Let’s face it… most of us have to visit the grocery store sooner or later. We don’t grow every vegetable and fruit. We don’t have fields full of grains. Most of us have to go shopping for groceries.
Here are 6 easy ways to turn that ordinary trip to the market into an eco-friendly shopping trip.
- Consolidate your trips. If at all possible, try not to stop at the market every day or every other day. For our family to be successful in this area, we have to plan our meals and keep our shopping lists updated.
- Bring reusable shopping bags. Skip the plastic and paper bags that the store provides and bring your own reusable bags. A lot of stores now provide reusable bags, but you can also make your own.
- Bypass the plastic produce bags. I know this can be challenging. We are still looking for the best alternative, but think about how much plastic is used every time someone purchases organic apples, carrots, etc.
- Don’t go shopping while hungry. We’ve all heard this warning, but most of the time it refers to spending more money than originally intending to. However, I will go a step further. I find that I will pick up something that I think I want, may eat a little, then it goes to waste.
- Buy bulk. Purchasing items in bulk means less packaging and trips to the grocery store. Usually, you will save some money, too. We buy a 10lb bag of organic brown rice that lasts us a very long time.
- Use an e-version of your shopping list. You know I’m a part-time techie so this suggestion just fits right in. We typically are creatures of habit and purchase the same items, week after week, month after month so why not use a shopping app for your smart phone or a pre-printed shopping list that can be reused.
I am a firm believer that the best and easiest ways to make the greatest impact is to make small changes in what we do every day. So what tips can you add to the list?? Feel free to add them to the comments below.
You read all the way to the end so here’s an extra tip >> leave your reusable bags in the car so you never run the risk of forgetting them. Have fun shopping!! … Loretta
Very good advice! Thanks
Thank you!
Great suggestions. I really have a organizational deficit. I get to the store without the bags all the time.
Whenever I try to plan out my menus for the week — It only lasts two weeks or maybe a month. I like the e-version of the shopping list idea. I think I will try to organize one to use each week. Hopefully I will use it longer than one month!
We leave our reusable bags in the car. Sometimes, I get in the store and realize that the bags are still in the car. I feel a little silly having to go back to the car, but it is definitely worth it.
Buying in season, and as local as possible. You’ll save money for buying something in season and your likely to cook something with a lot more nutrients because it wasn’t forced to grow at a different time, or shipped from another country and irridated to make it last longer.
Also, consider buying extra berries when they are in season AND on sale and freezing them for later when they aren’t. They’ll taste a whole lot fresher in the winter that way!
Great suggestion!! I agree 100%… thanks for sharing!