Double Whammy! Eat Better While Saving

Out of all the things I have done in an effort to save money purchasing a basket from a food co-op has had the largest impact not just on saving money, but on me, my health, my family, and even my spirituality.

About four years ago a friend told me I could get a laundry basket full of food for 15 dollars. This was right at the start of us trying to live more frugally so for the most part I didn't know what I was doing - we were broke.  I couldn't believe my ears. 15 dollars! I signed up to get my first bountiful basket.

It was indeed bountiful. That next week I set to work at figuring out how in the world we were going to eat all those fruits and veggies, some of which I didn't even recognize. 

It was a bit daunting but made me feel like a kid trying things for the first time. We began the slow process of moving from the boxed food I grew up on, or the idea that veggies are just 1/4th of of a plate, to moving into what Bobby Flay calls "revers[ing] the psychology of your plate by making meat the side dish and vegetables the main course."

This basket, it changed the way we eat. 

Today, when I am pulling veggies from the fridge to cut them up, or throwing fruits into a blender to make a smoothie I feel connected to the rhythms of the earth. I have entered into a relationship with food, understanding what fruits and veggies are in season, and when. Cooking with fresh fruits and veggies makes me feel more real.

My children now eat a huge variety of both fruits and veggies. My five year old finally ate radishes for the first time about two weeks ago. Before trying this you may worry that your family won't make the change but if what is available in your fridge and pantry changes, and your family finds ways to cook the fruits and veggies that people enjoy, with time, change will happen. Plus, I haven't found a kid yet that will turn down a popsicle (made from fresh fruit). 

We have started to look at food as not just sustenance but as medicine.
 
Plus, did I mention, I SAVE SO MUCH MONEY? 

Every weekend (or so, there are times we skip a week due to overflow of fruits and veggies that still need to be eaten), after getting my basket, I look to see what I have and plan my weeks meals around recipes that include all my fruits and veggies supplemented with what is in my pantry and fridge. Usually this means, besides my basket I only spend 60-75 dollars a week to feed five people (more about how I pull that off to come). That means I spend less than 100 dollars a week on food.

And we eat well.

You most definitely have a food co-op in your area. Jump on Google and search around. Bountiful baskets itself has spread to many states and if you don't have one and are interested in starting one, you can open one yourself. They offer both conventional and organic baskets (25$) as well as ad-ons such as oil, bread, honey, beans, and grains.

If you have a smaller family and don't need a whole basket then split it with someone at work, a family member, or a neighbor and pay even less.

This is an easy first step in the direction of heath and savings. By focusing on this one thing you can change your diet, your health, and save money at the same time.

Just do it. It's awesome, I promise.