Food, Inc.

Watch it. It's on Netflix, if you've got it.

I've said before that my dad had chickens when we were little, so I always had farm fresh eggs. He grew vegetables. We grew up on fairly decent food, so I do have some awareness of the difference between "clean" foods (my own term for lack of a better one) and industrialized, mass-produced foods. For example, my dad's always had citrus trees. I've grown up on fresh oranges and freshly squeezed orange juice, and I CANNOT drink any commercial OJ with any sort of enjoyment. It's far more bitter than my dad's freshly squeezed (and unsweetened) OJ. He grows lemons, which are far more juicy and easy to zest than commercially produced lemons. Just last weekend, I tried some of his homegrown strawberries, and they were so incredibly sweet. (He's gotten really enthusiastic about growing fruits and veggies again, which I'm excited about--Baby and I can reap the benefits)!

However, we all know that to eat healthfully is far more expensive than the quick and easy solutions on the dollar menu. About a year ago,when we decided that TTC was imminent, Mr. ABC123 and I decided that we were going to go ahead and spend the extra money on organically produced meats and eggs. We can't afford to go all organic, but felt like those two foods had higher incidences of growth hormones and steroids that I did not want to pass on to the baby.

I get that people have budget restrictions, but I definitely recommend watching Food Inc. if you are not convinced there's a difference in food quality, or if you're pregnant. I completely understand that even "organic" foods aren't flawless or harmless, but I feel like it's one small step I can take in being proactive about putting more healthy things in my body, and consequently, my baby's body.

And listen--I like french fries and Cadbury eggs as much as the next girl. I'm far from being a food role model, nor do I especially aspire to be. Cheesecake is yummy. However, I learned some really valuable--and shocking--information.

Shudder.