Here's an interesting phenomenon that I think reflect the sorry state of the economy here in Michigan: I am seeing a lot more people at Trader Joe's carrying Whole Foods canvas bags. And here's my theory why: Whole Foods, while a wonderful shopping experience (they smell like lavender!) and a great place to score beautiful, high quality food, is also referred to as "Whole Paycheck" for a reason.
Trader Joe's, on the other hand, while certainly a less upscale destination, is also a heck of a lot cheaper. I think Earth-conscious foodies are at least checking out ways to cut their grocery bills while not abandoning organics altogether.
Environmental magazine Grist recently had a piece on greening your grocery list while saving money. Their seven tips are:
- Make a list – this simple step saves time and money, and keeps you from buying crap if you actually stick to it and don’t go wandering down the candy aisle;
- Avoid genetically-modified products – they are bad for farmers and bad for the planet. The story includes links to a a guide to which foods have them; not surprisingly, the big brands tend to have the most.
- Eat organic where it matters most;
- Include more vegetarian meals in your diet, or eliminate meat altogether;
- Stick to enviro-friendly household cleaners;
- Shop farmer's markets whenever possible; it's often cheaper than buying nonlocal grocery store produce;
- Grow your own, if you can.
