5 tips for Better Food Shopping
Sometimes we don’t fully realise the impact of our decisions that we make. Obviously, a lot of the products we buy come from the supermarket, and we don’t have much or any control over the way it’s raised, packaged or even what chemicals it’s been treated with.
If we can’t do much about these issues, there are small habits we can adopt to help us become better shoppers.
1. Stop/minimise buying plastic wrapped produce
The biggest and most obvious issue with grocery shopping is the amount of packaging and plastic that comes with it. I try make a conscious effort each time to minimise my plastic consumption as much as possible, but some things aren’t in my control.
There are many ways you can go about reducing plastic waste; choosing something packaged in glass/paper instead, buying loose fruits and veggies, bringing your own box to fill up with nuts/beans, shopping in a bulk store etc…
In some countries supermarkets are legally forced to recycle their waste - whether or not they do this, i’m not sure. If I go to a supermarket where I have a load of useless packaging, I give it back to them for recycling. They need to take responsibility in the decisions they make when it comes to packaging.
My family and I have been using reusable veggie bags for us to put our produce in, instead of using the plastic bags available to us. They fit a lot in, super easy to wash, and they don't let your fruits and veggies sweat-which makes them last a lot longer.
You can find reusable bags here:
2. Prioritise local/regional/seasonal produce- Farmers Market!
A lot of the fresh produce you find in stores are actually not as fresh as you think they are. Anything coming from out of the country needs time to be harvested, packaged and shipped. Whether that takes a few days or more, you end up with 'older' produce. That's why I try my best to shop at a farmers market. Not only is it cheaper, but the actual ingredients taste much better because it's most likely seasonal.
Shopping at a farmers market reduces the co2 emissions that are produced from air travel, it helps you support your local farmers, and it gives you a better idea of where your food comes from. The farmers love what they do, and you can really see and taste it through their produce (very different to mass-production.)
My all time favourite market to shop at is Borough Market in London, but there are markets you can find all over the world.
3. Buy organic
A lot of people aren’t fully aware about the dangers of chemical pesticides- there’s a lot of talk about the end product having such little traces that it wouldn’t affect our health, but if we go back to the farmers and the people living or working near the farms that use these toxins, there is a clear cause effect relationship. Not only do these chemicals endanger human lives, but they affect all living creatures; whether a bee, fish or dog.
There has been a clear correlation between soil degradation and the use of these pesticides- damaging the microorganisms in the soil, as well as leaching into waterways etc.. It is more expensive to buy only organic but prioritising where you can is a great start.
Goop- how soil health is reflected in the gut
4. Buy what you need
I feel like this is a given, but I’ve gotten carried away far too often... The best way to stick to what you need is by meal planning food for the week and creating a shopping list from it. Whether you shop daily for your meals or once a week it’s always better knowing what you want to eat beforehand.
5. Bring a reusable bag
They’re everywhere now, and most supermarkets, markets etc… Make you pay extra for a bag. Save money, and save the environment by using a reusable bag.
These 5 tips are very easy and small changes you can implement in your life for you to become a better shopper. No matter how little the changes are, they can still make a difference.