4 Benefits to Eating Seasonally

We live in a time where seasonality isn’t really a thing. Produce and goods are shipped around the globe and we can find strawberries & summer squash in the grocery in the middle of winter, pears and winter squash in the middle of summer.

While it IS really easy to get what we want, when we want it, have you ever thought about the price tag that comes along with it? Not just our wallet, but to the environment, our local economy, and our health??

I’m the first to admit I’m not perfect at shopping and buying seasonally, BUT little shifts make a big impact.

Our eating and shopping habits are not just important for our health, but for our local economies, the environment, and the future of our food system. We cast a vote each and every time we buy.

How and where we choose to spend our money is really important, and every dollar we spend creates a much greater impact than we realize. Ready to simplify the perks of shopping/eating locally?!

Because locally grown food has a shorter travel from the time its harvested to your plate, it’s better for…

your wallet

When eating in season, there is typically an abundance, so you save the moo-lah. It’s supply & demand yo.

that beautiful body of yours

Foods eaten in season are more flavorful and packed with more nutrients. Have you ever eaten a spring strawberry that literally takes like a skittle? Yesssss.

the environment

Because eating seasonally usually means you’re eating closer to home, produce spends a shorter time in transport. Shorter transport = fewer gas emissions = better for our mother earth.

local economies

Nearly half (45%) of money spent within local markets will remain there. Compare this with a meager 13% of money spent in chain retailers, and it becomes evident that even the most modest change in spending habits can produce considerable economic impact. Eating seasonally can be hard off season, especially in these cold winter months. It takes a little bit of creativity, flexibility, and a willingness to try new things.

Not sure where or how to start? Try shopping your local farmers market. It is an amazing way to shop seasonally by default! Check out localharvest.org to find markets in your area just by typing in your zip code.

If you are looking for seasonal cooking inspiration, The Veg Out Recipe Series takes the guesswork out by featuring seasonal recipes. All you have to do is login and print about the weekly grocery list!

What other ways do you make eating seasonally easy??

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Connect with me (seriously!) any time, HERE.

Part 4: Grocery Shopping Simplified

Effective Grocery Shopping

You are well on your way to being super organized and saving some serious cash on your next grocery trip!  Today, we’ll talk ways to making this trip quick, and kind to the wallet.  

1. Set up your shopping list the way that your grocery is set up.  Envision the space, and start your list where you will enter.  The majority of the time, this is the produce section. So, first on the list; produce.  Last on my list is typically dairy, as that is what is at the opposite end of the store.  And everything else falls between!

2. STICK TO THE LIST.  I mean it.  Don’t be tempted by sales, or talk yourself into buying something that “just looks so good.”  If you effectively planned for this trip (which you did), you already know what’s on sale, and probably have it on your list anyway.          

3. If you have kids, be prepared with snacks.  LOTS of snacks.  It’s hard to buzz around a store with a cranky child.  A whole apple is always a good choice for us--provides 15-20 minutes of solid, sticky entertainment.  

4. Consider a smaller store.  The bigger the store, the more choices, and let’s face it, the more madness.  Choose a smaller grocery in your area to make your time spent there most effective.  

5. Opt for fresh foods.  Doing this forces you to remain on the PERIMETER of the store.  While there are certainly exceptions, most of what is found in the aisles is overly processed, overpriced and not-so-good for you anyway.  Avoiding the aisles as much as possible leads to a quick and effective shopping trip!

6. Stay away from the self checkout line.  You don’t know the PLUs, you will probably scan something incorrectly, and I guarantee you something will go wrong that that damn scale.  Then, you will need to wait 3 minutes for someone to come over and scan their card to turn off your blinking red light.  Meanwhile, the person who entered the “long” line next to you is already on their way out.  Let the cashier do the work for you.  Bonus?  They will more than likely do the bagging for you, to.

What are your tips for survival? 

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Looking for parts 1-3 of the meal planning series?  Get in touch!  Contact me directly HERE.  

Meal Planning 101: Part I

How much was your grocery bill each week?  I shoot to keep our weekly grocery bill to around $130, and at least 50% of what we buy is certified organic.  Though sometimes a little bit over, and sometimes a little bit under, I am always within $20 of that budget.  

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STEP #1: GETTING IN TUNE WITH YOUR KITCHEN

So, here’s the deal guys.  If you don’t know what is lurking in the back of your freezer, pantry, or (eeek!) fridge, you’ve got to get your organizing on.   I {almost} always know what we have on hand, what is about to see its last day, what needs to be rotated into the freezer and what we need to buy more of.  This saves us time cooking/shopping, saves money, and eliminates waste.  It is an easy thing to do once you get in the habit of it, but where do you start?!  

ONE:  Clean house.  Take everything out, purge if necessary, and reorganize.  Literally.  Start with your freezer.  Take everything out.  If you find yourself saying “what’s that,” “ew,” “I can’t believe this was back there,” or “2013?!” THROW IT AWAY.  It is taking up valuable space for things that you are actually going to eat.  Repeat this task with your pantry and your fridge.     

TWO:  Take inventory.  As you are cleaning house, take note of what you have on hand through this process:  Pasta?  Quinoa?  Frozen chicken cutlets?  Frozen broccoli?  Carrots?  Kale?  Coconut milk?  Canned tomatoes? If you aren’t good at taking mental notes, WRITE IT DOWN!  This is an essential piece to effectively planning meals.  

Ahhhhhhh.  Don’t you feel better?!

THREE:    Now that you are organized, you are ready to conquer!  The next step is Identifying your kitchen staples.  These will vary from household to household, but it is important to know what need to have on hand in order to create and cook stellar meals.  My list includes ingredients that serve as the backbone for the majority of our meals. Take a minute and write down your essential staples.  Remember, there is not end-all-be-all here, this list will change and evolve as you do.  

What did you discover??

Stay tuned for part II next week!