A year ago, a large head of romaine was $1.99 at Sprouts and could easily feed three—now, it’s $2.99 for a head that barely makes a salad for one, so you have to buy two, which still isn’t enough for three.
Halo’s, those cute little oranges that are great healthy snack, now taste like chemicals. I just returned a five pound bag to Walmart because they were literally inedible. The customer service lady was nonplussed. At least I got my $8 back.Want some cashews? They’re $8.99 a pound. Pistachio’s? $9.99 lb. Chopped pecans? $8.98 for a one pound bag. Nuts have always been expensive—but this is ridiculous.
If, like me, you’re staying away from processed crappy chocolate bars and thinking you’re making the healthier choice by choosing dark chocolate treat—think again, it may be laden with lead and cadmium.
Do you like honey as a natural sweetener? Well, the USDA is now feeding honeybees a waxseen to combat an aggressive bacteria called foulbrood. I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about—nothing to see here, move along.
Don’t even get me started on what they’re doing to the meat industry—there’s a reason I’m a devoted plant based eater and even that has been given a heavy coat of pesticides. Homegrown has suddenly become the trend, with many starting gardens and buying chickens only to find the crops won’t yield and the hens won’t lay eggs. Perhaps it’s something in the air, or the water, or the seeds and feed? Tin foil is in Vogue now in case you didn’t know.
All this to say that in the last year, I have learned so much and have been very selective about what goes in my body, and thus, have become diligent about reading labels. If there are things you can’t pronounce it goes without saying—put it back. A new ingredient I learned this year was cochineal. Cochineal is bugs. Bugs. It’s in everything from ice cream to eye shadow. IYKYK
Prices are up, quality is down. Wages are stagnant. Collapse. Reset. It’s nothing new under the sun, and yet, it is. Maybe for the last time.
What a time to be alive. What a time to be wide awake. Life has more meaning, moments are far to precious to waste. Look up at the stars on a cold, clear night and ponder your place in the vastness of the infinite. All of the Universe is in you, looking at itself through your eyes, and when you stand in that realization—nothing else matters. We are loved beyond comprehension.
All we have is now. Be well.
