Thursday, March 21, 2013

#6IngredientChallenge: Final thoughts and reflections


This has been the Six Ingredient Challenge hosted by Hobo Mama and Anktangle!

We've been on a six-week path to eat more whole foods, guided by one simple rule: Buy foods with six ingredients or fewer. And we've been blogging about our journey on the way.

This week we're answering the question: What are your final thoughts and reflections as we wrap up this challenge? Do you have any new-found wisdom to share?

You can see all the responses to this question today at this link-up post at Hobo Mama and Anktangle. If you're a blogger who's published a response, please post the URL in the linky below so we can visit to read. If you don't have a blog or haven't published a response, feel free to provide your answer in the comments on this post on either Hobo Mama or Anktangle.

Thank you for following along for the Six Ingredient Challenge! This is our final post, and we've had such an enjoyable time journeying with you all along the way.

To read all the posts and recipes in the Six Ingredient Challenge, visit the main page or see below for a list of reading resources!


My answer:

I'm really glad we hosted the Six Ingredient Challenge and brought it out to a wider world than just the confines of my kitchen. It's been so interesting to hear about your own struggles and triumphs as you craft your own journey toward eating more whole foods.

Here are a couple final thoughts Sam and I had this week as we contemplated the challenge:

  • Sam and I were watching a TV show when an ad came on for a frozen dinner brand, and at the end it flashed the Nestlé logo. Sam remarked that it used to be hard to keep to our Nestlé boycott (for those unaware, Nestlé practices deceptive and harmful business tactics worldwide that target breastfeeding mothers); their reach into so many segments of the market for processed food makes it hard to avoid using products from their brand, unless you scour the fine print on the back of every box and can. But now that we eat barely any processed and packaged food — and most of it local and natural — it's rare that we'd have anything in the house remotely touched by a company like Nestlé. Random bonus, but a nice one!

  • On the same wavelength but on the flip side, I've been thinking about how much our new style of food purchasing supports the merchants and small and local businesses I've been wanting to promote. It used to be that we had occasional purchases of something organic or local or mom-and-pop, and I'd feel good about voting with a few dollars of my grocery money here and there, but I wasn't fully committed. Now that so much of the big-name brands are off our list, all that's left is the little guys, and I love it! Granted, it costs a bunch more, but I feel so much more connected to the family farms, co-ops, and small businesses we're supporting with our purchases.

I can't wait to hear your thoughts as Amy and I wrap up this Six Ingredient Challenge! I hope you had fun and stretched yourselves a bit. Here's to continued steps along the path to better eating!

I'll repost all the articles in the six-week challenge here if you want a refresher. There are a lot of helpful resources, so, even though the group challenge is over, enjoy the articles and pass on the message!

Writing and Reflection Prompts:

  • Why have you decided to participate in the Six Ingredient Challenge? (asked 1/31; linkup 2/7)
  • How's it going for you so far? (asked 2/7; linkup 2/14)
  • What new foods or recipes have you tried or discovered? (asked 2/14; linkup 2/21)
  • What has been the easiest part of this challenge for you so far? The most difficult part? (asked 2/21; linkup 2/28)
  • How's your budget? What money-saving strategies have you been employing? (asked 2/28; linkup 3/7)
  • What are you learning about your body through this challenge? Your family's rhythms and routines? Your feelings about food? (asked 3/7; linkup 3/14)
  • What are your final thoughts and reflections as we wrap up this challenge? Do you have any newfound wisdom to share? (asked 3/14;
    linkup 3/21)

Recipes for simple homemade versions of (often highly processed) store-bought foods:




Link up your answers to prompt #7!

What are your final thoughts and reflections as we wrap up this challenge? Do you have any newfound wisdom to share?





This linky list is now closed.

1 comments:

EarthMamasWorld said...

I feel better about shopping locally as well. I was super bummed when my favorite health food store closed down, I am trying to find another good fit. I am so happy that we joined you on this challenge :)

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