by Umbra Fisk
Dearest readers,
Sometimes when I’m down in the stacks researching answers to
your latest dilemmas, I enjoy taking a stroll down Ask Umbra archives lane.
Here are some glossy tidbits I culled from my past advice on lessening your
impact when it comes to grocery shopping. Have any of your own green grocery
tips? Let me know in the comments section below or shoot me an email.
Let your
guilt out of the bag.
You probably already know the answer to “Paper or plastic?”
is neither—opt for a reusable bag. However, for those times you forget
your own bag, please don’t beat yourself up. Instead put that energy toward
figuring out a way to remember the bags next time. Since there’s no clear
lesser evil between the paper and plastic options, just flip a coin. And remember, you can put that plastic grocery bag to reuse as a
vinyl-free shower cap. Get the full Ask Umbra
answer.
Pull the
cart before the horse.
If your market is within walking distance
but you need to stock up on a week’s worth of groceries, ditch the car in favor
of a cart. A wagon, stroller (minus the kid), or folding utility cart will all
do the trick—saving your back and our dwindling supply of fossil fuels. Get the full Ask Umbra answer.
Protect
and conserve.
Miffed about the wasted energy at your
supermarket from open-air coolers? Approach your favorite grocer and offer to
help look into money-saving conservation options. Sure, they may see you as a
meddling loony, but, being that grocery stores operate on a low profit margin,
cost reductions are vital—so they may just take you up on it. Get the full Ask Umbra answer.
Meat your
needs.
Pork chops are on sale! You don’t want them
to go to waste, do you? Uh, yes, actually, you do. Non-participation is one way
to protest conventional meat production (dirty
details, anyone?), and if demand dwindles, then ideally supply would
follow. If meat’s a must, try eating it less frequently and opting for
local/free-range-raised when you do. Get the
full Ask Umbra answer.
Veg out.
Opt for fresh, local vegetables whenever
possible. However, if for some reason you can’t purchase fresh veggies and have to go
the frozen or canned route, pick high-quality processed vegetables with no
additives, eat frozen vegetables within two weeks, and religiously recycle steel
cans. Get
the full Ask Umbra answer.
Hungrily,
Umbra
Related Links:
A treat for your Valentine: grass-fed steak in red-wine sauce
An omnivorous chef ponders test-tube meat
CBS News previews its no-holds-barred report on antibiotics in livestock
