Simple Groceries

Simplifying (read: lowering) our grocery bill is a difficult thing to do!

Of course, if we completely cut out all the processed foods we buy, the bills would be less. Some of the worst culprits?… cold cereal, chips and crackers of all sorts, and condiments (like salsa, hummus, mayo, etc.). So, if we’re going to eat some processed foods, we try to choose the ones with the simplest list of ingredients. A good rule of thumb: if I don’t know what it is, should I eat it?

A great recent example of this: We had been buying Smart Balance Mayonnaise. Admittedly, we bought it because the label said it was good for us… not because we had researched the product and actually found it to be good for us. A certain medical student we know suggested we try Vegenaise® instead, and to compare the list of ingredients…

Vegenaise®: oil, apple cider vinegar, brown rice syrup, soy protein, salt, lemon juice, and mustard

Smart Balance Omega Plus Light Mayonnaise: Water, Vegetable(s) Oil Blend (Canola Oil, Flax Seed Oil, Soy Oil, Olive Oil), Vinegar, Egg(s), Corn Starch Modified, Sugar, Contains less than 22% of Plant Sterols Natural, Salt, Lemon(s) Juice, Flavor(s) Natural, Xanthan Gum (Potassium Sorbate, Calcium Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, TBHQ To Preserve Freshness), Beta Carotene, Oleoresin Paprika color(s), Vitamin E (Dl-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate)

Hmm… Now admittedly, I do recognize a number of the ingredients in the Smart Balance Mayo, but I’m not jazzed about the Xanthan Gum or Oleoresin Paprika color(s)… and is it just me, or should the makers of products know whether or not they have multiple vegetable(s), egg(s), lemon(s), “Flavor(s)”, or color(s)?

Winner: Vegenaise!
By the way, it really does taste just as good, or better than any plain ole’ mayo I’ve had in my life. And, it’s good for you! You’ll probably find it in the healthy foods section of the store, refrigerated (ours is next to the free-range eggs).