loving the veg box innit

It is week 2 of our veg box delivery.  We have gone with Abel and Cole.  Mainly because I got home the other day and they had leafleted and you got 1 free box and the cookery book if you signed up there and then.  So I did.  The good thing about them is that they sell a whole load of other stuff as well.  We can pretty much do all our shopping with them if we want.  So we are getting milk and cheese and orange juice and stuff too. I have hence decided to absolutely as much as is possible to avoid the supermarkets.  We have been once since, to get breakfast cereal for bub and diet drinks for hub.  He is back on his diet and while these things are not the best, they do help him with coping with a carb free diet.  He is doing really well.  3 weeks of 6 days no carbs and one day indulging!  He has lost nearly a stone, so it really does work.  of course this is all weight he has put back on since he stopped bothering with dieting, but its still good.  Also I just think there seems to be a real shift in what he wants to eat, and the maintenance of weight loss is the important part.

I am loving loving loving not going to the supermarkets.  I just feel so right about it.  I have been tracking spending since then too, and though our food bill is not low (£86 for the first week)  it is actually lower than it was.  We are eating up more of the food we have got, and you have to bear in mind that we are now eating pretty much entirely organic, so not 'frugal'.

I met a chef this week, who started to tell me that 'organic' was not the way forward as it was 'unsustainable' and didn't necessarily mean organic or eco friendly at all.  Which almost pissed me off as this is part of the whole reason for me doing so.  But actually, according to her, the way forward is to buy locally, and buy from responsible farmers.  Organic certification is really hard to get and there are plenty of farmers who are nearly organic.  I was very pleased when she bigged up Abel & Cole as really supporting local farmers and being an excellent choice.

Organic or not, not buying from the supermarkets was definately key.  I really believe in supporting local and small businesses so am very happy that my veg box choice is part of that.

Another thing I am really loving is that there is SO MUCH LESS packaging.  The boxes and bags things come in are returnable.  And even the milk and cheese comes packed in a wool cooler box.  Its not polystyrene!  I am putting so much less in the bin to landfill.  Gotta be good.  

Now to start getting that food bill down a bit.  And the rest of the spending, which is still a bit out of control.  I think we have to have a look at the whole reality of our situation.  We have a really great life at the moment.  Neither of us has to commute or do horrid work.  We are very free, and can cook at home and look after Bub when he needs us.  However we are currently spending more money than we have coming in.  Supported by savings.  And this is definately not sustainable.