Groceries an alternate way

**peanut** · 01-04-2009, 01:05 PM

We took DD#1 grocery shopping the other day. DH and I only had 3 things to pick up. She had a whole list. So to occupy myself in the produce department while she was running around, I took a pen and noted all the produce under $1/lb. this time of year.

At the end of the trip I told her to keep that list and next year this time, plan her menus around those food items.

She was impressed. So was DH. The nice thing for me was her having so much shopping to do gave me time to look for good deals. Brussel sprouts were .47/lb. Beets were under $1/lb. I picked up both. I'm going to process and freeze the sprouts ( a huge bag was $1.50CAD) and make some beet soup this month. Yum!

Jean

**Minner77** · 01-04-2009, 02:09 PM

Great idea, Peanut!

I always forget what's in season, since I haven't gardened yet (will for the first time this spring/summer), so a list like you've proposed would be wonderful!

I just finished reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver (also author of The Poisonwood Bible, BTW), and she really put things into focus about seasonal eating, without being too preachy. She and her family live on 40 acres in VA (I believe -- you think I'd remember!), and they challenged themselves to live for a full year on food they grew, raised (chickens, turkeys), or made (cheeses) themselves or could procure locally -- no imports, not even from more than 100 or so miles away. It was fascinating. They didn't do it to save money, although they did, of course. Frugal and environmentally conscious. (They did allow themselves a very few luxuries; coffee doesn't grow in VA!)

Thanks for the great idea!
~Mary

**redmaples** · 01-04-2009, 02:30 PM

what a smart thing to do jean!
and a good thing for all of us to do
those are great prices....i'm sure they are not that low here

ive been wanting to read bk's new book,
i have the copy of mother earth
that her article about food source
& cheese making is in
thanks for the review on the book Mary!

**homesteadmamma** · 01-04-2009, 03:19 PM

Peanut, that was smart. We often try to eat in season, sometimes we forget though when we get to the produce isle and see items that aren't in season and want them.

Mary, thanks for the suggestion on the book. I'm going to see if I can get it from the library.

**LexTysMommy** · 01-04-2009, 03:34 PM

That is very smart! Maybe I will do this every month. Very good idea!

**Grainlady** · 01-04-2009, 04:37 PM

Great idea! Along those same lines... If fruit is sold by the piece - when that box of watermelon are all the same price, be sure to choose the largest one. Apples are sometimes price per apple, be sure to weigh them and get the largest one/s.

If fruit is sold by the pound, get the most number of items per pound.

Example: we normally eat one banana per serving without regard to it's size. Same with apples - we'll usually use ONE for a serving, no matter what size it is. SO, choose small bananas on the bunch and get more of them when you purchase per-pound pricing. 5 large bananas or 6/7 small bananas for the same weight - you'll get more servings from the smaller fruit. Choose small varieties like Jonathan or small Granny Smith apples, rather than the large varieties of apples when you pay per pound to get more "servings".

**checkerkitty** · 01-05-2009, 09:07 AM

Here is a link to a blog I like that has a list of in season fruits and veggies on the right side of the main page. Thanks for this topic. It's really something I don't think enough about.

Christy

http://cheaphealthygood.blogspot.com/

**phoeny_moonstar** · 01-05-2009, 09:19 AM

Thanks for the info... We want to start eating healthier as a family so this is a good place to start!

**IntlMom** · 01-05-2009, 09:22 AM

Sometimes we all need to be reminded about common sense stuff like this, thanks!

**cheles2kids** · 01-05-2009, 09:38 AM

Yes, a person would be surprised at what they can find at the grocery store for around $1.00.

I've always told Mike that I'll give anything a try for $1.00 or less.

If you look at what's in season, it almost always coincides with what's locally or at least U.S. grown as well.

Lately I've been doing some research and I don't want to put people off from buying fruits & vegs. but alot of the overseas growers do not have the same regulations when it comes to pesticides and things as the U.S. does, so that's just one more reason to at least try and buy U.S. grown products as much as possible.

**Jessesbride** · 01-05-2009, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by cheles2kids

Yes, a person would be surprised at what they can find at the grocery store for around $1.00.

I've always told Mike that I'll give anything a try for $1.00 or less.

If you look at what's in season, it almost always coincides with what's locally or at least U.S. grown as well.

Lately I've been doing some research and I don't want to put people off from buying fruits & vegs. but alot of the overseas growers do not have the same regulations when it comes to pesticides and things as the U.S. does, so that's just one more reason to at least try and buy U.S. grown products as much as possible.

Yep! that's why we try to stay away from produce sent from another country (including Mexico). You are more likely going to ingest something harmful if it's from another country (& it's bad enough what they allow from our country!)

Esp. if it's from someplace that when you go there on vacation, you are warned not to eat the produce or drink the water....

why would it be any less dangerous once it get here?

Kim

**C@rol** · 01-05-2009, 10:19 AM

:cthumbup:Really great idea. Almost like shop the loss leaders for the week for your menu.
I'll keep this in mind when I'm shopping.

This could work for everything like we need
pillows and if I'm not mistaken I think Jan.
is the month for linens to be on sale.

**Persimmon Lace** · 01-05-2009, 11:10 AM

That was a great way to kill time!

We try to eat in season. Right now we have a lot of cabbage and cole crops that we can buy at the vegetable stand. I've still got carrots that I pulled at the end of Nov. in the frig so I'm going to make cabbage, potatoes and carrots with ham for dinner tonight. Yumm!

**peanut** · 01-05-2009, 12:15 PM

Well our store doesn't list where the produce comes from. So unless you have a magnifying glass to read the very fine print on the sticker on the fruit/veggie, you're out of luck. This being a Canadian prairie winter I assume everything comes from outside Canada.

Anyways, here's the list of what's on sale for under $1/lb. here at the moment:

daikon
savoy cabbage
bok choy
chestnuts
turnips
chayote squash
fuzzy squash
garlic
Chinese mandarins
red cabbage
brussel sprouts
beets
dill
kiwi
bananas
oranges
onions
grapefruit
lemons
limes
radish
rutabaga
celery bunches
green onions bunchs
parsley
Asian pear
golden delicious apples
cilantro
lemon grass
Napa cabbage
bean sprouts

That's what we have to pick from this time of year on the Canadian prairies.

Jean

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 01-05-2009, 12:55 PM

I will second the recommendation of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, it is excellent! For me eating locally varies throughout the year. In peak growing season I try to eat from my county or state. The rest of the year I try to eat from the US, because of theh pesticide issue. For canned and boxed items though it is very hard to tell where it was produced.