Voluntary Simplicity: The Importance of Food Choice

I was walking home today from the Cafe Domenico and stopped by the Price Chopper grocery to get some more food. Recently, I had run out of all the stuff that goes fast. Some days I enter the grocery with a list. Nowadays, I'm disciplined enough to go in and buy without succumbing to impulses or clever marketing. How I make my choices and why I make my choices are directly in line with my voluntary simplicity philosophies.

1. Where is it from? Where is it packaged?

I choose produce that is grown as close to home as I can find. If I can grow it or help grow it locally I do. If I can't grow it I'll try to buy it from the local farmer markets or farmers who do Community Supported Agriculture. When I'm in the grocery store I try to buy whatever I can within my own state.

Sometimes quality is more important than where it comes from but usually in terms of produce or meat it is better quality without travel delays.

I make these choices because the farther away from me a product comes from the more resources it consumes to get to me.

2. What is it packaged in?

I try to buy things which are not in a package at all first. Second I try to find something that is simply bound by a rubber band or cord. If I can't find it free I will buy the most recyclable or reusable container possible.

If the product does come in a package I will buy the bulk item as long as I can use the food before it goes bad. Over time less packaging is wasted because I get more product with less wrapping than if I bought several smaller containers.

I will choose an organic package over a synthetic. I will choose a package made from a fast growing crop like cotton or hemp over something made from trees. I will choose an organic fast growing crop which gives nutrients back to the soil rather than robbing it.

3. How is it raised? Is it organic or non organic?

Insofar as fruits and vegetables, If it is organic and local I consider it the best. In most cases I will not buy organic over local because I feel that more waste is created by shipping organic vegetables or fruits from organic farms in california.