Do you buy all your food at the supermarket?

[~*Niadalla*~]

I split it up... saves me heaps!
Aldi, Fruit and Veg shop and Bucher will cost me maybe $200 for a fortnights worth

I shop at coles or the likes... more like $400 for the same things.

Quality is sooo much better than a supermarket... def worth the extra fuss

[fionas]

When I was single, I used to be quite organised especially as I don't drive so there's only so much shopping you can lug on the tram. So I used to buy meat at the market and freeze it or cook in stews then freeze. I'd order fruit and veggies online from a specialty greengrocer and have them delivered. And I'd go to Coles once a week for the other stuff like tins.

Now DP insists on doing the shopping and he really likes going to lots of different places so if he has time, he will separate out into butcher, greengrocer, bakery, Aldi AND Coles. If he's going after hours though, he'll just do Coles.

I can't tell you the number of arguments we've had about him trying to get me to go with him - he thinks food shopping is fun and I would rather drop a brick on my foot quite frankly. So we compromise and I do the meal planning/list writing and he go gets the stuff and we share the cooking.

[mbear]

Im the same as the other girls.....i just dont have the time or energy with 3 little ones to go to 3 different shops. I shop at coles, luckily there is a butcher across the road where i get my meat.
Ive recently discovered Aussie Farmers Direct.....free delivery, all aussie produce. We got a huge fruit box delivered for $35 - mangoes, bananas, nectarines, apples, oranges and peaches. It lasted ages, and all moneys goes to the farmers.......worth looking into !

[Loula]

\
Ive recently discovered Aussie Farmers Direct.....free delivery, all aussie produce. We got a huge fruit box delivered for $35 - mangoes, bananas, nectarines, apples, oranges and peaches. It lasted ages, and all moneys goes to the farmers.......worth looking into !

Im going to check it out now!

Thanks

[Malyna]

There are quite a few community supported agriculture (CSA) that do great fruit and vegie boxes (food connect in brisbane is one).

I buy biodynamic lamb straight from a local farmer, and it is fantastic - actually tastes like it should do. When I am organised enough (and not so pregnant), I'll be back at the farmers markets on a Saturday morning. I tend towards green grocers for fruit and vegies as a second resort and supermarkets when I'm lazy and feel like playing russian roulette with the quality.

Fruit and veg at the supermarkets (thinking the big two) take two weeks or so to get from the farmer to the floor - and often the farmer doesn't get a good return on their produce..

[Amaunet]

I also split my shop (most of the time) and see the diff in price and quality - it also means I actually shop LESS (and impiulse buy less - as I stock up on the non-perishables

Aldi - toilet paper, soft drink, laundry/bathroom, staples, longlife milk, frozen vege , bread to freeze (monthly)
Wholesale butchers - meat and bulk frozen veges (monthly) I have a chest freezer which helps!
Greengrocer - for the fresh fruit and vege (tho I use alot of frozen) (every 10-14 days) bcause it is fresh - it lasts ages and I eat the more perishable stuff 1st. I also go to a store that is on a main road - not in a shopping centre which i find cheaper.
Asian Bakery - fresh yummy bread - usually on the weekend
Coles/Woolies - girly stuff, deli meat (when not utd) and any "brands" eg Weight Watchers - I try and limit my shopping here till when Im desperate - and make sure I am in and out fast

I can not go near the shops for 2 weeks at a time - which I love - but have to PLAN!

[Macca79]

I try to avoid big shops. I buy fruit and veg from a local market and meat from a local butcher. We also get things like skin care stuff from the local organic shop. It works out great and it get me out of the house.