frugavore + book giveaway
I did a fortnightly grocery shop today. I came home with a full trolley and a significantly less abundant wallet. Everything, it seems, is more expensive each and every time I visit the supermarket. As a repercussion of floods and cyclones, many crops have been ruined. The woman that organises our organic fruit and veg deliveries is already noticing a dramatic change in price and availability.
What is a frugavore?
‘Frugavore’ describes a ‘love of frugality’.. So in a cooking sense, a ‘frugavore’ is a person who grows much of their own food, buys local produce, wastes nothing and always eats well.
What inspired you to write “Frugavore”?
I had long been into buying organic and local produce, but the inspiration to write Frugavore started when I was teaching a group of kids in a temporary housing estate how to cook healthy food on a low budget. I wanted to show them that eating low-budget meals didn’t have to constitute eating junk food and processed food from the supermarket or fast-food outlet. You could eat good quality food on a low budget – you just needed to source and prepare it frugally.
So I started writing up weekly recipes and tips for the kids and eventually this collection of ideas became the first draft of Frugavore…
Can you tell me a little about your journey towards changing the way you shop, cook and eat?
The journey to becoming a frugavore was definitely an eventful one! It involved growing more of our own food (this meant ripping up the front lawn to start a vegie patch) we got a few chickens, built up our compost pile (so that less rubbish left our property, all of it turned into fertiliser for the garden) and also started buying more produce directly from our local farm.
Along the way, I soon realised how wasteful our previous habits of food preparation and storage had been. I think that becoming a frugavore made me a lot more conscious about the environmental implications of food and how much we had previously wasted. Now, I can’t look at produce that has excess packaging or won’t easily biodegrade easily into my compost. Once you start being a frugavore, it’s hard to stop!!
But I think the biggest benefit of being a frugavore is that it is really a lot of fun, and our lifestyles have changed all the better for it …. I have come to love waking up early in the morning just to water the garden, coming home from work to see the chickens walking up their ramp into their house. And I still get a huge amount of enjoyment out of spending a Saturday afternoon weeding and harvesting plants for the upcoming week, making stock out of chicken feet and carcasses, and preserving our food whenever I have a moment free.
What has the response from readers been like?
The response from people has been great! I’ve had plenty of people come up to me at farmer’s markets and food stores telling me about the vegetables they are growing and the chicken stock that they’re making. A lady approached me in my yoga class last week telling me about the guerrilla garden that she’s set up in front of her apartment block. I love hearing about these things!
Do you think, as a whole, the nation is becoming more conscious of the food we buy and consume?
Definitely. I think people are beginning to realise the environmental cost of our ever-expanding food waste. Our landfills are vastly overflowing, and there is an excess of chemical run-off seeping into our oceans. In Australia alone, annual food waste is estimated at 5.3billion each year. That’s a lot of money!
At the same time, people are craving a healthier food supply with more nutrient-dense produce. This can only be achieved if we connect directly to the source of our food (by growing it ourselves, or shopping directly from the farm or local seller). We need to cook more food at home and cut out processed foods from our diet.
There has also been a strong move toward connecting to local farms and supporting local food economies during the past decade. This can be seen in the increase in grass-root food movements such as Slow Food (www.slowfood.com ), The Weston A. Price Foundation (www.westonaprice.org ), community gardens, guerrilla gardening and landshare movements. I hope that we see even more of these movements in the future!!
Can you give three simple tips for how to save money at the checkout without sacrificing quality in the trolley?
1- TIPS FOR FRESH PRODUCE: Always look for produce that is in season as it will be fresher, better for you and usually cheaper too (as it is in local abundance). If you are able to shop through local producers you will often get a better deal on fresh produce as the price will fluctuate more. You can also have the satisfaction that you are supporting the local food economy.
2- TIPS FOR CHICKEN & DUCK: Look for the best quality produce (ie organic, free-range chicken), but buy food in bulk rather than the smaller cuts.
For example – two chicken breasts cost roughly the same amount as a whole chicken (at most, they are a dollar or two cheaper). Two chicken breasts really only allow for dinner for two people. So instead, if you buy the whole bird, you can roast it or make it into chicken soup (I have an awesome recipe for this in Frugavore). If you roast it, you can collect all the scraps after the meal and make it into stock, and then use this as a base for a light soup the following night. With either dish, you can use the leftovers (chicken meat) to make an easy leftover dish such as chicken with rice.
3- TIPS FOR LAMB, BEEF & FISH: Look for the cheaper cuts of meat and fish – casserole cuts, off-cuts, bones and fish heads. These ‘off-cuts’ are often significantly cheaper than the prime cuts (steak, eye-fillet etc). If you buy the ‘off-cuts’ you can then justify spending those extra dollars on better quality meat (look for grass-fed and organic). Fish heads and bones are often given away at markets and these form a beautiful base for fish soup (which is highly nutritious).
Thanks for introducing us to Arabella and her book Frugavore. I am a mum of two young boys and we live on a very modest income. Food expenditure is an excellent way to lower the cost of living. I find that soy milk is cheaper per litre than cow milk and that tofu is highly nutritious and a cheap alternative to meat (marinades are endless!). We rent so we grow what we can in pots and I agree, menu planning is essential for being frugal. Thanks for the chance to win!
Fi
http://www.bravenewfiona.blogspot.com
I've read about this book online before, a great concept for a decent way to live, I say. I'd love the chance to win this book. I agree, food prices are going through the roof and are particularly challenging when on one income. To try and save as much $$, we shop at markets, grow our own herbs and some fruit n veg, and try and plan ahead so we only buy what we'll need for that week.
I just started with a rooftop garden and I would be really happy to get some more inspiration and ideas! Wish to win this amazing book!
This post is one after my own heart. It seems my weekly conniption (there's always one – although generally along a varying theme) is entirely grocery-shopping based. For all those reasons you listed. AAAARGH.
Thank you, clever Frugavore writer lady for your three top tips.
PS. Although the conniption I had three weeks ago was slightly different. I huffed loudly and wildly at the presence of HOT CROSS BUNS at the supermarket entrance. IT IS NOT EASTER.
Jodi – we're in the same boat. We stock up on lots of dried lentils, chickpeas and beans. Make sure to always have a batch in the fridge soaking. Just top it up with veggies and meat once a week!
Fingers crossed for the book. xx
PS. Last night it was chickpeas, ginger and rosemary. Who would have thought that combo to work!
Can't wait to read this book. If I'm not your winner I'll put in straight on my birthday list. ..
I am a huge fan of menu planning and I really try and first, alwasy 'shop form the pantry' – see what's there to work with before planning around that.
Still, food is an enormous expense for us and I dream of one day having the time and energy to devote to grwoing more produce.
Hope you're feeling well! Pat the bump for me.
xx
Thanks for the interview Jodi (& Arabella).
I'm always on the lookout for cheap & nutritious meals at my place.
We're also big on dried beans, lentils & chickpeas, batch cooking, meal planning & bulk buying (less trips to the dreaded supermarket).
It's easy to fall into the pre-made food trap, but it is so rewarding to cook from scratch & cheaply too.
Good luck with your frugavoring, it seems that you are not alone.
It sounds like a great book, I'd love the chance to win it. Thank you.
we are doing more meatless meals. lots of soups, salads, and lentils with brown rice. i also make popcorn every morning for the boys to snack on throughout the day…very cheap snack. i pop it in coconut oil so it is really good for them too. sliced carrot stick also a cheap snack to offer. would absolutely love a copy of this book.
Looks like a fantastic book. I need every bit of inspiration i can get and would love to win! I've just started growing lots of herbs which is saving us a little bit each week as we like to add herbs to everything! It is also a fun thing to include the kiddies with. Everything is wilting away in the severe heat though!
I ordered this book last week, but I have a couple of friends who would love this book. I need to learn more about cooking with legumes, felafels are on the menu here a bit lately!
Oh yes, I could certainly do with some tips on spending less on food. I still find myself at the supermarket most days, and with three boys, it's getting more and more expensive as their appetites get bigger! Thanks for introducing this one to me jodi, and by the way, can we come visit soon??!!
How brilliant! This fits in with the whole "food revolution" that we are implementing in our household. If I don't win, I shall have to seek this one out. 🙂
Here in Barcelona we are aswell starting to get the concept of organic food, but in the city the local producer are quite hidden!
Thanks for discovering me the book!
Here in Barcelona we are aswell starting to get the concept of organic food, but in the city the local producer are quite hidden!
Thanks for discovering me the book!
I need this book too. We try to do a lot of cost saving/good eating measures too, but we have a baby due any minute now and I'm wondering how we'll transition from a couple to a family in terms of eating. Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
Thanks for the interview. I'd love to win this book. I'm starting to prepare for a drop in income in 6 months, so our already frugal life is going to get even more frugal.
Like many above, we live largely off dried beans, lentils and other pulses. I also have sprouts on the kitchen bench all the time. Mung bean sprouts are a staple.
Wow, this book looks so interesting! I like to think that I always try to be frugal so everything in that department interest me a lot. However, sometimes, I need help…you know since food is so expensive (especially in Canada in winter)!!!
i'm wracking my brain trying to remember where i spotted this book recently – thanks for the reminder! we are often discussing food at our place – the love of it, our values around it, the necessary bottom line, different people's priorities and needs. frugality is a common theme for many. i'm looking forward to having a closer look at this book soon and sharing some of the ideas with friends. thanks for organising the interview x
One of the talks my husband and I had as the new year was approaching was how we could cut back on our food bill. It is our most expensive next to our mortgage. This is just a perfect book to fit into our new mindset. We started a garden last year but we have a major mole issue. I went to pull the broccoli and what I got was a gapping hole in our garden bed. I think a raised bed is in order this year. Thank you for the interview and the give-a-way.
On our budget drive we've got really good at money-saving food ideas. We only shop locally and eat meat maybe twice a week max. As long as we have some lentils, garlic, chilli and mushrooms there's a good meal going.
The books looks awesome. I'm keeping my fingers crossed (if it's an international giveaway!!)
Happy weekend xx
Thank you so much for sharing Frugavore. Perfect timing…I just returned from the grocery store and feeding my family in an all around better (and more cost efficient way) was still on my mind when I looked at your blog. Thanks you for the chance to own it 🙂 Lana
We grow our own veg, mostly things that can be grown in the South of Victoria. Beets, Cucumber, Lettuce, Silverbeet, Capsicum and of course Tomatoes to name a few. If there are any leftovers I try to incorporate them into another meal I can use during the week, and we always eat leftovers for lunch the next day. And most importantly only buying what we need, never buying something just because, making do with what we already have at home.
Oh my!! This book would be sooooo useful for the dreamer who dreams of eating a better way…i.e. ME! Thanks for introducing Arabella and new way of thinking!
this sounds fabulous! Even if I don't win I am going in search of this book!
What a great post Jodi! I will definitely be tracking down this book : )
Wow this sounds like a book I need to read! I have just had my husband dig up 1/4 of our back yard in preparation for my vegetable garden that I have been dreaming about since buying our home. The one thing we do and love is buy our fruit and veg from a local organic supplier who get his produce from the markets – fresh, daily. It tastes better, lasts longer and you just feel better eating it knowing it still contains all it's natural goodness.
I, like you have noticed how much more we are spending on food each week and it terrifies me!!! I have resorted to planning our weekly dinners and using whatever vegies are looking 'sad' in my fridge on the night. Seems I am not alone!!!
I am in my frugality infancy..last fortnight was our first sticking to a budget… at times it was hard not giving into temptations and at other times easy to steer clear of spending…I'm hoping we can stick to it again this fortnight! Thanks for the chance to win 🙂
oh this is so up my alley – this year is my year of upping the things we make rather than buy to a new level and really buying less. If we can't buy it from local small shops and producers we go without. We just gave up supermarkets entirely. SO exciting would love to read the book to go another level!
x
Very inspiring indeed! My man, my daughter and I share an apartment with two friends (with a baby on the way) and we all have weekly veggi/fruiteboxes from local organic farmers delivered to our doorstep. We also try to reduce our waste to a minimum. Love to get more inspired by Frugavore!
Beautiful 60's Bump. Just gorgeous. AND I want that book! Every time I go back to Australia food is more expensive. (I'm remembering a particularly flabbergasting moment when I got a few silvery pieces of change from 10 dollars for a loaf of bread and a bottle of milk..)
It's a serious issue. Here in Spain good vegies, bread and milk are much cheaper but the availability of certified organic is a big problem. I wrote a post on this as well a few months ago. It really annoys me because it seems like governments, big supermarket chains and all of "THEM" just want us to keep buying what they offer, at the prices they offer without asking questions. They rely on our laziness (or probably more accurately, our "busy-ness") to have their way with us. Weighing on my mind as I'm preparing to bring my first little one into the world… and an issue that extends past food to ALL the products that we supposedly "need" but that no-one wants to tell us about. We really need books like this one on every bookshelf…
I also would lovethis book. We belong to a CSA during the growing season, it works out very economically.
Lisa
This book looks like a really good read – as a single mummy I need to be as frugal as possible!
Thanks for introducing us to this book! I'm intrigued! We buy a lot of fruit in our house of two because my husband eats several pieces a day. It has taken me years, but I've finally convinced him that buying fruit out of season is insane, and not delicious, and not cheap! We also shop at the Farmers Market – so much cheaper, and tastier to boot. Any left over fruit going off gets stewed in the microwave and frozen for later. Old vegies get chucked in the curry or pasta sauce. And sausages are quite an economical meat alternative – perfect BBQed with salad, and the leftovers go into a typical 70s curried sausage and rice dish for later that week.
But I still think we can do better, We buy too much, and throw too much out. I need to do better with gluts in the vegie patch too.
I'm terrible at frugal shopping – I just go with my heart when I feel like it! I want to learn more about lentils and using other cuts of meat – although I have limited storage in my share house so it's always a challenge!
thank you for introducing me to this book jodi. it looks wonderful. we eat nt and find the resourceful use of stocks etc very economical and wonderfully nutritious – but in general with meat and vegetables and dry goods, we too are finding a continuously escalating food bill. it's always the one figure on our budget review that makes us cringe. we recently discovered lamb rosettes and they are SO cheap yet when marinated and slow cooked – they are DElicious! best meat, so tender, but you wouldn't think so to look at the cut, it's quite full of bones – but again, in being so, it's very nutritious as the bone marrow cooks down into the sauce/ stock of the dish.
i'll be hoping to be the lucky one chosen to receive your generous offer of the copy of this book – it would be wonderful 🙂 thank you xxx
Looks like a great book. I normally try to be really frugal with my shopping and cooking but having no kitchen for a month due to renovations has made it a real challenge and I need a kick start to get back into shopping and cooking (instead of beans on toast every night…)
Arabella's frugavore concept is a message that should be spread to everyone. not only does it act to counter the rising cost of produce, but also has the positive flow ons of environmental benefits, tackling the obesity issue, getting us really listening to our bodies and promoting a healthy diet! Love the concept- think it's a really great lifestyle choice post GFC and when so many are in financial hardship!
Best of luck with the competition, and well done Arabella!
We try and eat pretty frugally, but every so often get busy/lazy and fall in a processed food heap. Erk. Our baby is due any day now, so a book that takes some of the brain-work out of eating well for cheap would be a godsend!
What a great interview Jodi, and a wonderful giveaway!
It's great to read so many comments that show people are on the same wavelength, trying eat better for less whilst saving the planet!
My tip is to stay out of the big supermarkets. It's so easy to impulse buy and spend way more than I intended. I shop for groceries at local independent grocers, it may cost a little more for some things, but this helps me keep a tight rein on my spending so in the long run I save money. And as a bonus I feel better supporting local businesses.
What a great book discovery. Thank you for sharing.
We plan and shop for meals for the week ahead – and visit out local famers market. It's a lovely weekend chore that we do together. Good for the wallets, good for the earth and good for the heart.
x
ps. thank you for the Darby Street tip…we had fun exploring the strip!
As a young architect I am really interested in exploring the possibility of accomodatng gardens and food production in my own life but also into the fabric of the city. This book sounds wonderful and practical- I'd love to read more and act on it!
Thank you for sharing.
this is really great, jodi! thanks for introducing me to it. this year i am all about canning so i don't have to miss out on those seasonal things in winter here. i'm such a queensland girl, i miss them so much over here.
I hear you Jodi! I'm always shocked at how big our grocery bill is considering it's only for TWO people. One of the things I try to do is buy bulk when things are on special (like chicken and fruit) and then freeze it all. Fingers crossed for the book! x
Beautiful pictures. I find buying every day cuts down on the food bill as I don't feel the need to load up on frozen and things that never get used. The frozen stuff which always ends up being forgotten and then chucked. It also makes you concentrate on proper meals instead of slapping together stuff…mind you with four kids do plenty of the latter too…
Thank you for reminding me of this book, I read an interview with Arabella a while ago and had been trying to recall who it was!
I too am horrified at how much we spend on simple necessities. I too have altered my mindset to cook what's in season most affordably, using up all more stores BEFORE buying something else. It means I can't cook to my fancies as much, but honestly, something had to give.
For so long now, I've wanted to get more organised and have a menu plan. Even a weekly shop. I find all to often I'm racing to the shops for something for dinner at lunchtime at work, or just before picking up the girls from kinder. It's all too late and too last minute. And also results in poorer food choices and often more expensive shopping habits.
But, you are so right! 'Shop, cook and eat with awareness' – thats exactly what I need to do. You've inspired me to get myself organised and do it!
Thanks for the introduction!
I have been looking for better options lately. It's freezing here in Toronto and it's hard to get fresh produce in Feb!
Would love to win the book.
Fiona – I hope you don't mind me commenting but I recently came across some interesting information about excess amounts of soy and children – it can increase the chance of thyroid issues like hypothyroidism (I live with it).
Tofu is okay because it's fermented by soy milk intake should be moderate. Sorry just thought you might like to know
looks like a wonderful book … i have been needing some inspiration! A fantastic post.
oh i was just looking at this book the other day! what a great way to do life 🙂 im always looking for new inspiration and ideas to help me along the road to a simple life…
thanks for hosting such a rad giveaway 🙂 KEL x
Looks like a great book Jodi!
After paying 8 dollars for 4 bananas i declared it eat from the pantry week. It's amazing how, with a little creativity plus a little home produce, we can still make tasty nutritious meals from not much.
we live on a tiny island in the Mediterranean. We are lucky to have a European style market in our small town where we can buy our fruit and veg from local producers. Unfortunately,don't have space to grow our own except for our fave herbs. We take our compost to a friends farm once or twice a week. We save money by making a huge bowl of bircher muesli every week – cheap as chips and delish. Each dinner makes a lunch. Almost all our sweet indulgences are home made as well as most baby snacks. First advice to others…stop buying breakfast cereals, fruit juices and commercial snacks – they cost a fortune and don't go very far. Viva la revolucion!