I'm always looking for ways to optimize my diet. My goals are health, low prep time, and low cost. I've gained a huge benefit over the years in learning how to reduce the prep and cook time for healthy meals. Resources like dangerandplay, and the Bodybuilding recipes - Cheap and Nutritious thread have been excellent.
For years I've shopped almost exclusively at Trader Joe's for all my food needs. While they're slightly on the pricey side, they have a wide enough selection of health food to where I don't need to make multiple trips to different stores. Including non-essential items (like coffee, tea, etc), I'm spending about $2-3/meal. I'm happy with that.
However, sometimes it's lacking options, and sometimes they run out of stock of what I'm looking for. Last time I went they were out of green tea, and didn't carry lime juice. Most of the prices are good, but some items are overpriced (but I buy them anyway, since I'm a captive customer).
While you're not gonna be able to find all of your food needs online, there are certain cases where buying food online is the best option.
Right now I'm considering buying some green tea in bulk. I'd appreciate any advice from those of you buy green tea online. Top of my list is this one: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0016BFR4G/
I'd encourage everyone to share their experience and insights when it comes to buying food online.
For years I've shopped almost exclusively at Trader Joe's for all my food needs. While they're slightly on the pricey side, they have a wide enough selection of health food to where I don't need to make multiple trips to different stores. Including non-essential items (like coffee, tea, etc), I'm spending about $2-3/meal. I'm happy with that.
However, sometimes it's lacking options, and sometimes they run out of stock of what I'm looking for. Last time I went they were out of green tea, and didn't carry lime juice. Most of the prices are good, but some items are overpriced (but I buy them anyway, since I'm a captive customer).
While you're not gonna be able to find all of your food needs online, there are certain cases where buying food online is the best option.
- When you can't find it in the store: Recently, I bought a bag of zatar (a middle eastern blend of spices) off Amazon so I have the ability to make an effortless meal in 2 minutes I can eat on the go. I pour some olive oil on a small plate, smear a couple slices of sprouted bread in it, then sprinkle them with some zatar before rinsing the plate and throwing it in the dishwasher. It's cheap, delicious, effortless, and it makes me wonder what other options I've been passing up on.
One of my favorite foods is vindaloo, but when I make it the sauce always comes out way too watery. My girl helped me lookup Psyllium husk for a cheap and healthy thickener. I can't find it at my local grocer, but it's easy to find online for cheap.
- When the options available in the store are bad quality: Sometimes, even the food available in "health food" stores isn't the best quality available. A few years ago, news broke that most of the popular olive oil brands were diluting their olive oil so that 80% of the content was actually grapeseed oil. This drastically changed the nutritional value of the product. After doing some research on olive oil brands and their content, I've resolved to only buy the brands are legit, which are only available online.
- When it's overpriced in the store: There are non-perishable items in the store that are overpriced compared to online products of the same quality. Coffee, green tea, chamomile tea, coconut oil, rolled oats, apple cider vinegar, ghee from grass fed cows, and many other products can be found for cheaper online. Looking online, some of these products are half the unit cost compared to stores.
Right now I'm considering buying some green tea in bulk. I'd appreciate any advice from those of you buy green tea online. Top of my list is this one: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0016BFR4G/
I'd encourage everyone to share their experience and insights when it comes to buying food online.