Welcome to our regular Monday-morning blog feature, where we share easy tips and DIY projects that you can do this week to live more sustainably!If you haven't already setup your sustainability profile at MakeMeSustainable, you can start by visiting http://makemesustainable.com. If you live in Chapel Hill/Carrboro, you'll automatically join our local group! The Chapel Hill/Carrboro “carbon tree” already has over 280 members who have reduced their annual emissions by over 70 tons. Join us!
This week's project: Eating sustainably on a budget
It seems like everyone is short on cash these days. As folks look to trim costs, there is a misconception that this means foregoing the sustainable dining options that are locally and/or organically grown. Fortunately, there are a number of strategies that can help you eat green without spending too much green!
The following grocery shopping tips were recently collected and published by Shawn Ayoub on Grist.org. We've summarized them here, but highly recommend reading the full article:
http://www.grist.org/article/2009-08-05-green-groceries-budget/
- Prioritize and purchase the foods where organic is most important - both for your health and the environment. Click here for a guide.
- Use common ingredients to simplify your shopping list.
- Eat mostly plants, as organic animal products can be more expensive. Eating lower on the food chain also has a plethora of health and environmental benefits.
- Buy local by joining a CSA or visiting the local farmers market.
- Start your own vegetable and/or herb garden.
- Buy and eat foods that are in season.
- Buy only what you need.
- Buy dry goods that require preparation. They last longer and are usually less expensive. For example, dried beans, rice, etc.
- Buy from bulk bins, which reduces packaging waste and is generally less expensive. Grocery stores such as Whole Foods sometimes have this option for items such as coffee, honey, flour, tea, granola, cereal, etc.
- Pay with cash to limit spending.
- Eat lower on the food chain to reduce your environmental footprint.
- Look for foods marked "Local" or "Organic" in the dining halls.
- Look for special food offerings such as cage-free eggs and local grass-fed beef that appear on the menu.
- Only take the food you will eat to reduce waste and costs.
- Make sure you use a reusable "to go" container, rather than Styrofoam.
- Lastly, check the Carolina Dining Services website to see what other options are available: http://www.dining.unc.edu/initiatives.aspx
- Carolina Dining Services offers.
