A dietitian has shared her nine sustainable grocery shopping tips, which will help you make better choices when shopping.
Sarah Morgan (26) from Melbourne uses her Instagram account to share useful lifestyle tips and recipes with her followers.
“Just a few tips to help you shop more sustainably at a large chain supermarket like Coles or Woolworths!” she captioned her post.
In the video she offered the following tips:
Bring reusable bags
We should all be around this one by now since single-use plastic bags were banned in Australia wide, but even the semi-recycled bags they now use aren’t great for the environment so BYO [Bring Your Own] is always the best option.
Shop in season
Local foods that are in season don’t have to travel as far compared to out-of-seasons foods that need to be imported from far away locations.
Swap dairy for non-dairy alternatives
We know the impact that animal products have on the environment, so if you can’t give them up entirely, opt for dairy-free alternatives where you can.
View this post on Instagram
Quit using plastic bags for loose produce and store them in containers once you get home
We know that single-use plastic is a death wish on the environment – so instead opt for using mesh bags to put the produce in when purchasing, then store in reusable containers at home to keep them fresh
Swap single serves for bulk buys
If there are products you eat regularly, opt for the bulk buys – it not only saves on the packaging but it is usually a lot cheaper.
Shop the “imperfect” range
This produce is deemed too ‘ugly’ to sell and thus usually goes to waste. Selling it as ‘imperfect’ produce saves it from being thrown away and is usually heaps cheaper as well.
Avoid pre-packaged produce when you can
The less plastic the better. We know this all too well. Opt for mesh bags instead.
Freeze items you won’t use before their use-by date
If you’ve done a huge grocery shop run, make sure you’re aware of the use-by dates on all perishable foods and freeze the ones you know you won’t use before they expire.
Collect and return soft plastic to store
Soft plastics aren’t recyclable, that is why supermarkets have a designated bin to dispose of them responsibly.
