Do you want to go green in the kitchen? Cost can be a big factor that prevents families from eating organic and local food. Here are more ideas to help you eat healthy, local food and support local farmers!
Get local! Food deserts are a rising concern. In these places, it’s hard to find any sort of healthy food aside from a convenience store. If you have a hard time getting to a store to shop for healthy food, you may be living in a food desert.
In this case, programs like Farm to School programs or mini seasonal markets can help bring local and organic food to places that don’t see a lot of unprocessed foods.
Make whole grains the star.
Reduce your focus on meat and dairy. Not only are these expensive when they are organic, they also require more resources to produce. If you choose to eat meat, use it frugally, as a part of a recipe instead of as the focus. Many, many countries do not place meat as a focus in a meal, simply because it is not affordable enough to be the feature of the meal. Treat meat and dairy as luxuries to appreciate instead of staples.
Instead, make whole grains, fruits, and vegetables the star of your meal. Nuts, seeds, and grains are excellent sources of fiber and carbohydrates, too. Vary your diet to experiment with different sorts of grains, and try out new vegetables too! For example, quinoa is full of protein and iron and has a lovely nutty flavor. Changing your diet is good for your budget and leads to a more adventurous palate!
Grow your own food.
Even if you only have a window box, it is possible to grow some of your own food. Just keep your budget in mind. If you are really financially-strapped, choose crops that are easy to grow and less expensive to order, like beans. If you have an indoor space, a herb garden, window box tomato plant, or a mushroom log might be what suits your space. If you have a small parcel of land, there are huge possibilities. Layer your crops to make good use of your space. Beans can grow up tomatoes, and early greens can precede late summer harvests. If you have no land, look into acquiring a space in a community garden. Some communities also have a yard share program, where one person with unused land allows another community member to garden there. Finally, see if anyone in your community has a tree with unused fruit that you can pick. This is a good way to reduce your food budget, connect with a neighbor, prevent waste, and find some low budget local food.
It takes some creativity to eat organic, local and seasonal food on a budget. The taste and the feeling of community connection is worth it, though. So is the fact that you know that the money you are spending is helping to create a better agriculture for the future.
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