TORONTO GIRL CHRONICLES

One of the hardest things about being a single person (in the city or elsewhere) is, hands down, eating. No, no, I'm not going to excuse my eating habits but ...okay! I am excusing my eating habits. But really, go to the super market. Super markets are not single people friendly. The inexpensive items are too big, the small ones twice the price. So it all comes down to this conundrum: Do I buy cheap and let half of the food rot? or do I pay twice as much because I'm single? If you pick option #1 you will end up eating the same thing every-single-day for a week. I don't know about you, but this Toronto Girl loves variety.

This is where the devil comes in: Take out. In cute packaging. Oh dear, I go through months where I don't do groceries, I just eat out. Then my pants don't fit.
So now I am at the stage where my pants are not fitting and tunics and leggings have become my uniform. I am looking at my take-out bills and after doing the math I have realized that buying the expensive single-people-items will save me about $50 a month. Not a number you laugh at.

After this epiphany I called by aunt. A food connoisseur and fabulous single home-maker. Here are a few tips she shared:

- Buy organic produce - it usually comes in smaller quantities and its good for you. Pricey? yes, but as the saying goes "pay now or pay more later"

- Buy grains (organic) in big quantities - grains don't perish as quickly so, say, a bag of brown rice will last you a month, provided you store it well

-Read your food fliers and see what's on sale. We do this with clothing too right? But also know why it is on sale! The expiry date tomorrow?

- Get your organic meat at the butcher (where its sold by weight and you can control the amount you buy) and don't get a lot, you should not be eating meat every single day anyways

- Have friends or roommates with a similar passion for good food and saving money? take a field trip to the farmers market every once in a while. Buy organic fruits and veggies, and at the end of the day divide and conquer. Split the goods and the bill

- Support local farmers buy organic. Knowing you are doing something good for the environment, the local economy and yourself will help you keep motivated

- Cook on Sunday afternoons/evenings. Perfect way to get ready for the week ahead: by taking care of yourself first. Store meals in glass containers. Prepare salad but don't put in any dressing until you're about to eat it.

So, it is my hope that the following tips will help be become a domestic goddess , a savings queen and help me fit into my pants again.

RESOURCES:
What is Organic
List of Organic Farmers Markets in Toronto
Tips for Cooking for One
The Healthy Butcher - Organic Meat

Do you have any tips on eating well in a budget? Do tell!