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| Forums: April 2011 Kickstart Forum: organic vegan on the cheap tips | |||
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| cathyb
Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 149 |
organic vegan on the cheap tips Posted Monday, April 18, 2011 at 12:27 PM I thought of this after seeing some posts about buying in bulk and buying organic. I belong to a buying club that this woman runs out of the goodness of her heart (my dad couldn't believe that she did so much work for nothing, well actually $25/yr from our club dues). She orders from Alberts Organics, which is a division of United Natural Foods (they supply many health food stores). If you are interested in the produce, check out their website, unfi.com - then click on Alberts. We get ours from MN, but they may have other locations. You could get a group started if you know enough produce-loving people. I get a full share, which is a good sized box, for about $25. She does all combinations of shares - just fruit, just veg, 1/2 of any of them, etc. We also have a buying club through unfi. They have many warehouses around the country, so you could see if there is a buying club in your area (email or call the company). There are several in the Milwaukee area. Most items you have to buy by the case, but you can split with a member. Some things are great deals, others are cheaper at my local stores. I buy oats, flours, rice syrup, tomatoes, yeast, tofu, laundry detergent, raisins, and more. They carry just about everything that you would see at a natural foods store, except fresh produce. |
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| Bugsmom
Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2072 |
RE: organic vegan on the cheap tips Posted Monday, April 18, 2011 at 12:49 PM Our local co-op market buys through UNFI as well as other suppliers. We can either buy off the shelf (since it's a walk-in grocery) or we can order through them right from the supplier at a discount. Which is nice because we can try small amounts from the bulk bins, and if we find we're using a lot, we can then just order it, pay for it, and go pick it up a couple days later. No need to wait for the 'group' order or anything, which is nice. --Deb R |
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| theodore
Joined: 09/16/10 Posts: 643 |
RE: organic vegan on the cheap tips Posted Monday, April 18, 2011 at 1:25 PM Hey Good points guys. I think for organic produce, you can also reduce the cost if you buy direct from the grower. Like at a farmer's market. Never make assumptions. You'll end up being an A**, and the UMP will TION you. -- Coach Smiley -- Fresh Prince of Bel Air |
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| Bugsmom
Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2072 |
RE: organic vegan on the cheap tips Posted Monday, April 18, 2011 at 1:28 PM We've found that buying at farmer's markets is variable - sometimes the cost of the space at a farmer's market means the farmer/producer has to mark things up a bit so that it's the same as or even slightly more than a decent grocery store. It can be really variable. Sometimes, a CSA is a good option if there are any where you are and they grow the kinds of things you like. --Deb R |
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| theodore
Joined: 09/16/10 Posts: 643 |
RE: organic vegan on the cheap tips Posted Monday, April 18, 2011 at 1:39 PM I'm only going on what people have told me. I do all of my grocery shopping at Fortnum & Mason's. Never make assumptions. You'll end up being an A**, and the UMP will TION you. -- Coach Smiley -- Fresh Prince of Bel Air |
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| Bugsmom
Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2072 |
RE: organic vegan on the cheap tips Posted Monday, April 18, 2011 at 1:42 PM theodore wrote: I'm only going on what people have told me. I do all of my grocery shopping at Fortnum & Mason's. I had to go check out Fortnum & Mason's to make sure we were still in the grocery store aisles... --Deb R |
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| theodore
Joined: 09/16/10 Posts: 643 |
RE: organic vegan on the cheap tips Posted Monday, April 18, 2011 at 1:51 PM Not that I physically go in there myself. My butler does the actual shopping. But I write out the shopping list. By "write out", I of course mean dictate. Never make assumptions. You'll end up being an A**, and the UMP will TION you. -- Coach Smiley -- Fresh Prince of Bel Air |
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| Bugsmom
Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2072 |
RE: organic vegan on the cheap tips Posted Monday, April 18, 2011 at 1:56 PM theodore wrote: Not that I physically go in there myself. My butler does the actual shopping. But I write out the shopping list. By "write out", I of course mean dictate. I wouldn't expect anything less of you Theodore. Sullying your manicure with produce is hardly something you would see to yourself --Deb R |
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| theodore
Joined: 09/16/10 Posts: 643 |
RE: organic vegan on the cheap tips Posted Monday, April 18, 2011 at 2:04 PM Finally someone understands me. Never make assumptions. You'll end up being an A**, and the UMP will TION you. -- Coach Smiley -- Fresh Prince of Bel Air |
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| theodore
Joined: 09/16/10 Posts: 643 |
RE: organic vegan on the cheap tips Posted Monday, April 18, 2011 at 2:33 PM Maybe another option for organic produce, if you have any kind of garden, is to try and grow some of your own fruits and vegetables. I think potatoes and tomatoes can even be grown inside your house. Of course, you say "ta-may-toe", we say "who asked you." Never make assumptions. You'll end up being an A**, and the UMP will TION you. -- Coach Smiley -- Fresh Prince of Bel Air |
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| Bugsmom
Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2072 |
RE: organic vegan on the cheap tips Posted Monday, April 18, 2011 at 2:44 PM theodore wrote: Maybe another option for organic produce, if you have any kind of garden, is to try and grow some of your own fruits and vegetables. I think potatoes and tomatoes can even be grown inside your house. Of course, you say "ta-may-toe", we say "who asked you." A few years ago we grew a $50 tomato (ta may toe/ta mah toe who cares when it costs $50!!) We've gotten much better since then. And, we're looking to invest in a pressure cooker/canner this summer so we can take advantage of good deals at farmer's markets and even at the grocery store when good produce is available. We already make our own pesto (this year we'll be swapping nutritional yeast for parmesan, not sure how we'll handle the oil and pine nuts - we may just stick to that aspect even if it is added fat simply because so little gets used per recipe - that is, we use one ice cube size bit of pesto per pot of tomato sauce for example) |
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| theodore
Joined: 09/16/10 Posts: 643 |
RE: organic vegan on the cheap tips Posted Monday, April 18, 2011 at 3:41 PM Well, I would probably try it with just the yeast to start with. Then if that doesn't taste acceptable, add some crushed pine nuts. And if it still tastes unacceptable then add the oil as a last resort. I usually find that cashew butter goes better with tomato sauces though. Never make assumptions. You'll end up being an A**, and the UMP will TION you. -- Coach Smiley -- Fresh Prince of Bel Air |
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| Bugsmom
Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2072 |
RE: organic vegan on the cheap tips Posted Monday, April 18, 2011 at 3:43 PM theodore wrote: Well, I would probably try it with just the yeast to start with. Then if that doesn't taste acceptable, add some crushed pine nuts. And if it still tastes unacceptable then add the oil as a last resort. I usually find that cashew butter goes better with tomato sauces though. We have in the past used basil, thyme, oregano, pine nuts, parmesan, and olive oil for making pesto. It's not just taste but texture as well that's involved that we're going to try to match. Nothing like schmearing some fresh pesto on a homemade, hot, whole wheat pizza crust with some diced tomato to make a lovely meal. --Deb R |
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| marge
Joined: 09/08/10 Location: Seattle Posts: 211 |
RE: organic vegan on the cheap tips Posted Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 12:33 PM I've made lovely pesto without the parm, in fact try pesto made with parsley, or arugula. |
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| Bugsmom
Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2072 |
RE: organic vegan on the cheap tips Posted Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 12:36 PM marge wrote: I've made lovely pesto without the parm, in fact try pesto made with parsley, or arugula. Without the parm, we've done - it's the oil that is now in question. We don't grow parsley or arugula (yet :lol  so we just make pesto with what we grow - basil, oregano and thyme (oregano and creeping thyme are annuals which is nice)--Deb R |
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