Slow Grocery Shopping

I was in the grocery store yesterday and I had an “ah-ha” moment, after I was almost run over by a woman shopping for dinner at warp speed.  We have been trained for years by food marketing companies to shop for convenience and speed rather than healthy and sustainable food. In fact, most savings columnists suggest spending minimal time in a food store so that you spend less. It’s no wonder that our relationship to food is screwed up.

Weekends are a different story.  At the Mill City Farmers Market I’ve been known to shriek and wax poetic about the sweetness of a single source honey or the sensuous shape of a local apple.  Tasting, shopping and buying with the other weekend sustainable foodies is a joy, not a chore.  

So, I am vowing to myself and to you -- that I will begin to take my time when food shopping in the grocery store during the week.  I will try to be in the moment and enjoy the experience lingering over the tomatoes and spending quality time with Liz, the cheese lady and Ken, the butcher.

Here are a few tricks that I am going to use to slow myself down and help me make human healthy and planet friendly choices:
   
Shop mainly the perimeter of the store – This is where the non-processed foods live.  Fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy and meats are not only minimally processed, but they are also minimally packaged.

Hit the bulk aisle – Rice, cereal, pasta, grains, and nuts can be purchased in bulk in most stores.  This eliminates the need for a box to keep the product safe in transit.  You will have less to store in your cupboard and to less to throw out.   

Buy dry rather than wet goods –Why move already hydrated beans in a can that take up more cubic feet of space and weigh more for shipping (using more trucks and more fuel). Buy bulk dry beans, rice and grains instead.  They will be lighter in your shopping bag too.

Buy mostly plants – Fruits, vegetables and whole grains are under appreciated in our Western food culture.  They provide us with the needed nutrients, hydration and fiber to bolster our health and longevity.

Buy meat as a garnish rather than main course – Raising livestock is incredibly resource intensive and contributes to global warming with methane emissions.  It takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef but only 25 gallons of water to produce one pound of wheat.  

Buy safe seafood -- Fishing practices worldwide are damaging our oceans by depleting fish populations, destroying habitats and polluting the water. Knowing what to buy will help solve the problem of over-fishing. Carry the Monterey Bay Aquarium pocket guide for the most current safe seafood info. Download it at www.montereybayaquarium.org.

Find in-season and local ingredients – Buying what is in-season will help assure you of lower prices and increased freshness meaning more delicious and nutritious food with likely a lower carbon footprint.  Watch for the Minnesota Grown logo at your grocery store and request a free directory at www.minnesotagrown.com .

If you see me running through the processed food aisles, you have my permission to stop me and ask me to "slow down"!