Food trends come and go. For many years, I’ve seen them stir up a frenzy in people that they just have to have it or have the appliance to make them. It causes so much stress and extra work for you. It’s not helping you become more organised. It’s only hindering your progress and probably costing you a lot of money.

My earliest memories of food trends was the early 1970s. Up until then, all you’d find in my parent’s refrigerator and pantry was simple ingredients (and a lot of European ingredients because of my Latvian father and German mother).

Food was cooked simply and presented in the most simple way. No fuss and, most often, tasty home cooked meals.

That was until the diet craze hit. I can remember seeing cans of TAB in the fridge and wondered what the heck it was. Mum got caught up in the trend but it soon passed. She didn’t lose weight (not that she needed to in my opinion) and it was just an unnecessary expense as far as my Mum was concerned.

Look at what’s happened as a result of the diet craze. The western world has never been so heavy in the history of the world. Back when I was growing up in the 60’s and 70’s we never knew of anything but home cooked meals, home baking and no takeaways. Everything was cooked from scratch from simple ingredients.

So, why shouldn’t you follow food trends? Here’s why.

Cost

The first reason why you shouldn’t get caught up in new food trends, if you want a more organised, prosperous life, is because of cost.

There is nearly always a high price attached to these new food trends. Whether it’s a cronut, a churros or any other sweet pastry. There’s usually a high price attached to anything new. I could think of a million better ways to spend my time rather than queuing for a cronut. Yes, people actually do that!

Why do people do it? Is it just for the social media photo opportunity, to say they’ve been there or their lives will never be the same unless they try a cronut? I have no desire to queue in line for any food and I won’t be starting soon. Give me a beautifully made, authentic French croissant from my local French bakery and I’m happy. Pure indulgence.

The time factor

No one has any time anymore. I have all the time in the world and you know why? Because I don’t follow food trends (among other things). I’m too busy running my own race, doing my own thing, eating the foods I love to eat. Eating a cronut isn’t going to make my life any better or any worse. Saving money and time not worrying about is in my and my family’s best interests.

When you spend all your time worrying about the fear of missing out, you forget what really makes you happy. Are you making yourself happy by what other people do when you don’t have the time nor the money to indulge? Couldn’t you rather forget about what else everyone else is doing, find what you love to eat and just eat that? That’s what I do. There is real joy in finding your own favourite foods and preparing them easily and quickly.

Let’s also not forget about the new appliance you’ll need to make and prepare these things. People went mad recently by something they saw on social media about making doughnuts in an electric pie maker. Pie makers have been around for absolute ages. If you didn’t need one before, why do you need it now? Just because other people have it? Do you have the room to store it? Are you going to be utilising it all the time? Can you justify the cost? Ask yourselves these things before you jump on the bandwagon.

There is a perfectly good alternative

Using the cronut example above, have you thought about finding a recipe and trying to make one? What about just a doughnut or a croissant?

Same as the pie maker for making doughnuts. You can make doughnuts in the oven in a cupcake pan. There are many ways to make a doughnut. You don’t need the appliance to make a doughnut.

And think about the health factor. Doughnuts aren’t the most healthiest of things to eat. I would rather spend $3 for a dozen doughnuts from my supermarket if ever I felt like a doughnut (even though I have a pie maker, for making pies funnily enough). I just don’t go to the bother because I know I want to spend my time (and money) on more useful things like experiences and keeping on track with the regular household budget.

How ‘super’ are super foods?

I saw a television program recently about super foods. South Americans have been eating quinoa, açaí berries and chia seeds for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. They grown natively in regions of South America but all of a sudden someone heard about how wonderful they are for your health so started packaging them and selling them in the supermarket for ridiculously high prices.

Sure I love an Açaí Bowl if I’m ever treating myself to breakfast or lunch out. I might pay $12 for the pleasure and be done with it. It’s not like I’m going to go and spend $17 for a packet of açaí powder from the supermarket and have these all the time. It’s a lot of preparation let alone storing it and making sure you use it up so you don’t waste your money.

The best super foods are natural, fresh and seasonal fruit and vegetables, wholegrains, lean meats and healthy dairy products and fats. Preparing them in the most simple form is all you need to boost your super powers.

Anything labelled with super food is going to cost a fortune so stick to the basics and save your money.

If you’re really serious about living a more organised life, you really have to stop following trends, especially food trends, and starting living a more simple life. You’ll not only save time, to do more important things that you’d rather be doing, but you’ll save a ton of money to do those things.

Think about your hobbies. Think about what foods your family loves to eat and prepare them in the most simple way you can. You’ll have all the time on your hands to be as organised as you want.