Due to the nature of John’s job (synthetic organic chemist who makes pharmaceutical drugs) and our little farming venture, we often confuse people.

Those who know of John’s work first are shocked to find that we also pasture raise chickens.

Those who know we sell free-range eggs are sometimes slightly horrified to find out John is involved in the pharmaceutical industry.

Somehow this all has a tendency to spill over in the assumptions of the food we eat. Of course being assumptions, they are almost always wrong and mildly irritating.

Tonight I’d like to set the record straight:

We eat…

… almost exclusively meat that has been raised by us or shot by us,

-except when we eat at McDonald’s.

….a large amount of seasonal food,

-except when I just really need a bunch of grapes.

…local food

-except when we eat 30 lbs of clementines from Spain.

…Diet Coke, lots of Diet Coke,

-and water.

…no dairy products (especially if your name is Clara),

-except when we do (unless you’re Clara).

…Tostidos Salsa con queso  (when Clara is asleep),

-and homemade salsa.

…no prepackaged food,

-except corn dogs.

…98% of our meals after making them from scratch,

-except when we get Chinese food.

…no yeast,

-except when everyone but me eats a bag of pretzels.

…healthy,

-except when we don’t.

So – now you know.

It used to concern me, this crazy dichotomy of food, (Were we turning into crazy hippies? Were we poisoning and malnourishing our kids when we fed them a hot dog?) but now I’m good with it. We eat at McDonalds and when I’m at the big supermarkets I make my food choices the best I can for my family, our budget and our beliefs. Sometimes I get funny looks when people find out I choose my butter on the basis of where it was made and I don’t come close to having the approval of the hard core, local, organic folks, but it works for us.

I’m going to continue raising my pastured chickens and as I admire them running around living the good life in the sunshine, I’ll take a swig of my Diet Coke and all will be right in my world.

Then someone will ask me if I saw on T.V. how Diet Coke would kill you.

And I’ll tell them no I don’t have a T.V.

And the assumptions will start all over again….