Last month I challenged myself not to grocery shop for two weeks. This meant no quick pop-ins to see what’s new or browse for sales like I usually do for fun (I mean, I am a groceries editor after all). I only ate what I already had in my (often over-stocked) kitchen, and ended up saving more than $100. I also picked up a few tips for future shops.
This month I wanted to try another experiment to see if I could gain additional insights into the way that I shop and eat. Because it is winter and I am still trying to empty my freezer and pantry, I challenged myself to go two weeks without buying fresh produce. Stay with me. This didn’t mean giving up fruits and vegetables entirely; it meant relying on canned and frozen options.
While this two-week experiment saved me a few extra bucks (probably around $40), what I learned about my eating habits surprised me even more.
1. I ate more vegetables than I normally would.
During my two weeks of not buying fresh vegetables and fruit, I thought that my intake of produce would plummet (or at least net out to be about the same). Instead, it increased significantly. Rather than pairing my morning eggs with a single apple or banana, I started making daily smoothies packed with three or four different frozen fruits and vegetables. At dinner, instead of sautéing a handful of fresh spinach, I tossed in generous portions of frozen peppers, broccoli, and other greens.
Having a variety of frozen produce on hand made it easier to diversify my meals, too. Instead of focusing on finishing one tub of mushrooms before it spoiled, I mixed and matched ingredients, incorporating several types of fruit and vegetables at once. Because frozen produce is typically picked and preserved at peak ripeness, it often retains its flavor and nutrients surprisingly well (sometimes better than fresh items that spend days in transit).
I tried more canned vegetables, like Green Valley French Cut Green Beans, and was consistently impressed with their quality; they were crisp, flavorful, and far from the mushy texture I typically expect from some other brands.
2. I was buying fresh produce out of habit.
The experience also made me reconsider why I gravitate toward the produce section. I do genuinely enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables, but I realized I often choose them out of habit or a sense that I should. In reality, buying heads of lettuce and pints of strawberries only to watch them wilt and brown in the fridge is far worse than opting for frozen or canned alternatives that I will actually use in my own time.
In the end, I learned that convenience and sustainability in my own kitchen matter more than appearances, and that frozen and canned produce can be just as nourishing, practical, and satisfying as fresh alternatives.
Have you tried not buying fresh produce ? Tell us about it in the comments below.
