Correct way to access field values? field_view_value after field_get_items?
If you are worried about bloat, just write your own field processor and keep it all on the level. That way you are using safe values, your site won't trip over if the language settings wiggle about and you can reuse your code in your next site.

You would call it wherever you like and because you know what you're expecting to get back, you could work with it immediately.

Something like:

&lt;?php 
/* get the values out of a field */
function magic_field_values($node, $field_name, $delta = null){
  $field_items = field_get_items('node', $node, $field_name);
  /* if a delta value is supplied, render that item otherwise, send the lot
  back. */ 
  if ($delta){
    return field_view_value('node', $node, $field_name, $field_items[$delta]);
  } else
  return $field_items;
}
?&gt;


Then call it with:

&lt;?php 
$cheese_samples = magic_field_values($node, 'field_cheese_samples');
foreach $cheese_samples as $sample {
//do stuff
}
?&gt;