Do you find decision-making difficult when it comes to grocery shopping, or is it just me?
It's not just that there is an incredibly diverse range of items to choose from, it's the ethical decisions that need to be made.
Do I buy whatever I or my family likes eating?
Do I buy based on price alone?
Do I choose organic/wholefoods?
Do I prefer the locally-grown, for example, from my own state, or is it enough to choose food produced in my country from native-grown ingredients?
What about food made in my country from foreign ingredients or made by foreign-owned companies with local factories that provide jobs?
Do I choose food with minimal packaging?
What about products that aren't produced in my country but that I don't want to do without, such as soy sauce, spices, coffee and cocoa?
How do you shop for groceries? Are there any principles that you apply?
8 comments:
I just wrote an article for kidspot on the very same topic! 'Guilt free grocery'!? What is that exactly?
I tend to buy for my conscience - so that's supporting australian made/manufactured products, locally produced (slow food) and then price comes into it. I tend to make things from scratch to save the money that I spend paying to shop with a conscience!
Hi Liss,
Do you have a link to your article? I'd love to read it?
Kate
I try to buy organic/free trade/free range when I can. Unfortunately, the only stores where I can do that in my price range are a fair distance away. So that is a once in a while thing.
We also go to Costco once a month or two to stock up on bulk foods (chicken, rice, flour, sugars).
For most of my shopping, I go to Food Lion (a low price grocery store) because it is so inexpensive and just down the street. They stock everything we eat on a regular basis.
Kate, I always chuckle because while some people have their shopping done in an hour, mine takes a few hours. I shop at several different stores so I can get the best deals.
I can't really afford to buy everything organic, but when I can I do (it's so easy though for something to be considered organic though).
I don't necessarily worry about "local" versus imported, but the produce stand I frequent sells local produce when available.
I try my hardest to steer clear of processed, pre-packaged, yuck filled foods when possible. I just pick and choose which I think are important.
I will now and then buy the girls something I know they like to have but maybe I don't buy often.
I love to buy items in bulk and my grocery store has a HUGE bulk section...as in bins that you fill with the desired amount of items you want.
Here's a link to a post I did on the stores I shop at:
http://troyerslovinglife.blogspot.com/2009/05/life.html
It's a tricky question these days. In an ideal world I my shopping habits would be radically different. Local, organic, unprocessed whole foods in their most natural, God-made state. It all sounds so utopian, doesn't it!
The reality is I have three growing children with bellies that require constant filling. I have a tight food budget. While I do my own baking, and try to keep as much processed food as I can from out diet, I just can't afford the utopian version of shopping and feeding my family.
We had this conversation in the staffroom one day. One of the young married teachers was saying she has the ethical shopping 'ap' on her iPhone and shops with that as her guide (I wished I could!). I was the only one at the table who sited budget over idealism. They all sat back and agreed that at the end of the day you can only do what is affordable for you at the time, no matter what your desires. Teachers are nothing if not practical, at the end of the day.
Unfortunately I am usually just grab what 'looks best', although I do make a special effort to make sure it is Australian made/produce.
this isnt even a question on most peoples minds & it is such a pitty.
for me its all about Australian
i only buy products grown/produced in Australia. i use to buy some products that had local & imported on the label but not any more as i found that the local product in quite a few items was the water content & the rest was imported.
if we dont support our growers & businesses, lively hoods & jobs will be lost.
Kate, I'm pretty sure the article is scheduled for early next month - It's a 10 tips for guilt-free grocery shopping.. will definitely link it up on my blog..
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