My husband and I trying to be healthier. It’s been such a process, as I grew up in a home of Little Debbies and white bread…. But now we have a daughter. I’m now making all of our meals from scratch, and incorporating a tons of fruits and veggies.

While trying to keep our budget in mind, how much would you say you spend on being raw and organic? I know that is a personal question, so if you don’t feel comfortable answering, I understand. What would be ballpark figure of how much you spend as a family of three for a week?

Now, two years, two children, and four hospitalizations later, I can tell you that I absolutely cannot afford not to. I turn 30 this year and I want to be moving into an era of radiant health, not devastating decline. At the end of the day, your health and your faith is all you have.

Thanks so much for all your inspiration and support.

anon and heather…I do agree with you in the fact that it’s sometimes hard to be a “locavore” and a raw food enthusiast. It can be done in certain climates around the country. But like I said before, my CHOICE right now is raw foods. I do believe they are the best thing I can put in my body. When it comes to the point where I can no longer get bananas and avocados, then I will re-assess. Choices, choices I’m so glad I still have a choice.

Healthy local oils could also be found in pumpkin and sunflower seeds and even nuts if you have room to plant a nut tree or two.

But like Heather said, I couldn’t subsist on raw stuff year round, nor do I believe from a medical or environmental perspective that that’s the best way to good dietary health. If we are to feed ourselves healthfully in a oil-scarce future, I think we’re going to take advantage of local, easy-to-store roots and gourds, as well as cold-hardy crops which are not all as palatable raw as collards might be.