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I've actually read studies that suggest people who use coupons spend MORE on groceries. It's easy to see why.

Why coupons suck:

1.I see a coupon for something I use, like oatmeal or Swiffer wet dusters, get to the store and see the generic product is cheaper, even if I buy the brand name with a coupon.

2. They encourage stockpiling--making you buy 2 when you only need 1.

3. You buy the item because it is on sale this week with a coupon, don't really need/want it, and for a few cents more you could have gotten something that made you happy--or saved the money and not 'stocked up' and cluttered you fridge with food you don't want.

4. They're ridiculously specific--you get to the check out and find out only a slightly different but unavailable version of the food is on sale, like in a different flavor, etc.

And yes....

5. They encourage you to buy processed, packaged food--in mass quantites, no less.

To be honest, my best saving strategy with food, clothing, with anything, is to ask myself: do I really WANT this, and remind myself of bad purchases I've made in the past, ask myself if this is a need or just a repeat of mistakes gone bad...

^yeah, I didn't mean it as a slight to your thread at all--but just that for a lot of people, going out to eat is the best option, unless you can really make an environment that is low-stress for mom and truly special, like a family get-to-gether, rather than having her stress out watching her family ruin all of her cooking supplies for the one meal they cook all year, or making her something elaborate that they like but she doesn't.

I know some Italian people my age who swear they NEVER saw mom or grandma sit down to eat any of the elaborate family meals they made at home!

That would be awesome. I'm a carb whore! I'd love to see challenges like feeding a roomfull of schoolchildren chocolate chip cookies, mimicing Girl Scout cookies or snack cookies in a gourmet fashion, making strudel and puff pastry, and really decadent things, or even a low fat/low sugar challenge for their chemistry skills. And having really judgemental and insane French pastry chefs come in.

This article made me feel so much better about the fact I shop for what I want every day, rather than have a zillion boxes from CostCo. I always feel like a 'bad woman' or a 'non foodie' becauseI can't feed the multitudes, but my rationale is that I can shop beforehand, and feed them fresh stuff!

I do, however, keep a chocolate stash (guilty lurking look). And for once I'm in the 90%

The Swiss eat even MORE chocolate than we do, I've heard.

Sieseye, it's funny you mention that ^^^ After my mother divorced my father, her eating became much healthier, since she didn't have to meet his demands to always produce a big dinner--he was very particular (no leftovers) and although was proud of the fact he never ate dessert, had many food peculiarities, like not eating all day and then devouring spaghetti with a half a can of Parmesan cheese, an entire wheel of Provelone, and being very particular in general about his food but in a high-caloric way.

I think sometimes instead of looking to the past (Michael Pollan aside) it's better to make new traditions if the old ones aren't working for you.

yes, fried chicken(La Jolla had fried chicken for lunch for about two months before we decided it was just too embarassing).

What could possibly be embarassing about fried chicken?

Karen,

Hope I didn't offend. Certainly not my intention. He was the first Libra I'd knowingly had much interaction with and I looked up his sign because he seemed so different. Balance seemed like a great thing to me but I had a different idea of it which I'd say is often how we have so many misunderstandings with people... though this guy seems to be special but not so much in a nice way and I'd say it has little to do with what time of year he was born (nor do I think he gives much thought to balance). The good thing (and I always try to find it) is I've change where I go and what I do (restaurants and stores also because he took those too) and I've found great new things I wouldn't have otherwise in my previous comfort zone.

I do know about vegangelicals too. I've encountered them myself and they are unpleasant (as is any extremism). However, I've also been attacked by non-vegetarians just for not eating meat. Accosted with the excuse being the vegangelicals; that they exist means all vegetarians should be harassed (to some people). In comparision the meat-eaters have been more vicious, tenacious and numerous but they aren't marginalized so people not only don't seem to notice when they are being mean, they join in. So, I usually tell the extreme veggies to back off and that they are doing more harm than good but I feel a little forgiving because they do feel intensely about their cause, just unable to understand how polarizing they are. But, it is exasperating to be attacked and be put under a microscope for my every action and lifestyle choice (what I feed my pets and what shoes I wear get examined for instance) because any "unpure" action by me is an ah-ha moment that releases them to not just continue what they were anyway (only now with permission vicariously via me) but also to attack me for the way I live and the choices I make even though it seems to be their own insecurity and issues and because they were nosey and poking around my plate. Sounds personal but it happens to a lot of vegetarians/vegans. It was something I had noticed before switching myself and while never joining in never paid much attention let alone stood up to it. However, it's fresh on my mind this week between the Slate article (found thanks to SE) and some related classes I took this weekend. While there are a lot of issues beyond animal treatment what I'm most intrigued in is how and why people do what they do. Motivations.

It also surprises me how much we do when we don't know the whole story (or sometimes even more than a fraction). I used to look on in admiration to those who said we don't regret what we do as much as what we don't do. But, I think what I regret most is what I've done without knowing why.

I'd rather spend time with Gordon Ramsey than most people as despite being a bit confrontational he's quite together -- just wouldn't let him cook for me. :)

As far as different... I do understand. I felt that way too when I considered going veggie even though I was unhappy not being one. I'm finally discovering Indian food in all it's glory. It's so amazing but felt so strange for so long. I realize now it's because I so dislike cilantro but now I know I don't have to put it in when I prepare it. My regret is not doing this sooner. Another tradition busted. :)

Thanks, I've enjoyed the conversation and exploration.

yes and no.
"soul food" is a blanket term--to different people it means different things.
a lot of the time, it refers to a sort of "home cooked" style found in a lot of Southern USA regional dishes.
another way of saying it might be to say that a lot of southern food is comfort food, but they are not the same thing at all.
It's also interesting to note that a wide variety of "Southern" food styles exist outside of the cliche "fried chicken and greens" type dishes a lot of people associate with the South. I've had the honor to work at both La Jolla and Garrett's, two Montgomery, Ala. restaurants specializing in "new" southern food--gourmet interpretations of all kinds of stuff, from fish to pasta to...yes, fried chicken(La Jolla had fried chicken for lunch for about two months before we decided it was just too embarassing).

Taste one and see. If its nasty then throw them out.

I thought about this thread as I was eating a pretty average buffet lunch with my mom and wishing there was some place a little nicer we could have gone. When you're 100 miles from anywhere, Applebees sounds pretty fancy. The cafe was where Mom wanted to go and that's what counts. I drove up (about 80 miles) to go to church with her and spend the day. As I said, lunch was so-so, but the day was beautiful and it was nice to have time for just the 2 of us. Mom's 87 and pretty amazing. She just bought her first pair of blue jeans as well as a 42" flat screen HDTV. One of the best things for me was channel surfing and coming across a replay of the KU-Memphis game. Watching the end of that game on the big screen was great!