The New Human Condition

Recession. The word is everywhere these days. Our economy is fragile, the market has dropped, and energy costs are rising. (Ok, enough bad news)

The good news is that you can still afford to eat healthy on a limited budget. Here are five easy ways to get the most for your money:

Buy in Bulk: My nearby chain grocery store and the local organic grocery store both have a bulk section. Chances are yours does too. Here you can find things like beans, rice, nuts, flour, dried fruit, and coffee. Basically any dried staple item can be purchased like this. Buy a bunch, store it, and pocket the discounts.

Learn to Cook Beans: Combine with the rice you bought in the bulk section and you have the cheapest protein you can buy. Most of the world relies on some form of bean for sustenance because they are affordable and offer a lot of nutrition. Think about making soups, burritos, chili, or just simple beans and rice.

Shop Sales: Compare various stores to see which has your own staple items for the cheapest. Don’t cut corners here and switch brands, just shop around. If you love organic coffee, don’t buy a random brand just because it’s on sale…find out where you can get yours the cheapest. Stock up when there are sales on your favorites.

Buy Local: Check out farmers markets in your area. Almost every city no matter the size will have one now (yay!). You can also ask around for locals that sell their own produce or animal products out of their home. A friend of mine gets a great deal on organic eggs and grass-fed pork because he made friends with a lady who sells these things out of her home. Oftentimes these products are cheaper and better than store varieties.

Start a Container Garden: No matter what size of home you have you can do this (even in a house or condo!).  Buy a few cheap pots, some soil, and some seeds or seedlings. Gardening in pots is really easy, and you can grow many of your own fruits and vegetables for a fraction of the cost. Plus, you get a new hobby.

You can also check out my previous post on Eating Well for Less

Joe Food and Nutrition Beans, Bulk, Gardening, Local, Sales

For awhile now, I’ve been reading and studying a lot about the food system in the U.S, specifically in regard to my own diet and food preferences. In my quest to find ways to eat healthier for myself while helping the earth, I have made several discoveries. Here are some of my top ideas for eating right:

Eat Lower on the Food Chain: Meat production and consumption has had a disastrous affect on our health and on the environment. It takes an incredible amount of resources and energy to produce cheap meat. By eating lower on the food chain (i.e. vegetables and grains), we help our bodies while helping the earth. This doesn’t necessarily mean becoming a vegetarian, although that would definitely be an option. This means that instead of eating meat with every course, have it occasionally. And when eating meat, look at it as a side dish of an entire meal, instead of the main item.  

Eat More Fish: Going along with eating lower on the food chain, fish can be a sustainable source of animal protein when harvested properly. Wild varieties are better for you than their farm-raised counterparts. Also, opt for fish like sardines, catfish, tilapia, and shellfish. Avoid those that eat higher on their own food chain, such as Chilean sea bass and wild tuna. As always, go local when possible. Shipping seafood can require a ton of resources. I have access to a variety of delicious, abundant, seafood here in the Gulf Coast of Florida…where the choices range from oysters to grouper. Wherever you live, there is probably some local form of seafood.

Eat “Food”:This is a phrase taken from Michael Pollan. Essentially, this means eat things that you can identify as food. For instance, an apple is an apple…there are no other ingredients. Avoid processed foods with any ingredients you can’t recognize, or that are used as preservatives. The same things that preserve food will preserve you.

Eat Local, Organic Food Varieties: Eating locally helps support your region, and helps you connect to the farmers. Organically grown (whether certified or not) types of vegetables, dairy, and meat are kind to the earth, are healthier for you, and generally taste better than other foods.

Eat Less: This is common sense that many of us take for granted, myself included. I was born and raised with the Midwestern attitude of “cleaning my plate”. This is most likely a sentiment left over from the great depression…food was scarce and it was wise to stockpile calories when you can get them. Today, there is no need to store excess calories, and no need to eat simply for the sake of eating. If you are not hungry, skip a meal, or eat a very small snack instead. Your body will tell you what it needs to eat and when. You just need to learn to listen.

Joe Food and Nutrition Food Chain, Local, Organic