Barbecue Grill Photo By meganne_sohIt’s the official start of summer this weekend with Memorial Day Holiday at least in the US. The unofficial start of backyard grilling and chilling. I know one of my favorite things to do is grill a nice meal, uncork a great wine, and just sit on my tiny deck and enjoy the weather. We practically live on our 10′ X 10′ deck in the summer. It’s small and the view is not too great (I am so over being in the neighborhood I live in but it is as good as it gets in this suburban development).

If you think staying home and grilling is going to solve all your gas pump woes, think again. Even hanging in the back yard is not immune in this economy. In the CNN article “Brace yourself for barbecue shock”:

Food inflation is the highest in almost two decades, driven by record prices for oil, gas and mounting global demand for staples such as wheat and corn, and for proteins such as chicken. And that’s reaching into Americans’ backyards.

The price of an average barbecue — with burgers, hot dogs, beer, soda, condiments, salad, paper plates and lighter fluid — could run families about 6 percent more than last year.

With that people look for cheaper alternatives…store brands, low end choices, and the myriad of science projects that get passed off as foods in this age of the manufactured nutrient and high fructose corn syrup craze. Personally I don’t see where these measures really save you anything in the long run. I believe in real food grown by local farmers wherever possible. My holiday barbecue will include things like chicken and steak from the local, no hormones, certified humane farm down the road. It’ll also include radical things like plain old unadulterated produce ad fruit. Local and organic as much as possible, within reason and budget.

Want to save money? Eat less! I have to say for myself that portion control is one of the keys to maintaining or losing weight. So, for me I’d rather buy real, healthy, unprocessed food and eat less of it than save a few bucks by super sizing it with the latest and greatest nutritional concoction. Maybe it’s my innate passion for quality or just my recent jolt of angst from having read Michael Pollan’s “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” and just starting his new book “In Defense of Food” …but as I see it the food system is rigt up there on the list with the many things that appear to be broken in our country.

If you think grinning and bearing it through this summer is all you need to do, though, think again. In the CNN article consider these facts:

The consumer price index for food rose 4 percent last year, compared with an average 2.5 percent annual rise for the last 15 years. On Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture raised its forecast for next year by half a percentage point, to a range of 4.5 to 5.5 percent.

Basic economics account for most of the increase: Bad weather has hurt crops, economic prosperity has driven up demand in developing countries, and surging fuel prices have raised transportation costs.

Economists and food scientists have argued that biofuel production is also a major factor in rising food costs, particularly corn, and that it should be scaled back. Meat and poultry executives have come out against federal ethanol mandates, which they say is driving the cost of corn higher.

Carol Tucker-Foreman, food policy expert at Consumer Federation of America, said high-fructose corn syrup can be found in just about anything you’d find at a cookout or picnic.

As you prepare for the kickoff of the summer tea dance, BBQ, and picnic season, take a deep breath and find a way to get creative with your shopping. I always like to keep things in perspective because in the end, nothing is more important than fueling your body well and taking the time to enjoy good times with friends.

Paula Gregorowicz, owner of The Paula G. Company, works with women who are ready to create their lives and businesses the way the want rather than how they were told they “should”. Ready to learn how to achieve success on your own terms? Download the free 12 part eCourse “How to Be Comfortable in Your Own Skin” at her website http://www.thepaulagcompany.com and Coaching4Lesbians blog.