Learn to do it yourself: Growing a garden is one way you can learn something that results in healthy sustainable food. Learning to cook whole foods from scratch is another. You can learn to make foods organically that cost a lot more to purchase. From organic yogurt to whole grain breads to sauces to soups and more. Almost everything you buy premade can be made by scratch, but cheaper, especially if you’re going organic. I like the Moosewood cookbooks, but there’s a whole world of other cool cookbooks at your library, including vegetarian and vegan. Plus, you can look online and find a good healthy recipe for almost anything nowadays.

Purchase in bulk: Bulk food is less expensive (in most cases), usually offers organic and natural choices, and comes packaging free so it’s ultra smart and eco-friendly. The bulk food issue that most folks seem nervous about is storage and bugs. If that’s you read bulk food storage. Also, keep bulk packaging free by skipping the plastic baggies and taking one of these cool reusable bulk bags above to the market.

Eat with the season: In season organics are far cheaper than exotic out of season organics. Find what’s fresh and local right now in your community.

Plan for awesome leftovers: Food waste is a big issue in this country, and it’s not very sustainable. Even if you compost the leftovers, foods still take energy and emission and other resources to get to your table, so why waste them? Also, of course this is a huge waste of cash. Plan meals that do double time – like chicken breasts that later can be used in tacos. Learn more ways to minimize food waste.

How are you eating sustainably while saving money?

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

First things first though; why even mention bulk foods?:

This month we’re talking about reusable bags for grocery and other type store trips. You can save resources by going with reusable bags, but your main bags are only part of the issue. Tons of other food items come in bags, jars, plastic bottles, boxes, and other packaging, some of it not real easy to recycle. Buying from bulk food bins can save you money and save resources by eliminating packaging.

If bulk foods freak you out; get over it. Bulk foods are just the same as prepackaged foods, just not packaged. In fact, many organic options are available in bulk for far less than packaged organics, so bulk can also be less expensive and healthier because organic is void of icky stuff.

Some foods we buy in packaging that can be easily found in the bulk food bins include…

• Raisins
• Popcorn
• All types of flour
• Dried spices and herbs
• Baking extras like baking soda and cream of tarter
• Dry cereal
• Crackers
• Candy
• Chocolate chips
• Dried fruit
• Soup mixes
• Sauce and dip mixes
• Dried garlic
• Pancake mix
• Cake mixes
• Hot cocoa mix
• Granola
• Fruit snacks
• Dry pasta
• Dry milk
• Beans
• Rice
• Nuts

And much more. Many stores also have non-dry food items in bulk like peanut butter and honey. Most natural food stores and co-ops also have non-food items like hand soap, shampoo, and bubble bath in bulk (A good deal, but today we’re talking food, so that was just a heads up).

If you went into your kitchen right now, and added up all the foods you’ve recently bought packaged, that you could have bought in bulk, well, that’s a load of packaging. It makes sense to buy in bulk. Not all stores carry bulk. You’ll have better luck finding a decent bulk section at a co-op, natural food store, warehouse-type grocer, or a mainstream grocery store with a natural food section.

Next up: I’ll post about bulk food storage options – besides the little plastic bags offered at the store, and also what to do about the baggie twist ties – (they’re not recyclable).

If you’re brand new to bulk food items also read: Bulk Food Storage: Flour and Other Dry Basics

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in June 2008

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Post from: Tree Hugging Family