the remodeling/renovating stages. I'm enjoying reading the reality of what we are to be expecting. Well... enjoying and possibly thinking I should be running away in abject horror...
My son is a type I diabetic and I am constantly looking for foods without HFCS or added sodium. Breads are the worst - if you want a whole grain bread, they seem to need to add HFCS into it! Not only is adding HFCS cheaper for the company, it's also easier for their machines to measure.
The good news is that I've noticed over the years it is getting easier to find products without the added junk. Most major grocery stores have started carrying "healthfood aisles" and Giant Supermarkets has started marketing their own organic/health food brand (Nature's Best, I think it's called). Their skim milk is the only one I can stomach! Prices are starting to come down, too. The best prices, though, still come from our year-round local farmers' market.
With the Whole Foods (cooking with unprocessed foods - not the food chain, although it is good, too) movement gaining momentum, I'm starting to see more companies make prepackaged food with less processing. Try Amy's (www.amys.com) and Eden's (www.edenfoods.com). They're both carried at my local supermarket. Generally speaking, I shop only in the perimeter of the supermarket, staying away from the center aisles which contain the highest processed foods of them all.
My suggestion would be to take a day when you have the time (I know, hahahaha.....) and go to the supermarket with notepad and paper. Start reading labels and writing down your favorite products that have ingredient lists that you can live with. For us it's no HFCS, no added salt, no hydrogenated oils and a couple other odds and ends (like having sugar being lower on the list). You'll be surprised at which labels are better than you'd think. Cento isn't bad on many things and the local store brand of canned goods actually is one of the few that carries no-salt-added canned tomatoes. Once you have taken that time, you won't have to read labels again and can more quickly shop. Overall, I bet the grocery store will be cheaper than ordering it online, too.
Good luck. Being a label reader for the last 14 years has not been easy, but I'm glad that I do..

Welcome to the forum!!! We're glad you're here!
When is your "due date?"
=)
Kk.
.

Thanks everybody for the welcome. The "due date" is hopefully in about two years. Yes, it's a long gestational period. If it could be less than that - super. I'm not holding my breath. Unfortunately the house we bought needs some really big system repairs (oh - say - heat...). While I'd like to open in two years, we have watched enough "This Old House" to realize that renovations often take more time and money than expected.
Can't complain too much - we knew what we were getting into when we bought it as far as renovations go.
.

Welcome to our new innkeeper message board. We all deserted About.com a few weeks ago, so we are just getting things going here now. Where are you located?? Have you taken an aspiring innkeeper course? We would encourage you to do so. We look forward to chatting with you more.
Best wishes from a newly retired innkeeper.
.

We are in the Brandywine Valley of southeastern Pennsylvania. We are registering for the Aspiring Innkeepers seminar as part of the Mid-Atlantic regional B&B seminar in Jan. '09 (it's in VA). That seems to be the most comprehensive locally.
I have some other possibilities for helping out friends with B&Bs during their heavy weekends.
As other opportunities arise, I will be taking full advantage of them, too.
Right now we are focused on getting the house remodeled to include the proper fire codes, permits and all that. Fortunately, my husband is an absolute whiz at navigating those paths.
Thanks!
.

Great! I was the past pres. of the VA Association and am their webmaster right now. The 09 conference is a great one to attend especially since it will be at the Homestead !!!