Nutrition E-Dition - February 2008

Hello everyone! Happy Valentine`s Day! Over the past six years of health counseling I have noticed one stumbling block that comes up for clients regularly - the high cost of health foods. Although I have argued many times that the cost is much higher to everyone involved (our bodies, the animals, the environment and even the economy) when we choose cheap food or food products instead of healthy foods. However, that being said, it can be daunting to any consumer when they see the prices of organic foods and household items at the health food stores or the healthy sections in the supermarkets. I have come up with a solution to this problem. Through our monthly community meetings, I was encouraged by neighbors to look into starting up a natural foods buying club. After several meetings about the idea, we decided to give it a try. And it has worked! For the last five months we have been ordering health food in bulk from a leading national distributor, United Natural Foods (""UNF"") saving nearly 29% on our grocery bills. How does it work? Well, like when buying from Sam`s Club or BJ`s, the key is to buy in large quantities. We don`t expect each household to take home a 50# bag of organic steel cut oats, but we can certainly split them up and all enjoy a savings of over twenty-five cents on each pound. Bulk items (grains, beans, flour, nuts, etc.), grocery items (pasta, canned goods, olive oil, etc.), organic dairy and perishables, environmentally friendly household products (cleaning supplies and paper goods), personal care items and supplements are only the beginning of what you can order at buying club prices. UNF has a web ordering system that helps us split cases with each other simply by going online to see who wants to split what. It is simple and fun and community building. I have met many new neighbors over the past year and just recently we had our first buying club potluck with over thirty adults and children in attendance. Why am I telling you all of this? Well for those of you who live in the vicinity of Kingston, NY, please feel free to contact me if you are interested in joining the club. For those who live outside the vicinity, please contact me if you are interested in finding a club in your area. There are over 3,000 in the United States. If there is not one close enough to you, I would be happy to guide you in setting up your own in your community. In the larger scheme of things, our support of natural food manufacturers, farmers and suppliers sends a message that, as consumers, we choose health for ourselves, our families, and our environment. The more we ask for it, the more likely the overall cost of buying health foods will go down. Who knows our little buying club (nearly forty households already) may grow into a food coop or more. With our plans to include local farmers and producers - anything is possible! Just think next Valentine`s Day you could buy your Green & Black`s organic dark chocolate bars for you and your loved ones in bulk and have plenty left to share! With warmest regards, Jennifer