Living a Green Life

I get a lot of people in the store asking about the co-op and confused about how they might make it work for them.  Many people have a hard time trying to think of "not going to a grocery store!"  It is not that veteran co-opers never go to a grocery store - it is just not a ritual.  The way to make it work is to start slowly and to plan plan plan.This is not the kind of planning that take hours to do and the first plan takes the most time.  After a few weeks it is a new habit and off you go .................. free of supermarkets!

Most people find that they buy the same things over and over again:  rice, cereal or granola, pasta, cheese, canned beans and tomatoes, chips, crackers, cleaning products, raisins, fruit, chicken - beef - vegetable stocks, flour, and milk.  Make a list of what appears in your shopping cart most - order a case or 1/2 a case of each item and you are on your way!! When you purchase these items from the co-op they are "in-stock" in your cabinets and become the items you re-order when you are low.  These are the basic building blocks of meals.  In addition when you come for your grocery order you can pick up beef, pork and chicken from the co-op stock.

Saturdays, a local baker brings in beautiful organic breads that are delicious and aromatic!  Fridays are produce days and shoppers can pick up a box of fresh organic produce for excellent prices.  Stopping once a week will give your household the best sustainable, local, unprocessed, and beautiful organics available. 

The co-op motto is"eat and live - healthyand green!"  We help you accomplish this!

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The easiest way to stay on track with a healthful diet high in good things and low on bad is to eat food closest to its most natural state.  I learned this when my kids were tiny and it has always been a great guide.  How can you go wrong? The Raw Foods Movement -  the Slow Foods Movement - you name it, they all are using natural basic ingredients. 

When you think of all of the commercials for foods that are being "sold" to us it is clear that they want you to believe that their products are simple.  Please read the lable.  Peanutbutter is a great example - why is there anything in it except peanuts?  Check you shelves.  What can you learn about your purchasing habits by reading the boxes and containers?  Can you make some changes in what you buy to make yourself feel better?

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I have been on a 15 month mission to get my weight under some kind of control.  I was looking for a way to feel like I have some control in my life in general and this was where I started!  Looking back at what gave me the most success I would have to say that cutting out mindless eating was my biggest enemy.  Everyone is running around so much these days and having meals on the run that they miss out on the ritual of the shared meal and the satisfaction of body AND mind that comes from it.  To fill that space people -  like me - tend to eat more frequently and that is often extra calories that add up over time.

Through out history the rituals around gathering, growing, hunting and preparing food have been part of every culture.  Formal religions all seem to have an element of sharing rituals in their practices.  Child development specialist all agree that ritual is an important part of child development and passing on social norms to each generation. 

It seems reasonable to suggest that having a ritual a few times a week sharing meals with your whole family or a network of friends will fill you up body and mind.  Food is definetly more than calories and when we recognize this we will not be as likely to eat mindlessly which leads to higher calorie consumption.

Let's start a new ritual of sharing meals with people important to us and see if we can eat like we mean it.  It does not have to be too fancy or too much work.  Everyone can contribute to the preparation and take time to set the table.  Let me know how it goes!

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I am always amazed at all of the organizational tools and mechanisims available to us.  Most magazines have tips about organizing and planning in nearly every issue. "Plan your vacation!! - Get ready for Tax Season Now! - Three Easy Steps to an Organized Garage!"  I am far from an organized person over all, but I love these articles!  When we organize something we feel more in control of our lives.  The one area I see most ignored and seriously in need of organization is meal planning and grocery shopping. 

When meals are not planned for they turn into a burden and are often not as dense in nutients as they should be.  If not planned they may end up eaten in the car.  With all of the things we plan for why is this the one ignored?  We are risking our health and the health of any one in our care.  I can say from experience that when I have put in just a little effort things go more smoothly, meal times are less stressful and we enjoy the meal and the company of whom ever is at the table so much more!

In my family, I have been the meal planner and the one who prepares the meals in for 32 years.  As the kids have grown and moved out on their own it has become easier.  When everyone was home I had challenges with schedules and with the food budget.  I always bought the food first and paid the bills second!  This did not always work!  But I kept the focus on nurishing and nurturing my family. 

So - here are my tips on making plans to eat and eat well.  Focus on Sunday through Thursday.  Fridays seem to roll out of control pretty easily and Saturdays are good days to have snacking and lunches planned, but dinner is harder to have a solid plan.  My second tip is cook big on Sunday when there is more time.  What ever the main dish is, over do it - so what I mean is if you are having chicken, make sure you cook enough to save half of it for a diner during the week on a night that you will have little time to spend in meal prep.  Try not to serve it as a left over , but as a new meal.  So baked chicken on Sunday and chicken quesodillas on Tueday.  No one will think of it as a leftover.  Also on Sunday - bag up some premixed salad in meal sized protions for each night you want salad.  This saves time on a busy night - open - toss - done!   Third tip:  Fancy is not important.  Quality is a big deal, whole foods are a big deal, no processed foods is a big deal, everyone eating together with as little stress as possible is a big deal.

Hopefully this will keep you out of the drive thru and eating good wholesome meals and give you a sense of control.

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Today it has arrived - the drop in temperature, the angle of the sun, the dry air, yes it looks like we are starting the turn of the seasons once again.  These changes remind us how tied our lives are to the environment.  They beg us to ready ourselves for another set of challenges.  We will also eat different foods.   Just as the beach does not look quite as inviting as it did just a couple of weeks ago and  the corn and tomatoes start to die out, we head to the orchards and pumpkin patches for their bounties.  

Now is a good time to stock up on the harvest, get a few things into the freezer to enjoy during a snow storm!  Check your pantry and cabinets to see what grains and flours you may want to be sure to stock for the seasons ahead.  Its easier to plan an evening meal on the run in the summer than it will be when a blustery wind is blowing up a cold mist and it gets dark at 4:30PM.  Have nutritious basics on your shelves to turn to for healthy meals no matter what it is like out doors. 

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