Paleo Diet Day Two - That's... a lot of empty cupboard space...
Had what I’ve decided to call “green eggs” for breakfast today - basically just scrambled eggs and spinach. Yum. Remembered the salt & pepper this time!
After breakfast I went down to Central Market to get all the ingredients to make Hungarian Beef Goulash because it sounds delish. I got organic, grass fed beef & bacon as well as a marrow bone to try my hand at beef bone stock (I just need to run to walmart ((ugh)) after work to pick up some jars to store it in…). I was able to get most of my veggies organic, and any I couldn’t find organic I got local. I picked up some broccoli, cauliflower, onions, sweet potatoes, red bell peppers, tomatoes, garlic & an avocado, as well as some cherries to try (never had fresh cherries before, here goes!). The only thing I wasn’t able to find was grass-fed butter and coconut oil. I ended up just getting some local butter, and a guy by the spice stand where I asked about the coconut oil told me to check out a vietnamese grocery nearby. So we’ll see how that goes.
When I got home from the market, I put a box together and went about removing everything from my cupboards that wasn’t Paleo-approved. The only non-paleo things I left in there are my baking supplies, as I do love to bake and someday I’ll see how I can re-incorporate that stuff into my life. There were a few things I wasn’t sure about, so I figured I’d keep them, but not eat them for the first 30 days.
I was able to set up a meeting with the Paleo nutritionist here in Lancaster on Monday. I’m excited to see what she has to say and what she can help me with. After I talk with her, I’m going to let my roommate go through the box of stuff I don’t want to eat, and then I’m taking the rest in to work with a big FREE sign on it in the break room. The way I see it, it’ll make it a whole lot harder to go back to the way I was eating before if I have to buy everything all over again.
This is scary stuff, I’m not gonna lie. I felt great at the market and coming home with all my awesome paleo foods. But after I got the cupboard sorted through, it was a really eye-opening thing. Literally all I have left are my spices, hot sauce, olive oil and canned chicken. That’s it. I had a full cupboard, and now it’s empty.
But that’s why it’s called Doing the Impossible.
Has living in Qatar become too expensive?
In a baffling move, the government has decided to restrict the sale of fruits and vegetables in Central Market to traders on a wholesale basis.
The ban on sales to individuals and families will come into effect May 1, spurring fears about skyrocketing produce prices.
The news comes on the heels of raised Karwa rates and a new law that will lead to the increase of fish prices.
The Peninsula reports:
Prices are expected to shoot up since the retail trade will become a privilege of the neighbourhood groceries, supermarkets and other licenced outlets scattered all over the country. Prices in such shops are already very high compared to that in the central market…
The central market had been attracting large number of nationals and expatriates on a daily basis, mainly families, who were lured by the low prices and the variety of products….
“Two-thirds of our customers are individuals and families and shops come only after that. We are going to lose a major part of our business,” lamented a wholesaler who also runs a retail section in the market.
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Environment announced a new law stipulating that fishing boats can sail only if the owner is on board, prompting boat owners to warn a 150%-200% rise in fish prices.
And just this week, Karwa upset riders by suddenly raising its minimum fare to ride a taxi from QR4 to QR10, and its airport minimum from QR18 to QR25.
Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates Qatar’s per capita income to soar to a whopping $109,900 by year-end, up from $76,160 in 2010.
The Peninsula points out:
The expert lauded Qatar and said high per capita income would mean more liquidity in the country, more inflow of foreign investment and the purchasing power of its people going up.
He, however, did not say that high liquidity and increasing purchasing power of the people would also mount inflationary pressures whose adverse impact is mostly felt by low and middle-income people.
Regardless, most people who live here do not make that kind of cash every year. What do you guys think? Is Qatar getting too expensive to live in?
Food.
Proximity is a big factor. If you live near enough to the grocery store you can make do with frequent trips and 2 bags. If you don’t live near enough that trips to the store become a pain you need to consider a trailer. They hold a lot more than baskets and are far easier to maneuver than a bike laden with goods. I did do 60lbs once with a basket but I remember that the bike frame seemed to be shaking. Oh yeah basket collapses are shake-your-fists to the sky horrible. Another reason to get a trailer. In order to minimize travel I buy most of my food in bulk at HEB Central Market. Top buys include: Dr. Bonnets soap, bulk wild rice, bulk dehydrated refried beans ( & many more vegetarian dehydrated mixes), cranberries, nuts, coffee, granola, fruit and veg … Price is really matched or better with similar quantity items in other supermarkets so I ain’t complaining!
The right time and route is necessary in order to avoid traffic. Traffic is probably the most stressful aspect of the shopping by bike experience. You really want to have a good idea of how to get around and where the traffic is when.
