A Lesson in Shopping Responsibly

 

We’ve spoken briefly about shopping responsibly fashion-wise, but today I thought I’d bring the conversation around to food…

Growing up my family would spend Saturday mornings walking up and down the aisles of our local Woolworths, filling the trolley under fluorescent lights. Even as a kid, I knew that it wasn’t the best option, but it was a common one, easy, and way less expensive than elsewhere, right?

It wasn’t until I moved out of home to study Fashion Merchandising (RIP degree attempt of 2014) that I began re-thinking this weekly ritual. One day, in a marketing class, we watched the video above. It absolutely terrified me and I immediately vowed to stay away from supermarkets. Have a look if you dare (please dare!)

So where do I get my food from nowadays? Below are a couple of options that aren’t anywhere near as hard as you think!

1. Grow it yourself. Everybody could benefit, both mentally and physically, from learning to grow and cook their own food. If you’ve got the space and time to set up a proper veggie patch, that’s awesome! And if you don’t? Living in an apartment with a balcony the width of your body isn’t as hopeless as it seems- you can have herbs in the kitchen, lettuces in planters stuck to the wall, and a potted lemon tree.  There is something so satisfying about making a salad fresh from the garden!

2. Head to the local Farmers Markets. If you’re based in Australia, check out http://farmersmarkets.org.au for your nearest markets. I love spending my Saturday mornings circling the stalls, basket in hand, my boots caked in mud. It’s wonderful being able to talk directly to the farmers too, watching them get all passionate about their produce, which tends to be organic and less expensive than at supermarkets. Yep, seriously, it’s not crazy expensive as per the stories we’re told. I usually take a $50 note and feed myself for the fortnight. That includes eggs and sourdough!

3. Support small businesses. If you can’t grow your own food or get to a market, please consider trading Coles for the green grocers across the street. I can guarantee the old Italian owner, with his cheeky grin and dirt under his nails, will be a lot friendlier than the gum-chewing teen at Coles, wearing someone else’s name badge (she cares about her job so much that she forgot hers). Not only does it feel seeing the same friendly face on your weekly grocery shop, you can also have the satisfaction of knowing that your money is going towards a family rather than a corporation.

Does anybody else try to shop responsibly? I’d love to hear your thoughts on all of the above!

All the love,

Jess xx