No food pics today, but I have a goal to share with you folks today.I've discovered I spend way too much money on food at the moment and end up throwing away a lot of stuff.
As much as I like to cook for people, entertain and stuff my co-workettes with cookies, people can only eat until they're full.
And I have a very snobby thing to admit... though I am well aware that there are millions of people out there who don't have enough food and are even on the verge of starving... but I don't appreciate conventional food properly. I guess it's just that throwing out "cheap" food doesn't hurt as much as organic produce.
I used to buy 90% organic for quite some time but somehow lost track of it. So my vegan mofo aim is to return to being more eco-conscious, spend less and waste less.
So my plan is:
a) return to making a meal plan and shopping list - and stick to the shopping list
b) only buy organic OR local
c) buy fair trade, where available
d) buy non-organic/non-local/non-fair only if these options don't offer quality, good-looking produce, cost more than 2x than conventional (trainee here!) or are simply not available (e.g. it's hard to find chocolate chips in Germany at all, no way you'd find organic ones!).
How about you? What products will you only buy in organic (my rule is: everything I'm going to eat raw or grows underground must be organic or I won't touch it) and fairly traded (chocolate/cocoa, coffee, certain exotic fruit) and how much of your overall food purchases?
(and now the first weekend in more than a month with almost no plans and time to cook is beginning!)
7 comments:
You're not snobby at all!! I always buy organic and/or local when the option is available.
Your plan sounds great!!
I think spending less and wasting less is always a good goal. I will buy local from the farmers market tomorrow!
we have that problem in our house, too... probably worse. my parents throw so much food away. they always buy way too much, forget about it, and buy more of it. after a few weeks, we have a few moldy loaves of bread.
and i have to tell you that i'm so sorry you can't get chocolate chips in Germany!!! that's criminal!! haha
I hate wasting food.I refuse to do it now and I found that writing a meal plan for the week is the best thing ever. Even if some days I don't stick to it because, let's be honest, we don't live in a perfect world and sometimes I just don't feel like cooking. I will go to the fridge and see what is in there and then plan a meal from that - instead of going out and buying special ingredients. Also I have taken to cooking up things that need using and then freezing them for a later date. Saves SO much wastage.
I think I've seen chocolate chips at AlNatura, and it could be that they're even organic, but you know...it's a small package and quite expensive...
I've been throwing away too much food too. I buy it and then I'm too tired to actually make dinner.
I agree with your MoFo goal!
Fantastic goals! When I was in Japan (and had more money) about half my fresh fuits and veggies came from the organic store. Sadly, there was a very slim selection. Another half came from the local farmer's market when I had time to shop there. Unfortunatley I sometimes had to buy a few things from the local grocery but I tried to get Japanese or local things whenever I could. I really miss that fresh tofu!
A few times I tried an organic veggie box delivery and I found that it was very economical because I didn't waste much. A few delicious organic vegetables seem very precious.
Here in Canada my first stop is an outdoor farm market with local fruits and vegetables. One thing I would say about list shopping is that usually I just put down "fruits and veg" (other than staples like potatoes and onions), because you get the best value for money and nutrition when you buy what's in season, and whatever looks best to you on that day.
Today I cooked Thankgiving dinner for my family, but I started the day by wandering through the market and picking the freshest squash, pumpkins and apples. So nice the feeling of picking out and then cooking beautiful food on the same day. :)
I buy everything I can organic. If I can buy local, I do.
right now I'm focusing on reducing packaging. I have done this for a long time, but I'm trying to up my game.
a list definitely helps me waste a lot less. without it I just randomly get stuff and then it goes bad.
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