All across the globe the price of the weekly shop has exploded with inflation pushing the cost of food bills through the roof. With food waste also big contributor to overall wastewe asked Rebecca Gawthrone, Future Farm Nutritionist and Founder of Nourish Naturally how we can save money on our groceries by going greener.
The food we eat and how it ends up on our plates can have huge impacts on our planet’s resources. Water usage, food miles, packaging, food waste and farming practices all play into it. So it’s no wonder that going greener with your groceries can seem confusing and expensive.
But what if I told you there are some simple, sustainable and eco-friendly life hacks that can put cash back in your pocket and allow you to shop greener and save money at the supermarket.
Let’s have a look at 5 simple life hacks that will help you go greener and save money while doing so.
1. Reduce food waste
Going greener is often associated with expensive eco-luxury products and health foods that carry big price tags. However, going greener is actually about the behaviours we take to lessen our impact on the planet. It’s about finding a balance between the life you live and the impact your choices have on our, its ecosystems and its natural resources.
This means simple habits like reducing our food waste will help you go greener and have huge positive impacts for the planet.
To reduce your food waste and go greener with your groceries, planning your food shop and meals is critical. A well thought out meal plan and grocery list will mean that you only buy the produce you need for that week so you don’t overbuy and overspend, reducing your family’s food waste and grocery bill.
Set aside some time to plan the meals you will eat that week. Including dishes that use cheap, healthy and long lasting foods like canned beans (think chickpeas, butter beans, kidney beans), lentils, plain rolled oats and canned veggies (e.g. tomatoes, beetroot and corn) can help reduce food waste and save you money. Frozen veggies, like beans, peas, broccoli, which are snap frozen to retain their nutrition, are great options for reducing food waste too.
Once you’ve planned your meals, write your shopping list, being sure to check your fridge and pantry for the ingredients you already have. Make your list as specific as possible so you don’t double up and create food waste.
After meals, to reduce food waste even further, put away any leftovers, compost scraps or use them to make homemade broths, stocks and soups.
2. Reduce meat consumption
Animal foods like meat are one of the planet’s leading sources of greenhouse gas emissions and are fuelling the climate crisis. Industrial beef farming uses more land and water than many other industries and is having devastating effects on biodiversity and the survival of other species.
Swapping meat for plant based protein options like beans and lentils has high potential for reducing our carbon footprint and mitigating climate change. In fact, plant foods like fruits, vegetables, grains and beans can even help protect the planet.
Try swapping a few meat meals per week for plant based protein alternatives like beans or lentils. These are rich in protein, fibre and minerals and incredibly cheap compared to meat and will help you go greener and save money.
Plant based meats, like Future Farm’s plant-based burgers, minced meat and meatballs, are another great replacement for animal meat. Future Farm use natural, gluten-free and GMO-free ingredients to create plant-based meats that have the same taste, texture and juiciness as meat without harming animals or the planet, making going greener with your groceries easy and tasty.
3. Buy in-season produce
Seasonal eating means buying produce that’s in season at that time of year. The produce is fresher, tastier and more nutrient-dense, as well as cheaper and better for the environment than other produce at that time of year.
Buying in-season produce in bulk is a further way to save money and go greener. You can freeze bulk produce like bananas, berries and avocados and use them in smoothies, icecreams and other homemade treats.
4. Choose companies that use sustainable food practices
Purchasing your food that uses sustainable food practices is a simple way to go greener with your groceries. Companies like Future Farm are leading the way and creating a more sustainable life for people, animals and the entire ecosystem by investing in the power of plant protein. Compared to the production of animal burgers, Future Burger uses 89% less land, 96% less water and 78% less energy! Additionally, whenever you purchase a Future Burger, 100% of the carbon emissions produced—from growing the crops to disposal at your house—are offset by Climate Partner and are preventing Amazon deforestation.
5. Reduce, reuse and recycle food packaging
Reducing your plastic is a simple way to go greener and save you money. Try bringing your own shopping bags and fresh produce bags for loose fruit and veg. Buy foods in bulk to reduce packaging, invest in a reusable drink bottle and opt for packaging like Future Farm that have trays that are either recyclable or biodegradable and are on a mission to continually reduce their packaging footprint.
So if you want to go greener and save money on groceries, start with these 5 simple life hacks and help the planet and your hip pocket today!
All across the globe the price of the weekly shop has exploded with inflation pushing the cost of food bills through the roof. With food waste also big contributor to overall waste we asked Rebecca Gawthrone, Future Farm Nutritionist and Founder of Nourish Naturally how we can save money on our groceries by going greener.
The food we eat and how it ends up on our plates can have huge impacts on our planet’s resources. Water usage, food miles, packaging, food waste and farming practices all play into it. So it’s no wonder that going greener with your groceries can seem confusing and expensive.
But what if I told you there are some simple, sustainable and eco-friendly life hacks that can put cash back in your pocket and allow you to shop greener and save money at the supermarket.
Let’s have a look at 5 simple life hacks that will help you go greener and save money while doing so.
1. Reduce food waste
Going greener is often associated with expensive eco-luxury products and health foods that carry big price tags. However, going greener is actually about the behaviours we take to lessen our impact on the planet. It’s about finding a balance between the life you live and the impact your choices have on our, its ecosystems and its natural resources.
This means simple habits like reducing our food waste will help you go greener and have huge positive impacts for the planet.
To reduce your food waste and go greener with your groceries, planning your food shop and meals is critical. A well thought out meal plan and grocery list will mean that you only buy the produce you need for that week so you don’t overbuy and overspend, reducing your family’s food waste and grocery bill.
Set aside some time to plan the meals you will eat that week. Including dishes that use cheap, healthy and long lasting foods like canned beans (think chickpeas, butter beans, kidney beans), lentils, plain rolled oats and canned veggies (e.g. tomatoes, beetroot and corn) can help reduce food waste and save you money. Frozen veggies, like beans, peas, broccoli, which are snap frozen to retain their nutrition, are great options for reducing food waste too.
Once you’ve planned your meals, write your shopping list, being sure to check your fridge and pantry for the ingredients you already have. Make your list as specific as possible so you don’t double up and create food waste.
After meals, to reduce food waste even further, put away any leftovers, compost scraps or use them to make homemade broths, stocks and soups.
2. Reduce meat consumption
Animal foods like meat are one of the planet’s leading sources of greenhouse gas emissions and are fuelling the climate crisis. Industrial beef farming uses more land and water than many other industries and is having devastating effects on biodiversity and the survival of other species.
Swapping meat for plant based protein options like beans and lentils has high potential for reducing our carbon footprint and mitigating climate change. In fact, plant foods like fruits, vegetables, grains and beans can even help protect the planet.
Try swapping a few meat meals per week for plant based protein alternatives like beans or lentils. These are rich in protein, fibre and minerals and incredibly cheap compared to meat and will help you go greener and save money.
Plant based meats, like Future Farm’s plant-based burgers, minced meat and meatballs, are another great replacement for animal meat. Future Farm use natural, gluten-free and GMO-free ingredients to create plant-based meats that have the same taste, texture and juiciness as meat without harming animals or the planet, making going greener with your groceries easy and tasty.
3. Buy in-season produce
Seasonal eating means buying produce that’s in season at that time of year. The produce is fresher, tastier and more nutrient-dense, as well as cheaper and better for the environment than other produce at that time of year.
Buying in-season produce in bulk is a further way to save money and go greener. You can freeze bulk produce like bananas, berries and avocados and use them in smoothies, icecreams and other homemade treats.
4. Choose companies that use sustainable food practices
Purchasing your food that uses sustainable food practices is a simple way to go greener with your groceries. Companies like Future Farm are leading the way and creating a more sustainable life for people, animals and the entire ecosystem by investing in the power of plant protein. Compared to the production of animal burgers, Future Burger uses 89% less land, 96% less water and 78% less energy! Additionally, whenever you purchase a Future Burger, 100% of the carbon emissions produced—from growing the crops to disposal at your house—are offset by Climate Partner and are preventing Amazon deforestation.
5. Reduce, reuse and recycle food packaging
Reducing your plastic is a simple way to go greener and save you money. Try bringing your own shopping bags and fresh produce bags for loose fruit and veg. Buy foods in bulk to reduce packaging, invest in a reusable drink bottle and opt for packaging like Future Farm that have trays that are either recyclable or biodegradable and are on a mission to continually reduce their packaging footprint.
So if you want to go greener and save money on groceries, start with these 5 simple life hacks and help the planet and your hip pocket today!
Want more? Click here for How to Live Minimalist Lifestyle and here for How to Live a More Sustainable Lifestyle.
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