I’ve been meaning to write this post for a while now. probably as long as i’ve been thinking about changing the way i shop. because we have a pretty big shopping centre close to home, the convenience of two-minutes-down-the-road and i’ll get those things we need for dinner (plus all those added extras that were on special or the treats my tastebuds fancied at the time) was becoming an all too common occurence. sometimes i’d be there four times a week. i was spending too much time and money there. in that energy sapping place. throw in an almost toddler who can be happy with a punnet of cherry tomatoes for about five minutes and it was fast becoming a stressful part of my week.

But there was one thing that really did it for me. it really made me change.

There i was, pushing the trolley, telling ché we wouldn’t be long, when one of the surfie-lookin’-fruit-and-veg-guys said to me: “hey, you’re here a lot aren’t you.”

The guy that stacks the apples had noticed how much i go to the grocery store.

It wasn’t my little problem anymore.

Other people were beginning to notice.

“Oh, it’s just that i live up the road, it’s just easy” – i very quickly got out of there.

But truth be told, there is absolutely nothing easy about going to a big grocery store with a toddler. nothing. apart from the cappuchino at the end, there’s not much to enjoy about it either.

And then heather, the gorgeous yogini-muma who writes beauty that moves, wrote a post about groceries and how much she spends. read that post (most importantly, read the comments section) and ask yourself: “how much do i spend on food?” . i’m really inspired by the way she lives. the way she shops, cooks and feeds her family. with intention, simple organisation, and a whole lotta love.

So how have i changed the way i shop?

A beautiful friend, muma and yogini runs the most fabulous business. on a monday morning (once a fortnight) she heads down to the markets and buys a small truckload of organic fruit and vegies from local and regional farmers. she brings it all home, separates it into 40 boxes and delivers those boxes to doorsteps across the central coast. my doorstep is one of them. it’s exciting to receive such fresh goodness in a box. even better that i know i’m supporting a local muma and lots of local farmers.

As for the pantry goods and dairy? I, once a week, head to the local organic store and if I need to, I’ll go to the big grocery store (by myself, and I run around there, as quickly as I can – dodging the surfie-looking’-fruit-and-veg-guy).

I’m spending less time shopping, and more time making good wholesome meals from in-season fruit and veg. it tastes good and it feels good.

Throw into the mix the best kale from grandad’s garden, plus my own herbs and well…it works for us.

Thanks for all your kind comments re. weaning ché. sage tea helped to stop the milk production and i’m feeling great. apparently ché is too – no complaining so far, anyway.