It happens every single week.
It is Sunday afternoon. You are at the grocery store. You feel motivated. You feel motivated and healthy. You look at a bag of fresh spinach and think, “I am going to make a salad every day for lunch. I am going to be a glowing beacon of health.”
Into the cart go the spinach, the kale, and the cucumbers. You also grab a bag of expensive quinoa. After all, this is the week you finally get your life together.
Then, Friday rolls around. You open the crisper drawer, and there it is. The bag of spinach has turned into a sad, green sludge. You didn’t eat it. You didn’t even open it.
You sigh, toss it in the trash, and feel a wave of shame. Why do we keep doing this to ourselves?
The truth is, you aren’t wasteful. You are just falling into the “Fantasy Self” trap.
We Shop for the Person We Want to Be
Grocery shopping is a trap.
For example, when we push that cart, we aren’t shopping for our current reality. Instead, we are shopping for our “Fantasy Self.”
The Fantasy Self wakes up early. Also, she loves chopping vegetables and has endless energy. She loves yoga. She loves meal prepping. But, she definitely does not eat cereal for dinner.
However, the person who has to eat the food is the ‘Real Self.’ The Real Self is tired after work. This version of you hates dishes. Therefore, you just want to eat toast.
This gap creates food waste. It is the battle between your Fantasy Self and your Real Self.
3 Ways to Stop Wasting Money
If you are tired of throwing money into the garbage can, it is time to shop for your Real Self. Here is how.
1. The “Frozen Rule”
Unfortunately, fresh vegetables have a ticking clock. If you skip one meal, they start to die.
The Fix: Stop buying fresh vegetables for the second half of the week. Because of the spoilage risk, buy frozen instead.
Frozen broccoli is just as healthy. Plus, it will happily wait for you in the freezer. It never goes bad. So, if you are too tired to cook on Thursday, the broccoli won’t judge you.
2. Be Honest About the Pizza
Stop pretending you won’t crave junk food. You will.
Do not skip the frozen pizza. Otherwise, you will just order takeout when you get tired.
Buying ’emergency food’ isn’t unhealthy. On the contrary, it is realistic. It saves you money when the salad plan finally fails.
3. Shop Online
Grocery stores want you to impulse buy. The smells, the displays, the music—it is all a trap.
In fact, when you shop online, you can’t smell the bakery. You can check your fridge to see if you actually need more cheese. You stick to the list and save money. You won’t accidentally buy a papaya you can’t cut.
Common Questions About Food Waste
Why do I waste so much food?
Usually, it is because you buy too much. You shop for a fantasy version of your week. Then, reality hits on Tuesday.
Is frozen food actually healthy?
Yes. Frozen vegetables are picked at peak ripeness. Therefore, they are full of nutrients. Also, they do not rot in your fridge.
How can I save money on groceries?
First, make a list. Second, stick to it. Finally, do not shop when you are hungry. If you shop hungry, you will buy snacks you do not need.
Conclusion
So, be kind to your Real Self. It is okay if you aren’t a gourmet chef on a Tuesday night.
Buy the frozen peas. Buy the easy pasta. And please, stop buying the giant bag of spinach unless you are absolutely sure you have a plan for it. Food waste happens to everyone. Do not beat yourself up. Just change your plan.
Tell me in the comments: What is the one vegetable you always buy but never eat? For me, it is absolutely the cilantro.
