I’m lucky in that I can find ketchups and other condiments that are made with very few ingredients, generally organic. The ones I can’t find, I make myself. I have to be gluten-free, so in many cases it’s easier and safer to do so…I make my own Worcestershire sauce! It can be done!

That’s why I have realized that I had to wean myself off many ready-made convenience foods, which typically are not made the same way or with the same ingredients I would use at home. I haven’t achieved 100% independence nor am I likely to, but I’m trying to get closer to that goal.

In discussions, I’ve realized that people don’t even realize how dependent on convenience foods they really are. For example, a “homemade” or “from scratch” dinner these days is likely to include things like store-cooked rotisserie chicken (injected with stuff), tortillas (I’ve never known even breadbakers to make these from scratch), salad dressing (so cheap and easy to make at home), flavored yogurt, pre-marinated meats, spaghetti sauce, even pasta. The idea that one would make their own catsup, mustard, or bbq sauce is akin to saying that we should go back to getting around with a horse and buggy.

Once even a few of these items has been truly made from scratch, it is hard to pick up the commercially-made item without thinking, “should/could I make this better myself?”.

And yes, I have made mustard. Catsup is next.

Just a thought. Keep ranting. It helps me stay sane to know I’m not the only one :-).