In this week’s edition of Real Food on a Budget I’ll be sharing 8 Tips for sourcing Fruit and Vegetables for your family on a budget:
1. Buy In Season – when fruit and vegetables are in season and plentiful, the price invariably is lower. So, being aware of what’s in season locally will help you plan your weekly meals accordingly.
2. Shop at Farmers Markets – skip the “middle man” and go straight to your local farmers market to source your fruit and vegetables direct from the person who grew it. I find that organic fruit and vegetables at my local farmers market is so much cheaper than at the supermarket – and I know where and how my food was grown.
3. Join a local CSA, Food Co-Op or other group buying club – buying as a group can mean significant savings and is another way to buy direct from the farmer and skipping supermarkets.
4. If organic isn’t always possible, then print a copy of the Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen to minimize your family’s exposure to pesticide and other nasty chemical residue.
5. Think creatively and shop for alternatives. For example, organic berries can be pretty pricey. So, when I want to make jam, instead of using pricey berries I choose to make Rhubarb Jam – which has a similar taste to berries but is (usually) a fraction of the price. When a recipe calls for fruit and vegetables, have a little think about the flavors of the ingredient and whether there is possibly a cheaper alternative which won’t compromise the dish but save you a little in your budget.
6. Take advantage of “frugal vegetables” like cabbage and use them creatively in meals. This Roasted Cabbage from The Rising Spoon is a delicious dish using the frugal cabbage.
7. Save vegetable scraps for stock making – whenever you’re preparing vegetables for meals, save the vegetable scraps for making stocks. The “scraps” bring flavor and nutritional value to the stock, while being strained out at the end.
8. Grow Your Own Fruit & Vegetables – my final suggestion for sourcing fruit and vegetables for your family is to skip the farmer altogether and think about growing your own fruit and vegetables.
The task can be a little daunting if you’re a Non-Gardener (like me!) and so I went the hunt for resources to help and have been VERY SLOWLY working through “Apartment Gardening“. The guide helps beginners (like us!) by taking you through:
- How to pick which seeds to grow
- When to start your seeds
- Starting from young plants
- Carting for your vegetables
- The best plants to grow indoors and in small spaces
- How to garden organically and more!
I don’t live in an apartment, but have a teeny, tiny outdoor space and Apartment Gardening has been a HUGE help! For $5.95 you will learn everything you need to know to get you started – talk about a budget investment! Click here to download your copy now.
Those are my suggestions for real food on a budget – fruit and vegetables. Do you have any tips to add?
More Real Food On A Budget Posts:
Real Food On A Budget – Meat & Chicken
Real Food On A Budget – Meal Planning & Make A Shopping List
Real Food On A Budget – Food Away From Home
Real Food On A Budget – Freezer Meals
Real Food On A Budget – 10 Ways With Eggs
Please enter your email for free blog updates:
Rest assured that your email address is safe and you can unsubscribe at any time!
Disclosure – this post contains affiliate links.
