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

• Meatless Meals: How to Cook Everything Vegetarian
• A Veggie Resource in the Health and Science Channel
• Meatless Meals: Veggie Books for Kids
• Tofu Recipes for Kids
• You can also get involved by taking the Meatless Meals Poll

So, back to our one meatless meal. Having been a vegetarian for years and years, people always think I’m going to bring the suck dish to the potluck or family event. Here’s one meatless meal I make that everyone LOVES. I’ve never had a meat eater complain about it, not once.

I got it a long time ago from the Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Favorites cookbook. After you taste this you’ll want to own it. It’s a nice recipe because it can easily be adapted for vegans too.

The recipe is Black Bean Chilaquile and I went looking for it at a Moosewood site (so I wouldn’t have to type it) and I didn’t find it there, but I did find it at another blog called Kitchen Window. This blogger already typed out the recipe so I’ll just send you there. Bonus, she has a picture of the finished product.

Notes:

• Like this blogger I also omit the salt – you really don’t need it.
• I only use organic ingredients in mine – you should at least use organic spinach.
• I make mine with homemade organic salsa that’s fairly spicy, but you can use any kind you like.

I swear everyone I know loves this dish. Wait, you know Cedar doesn’t – but he doesn’t love mixed foods, he likes whole foods better, but everyone else loves it.

So, this week omit one meat meal, conserve land and energy, and be a bit more healthy.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family