One of the freedoms you gain living away from home at university is food shopping. Of course, sometimes it is an absolute chore. The thought of dragging yourself out of the flat to trudge down to the supermarket, especially if it’s raining, is horrible. But shopping for yourself gives the chance to discover new foods and also the freedom of choosing where to shop. I have personally found myself on a journey of low-waste food shopping. It can be a bit overwhelming and time consuming to try and dedicate to zero-waste shopping. Instead, I try to find ways of reducing my waste from shopping in little ways. One of the easiest ways to reduce my waste is by being a little more conscious of the stores I choose to buy at. Not only, does this provide the opportunity to get rid of all that extra plastic packaging but also the fantastic benefit of supporting some amazing independent shops. Dundee has some absolutely terrific shops that enable you to start practicing some low waste shopping. Here is a few suggestions of my favourite places that you can check out the next time you go for a food shop!
Fraser’s Grocers
On Perth Road, Fraser’s sells all your fruit and veg needs, and even more. I have been shopping here since I was a fresher now. It is a great shopping option when you are only cooking for one. I can buy just the veg I need, instead of the huge packets of carrots where inevitably I have to throw out some of it. This way you can save money and reduce your food waste. The shop also puts together some awesome soup ingredient packages! Fraser’s sources all their products as locally as possible. Also, if you have a craving for fresh bread they get regular deliveries from Wild Hearth Bakery.
Little Green Larder
Also, on Perth Road you can find the Little Green Larder, a dedicated zero-waste shop. The store is absolutely packed with fantastic environmental options. Make sure to bring some empty jars and containers and you can fill up to your hearts content with all sorts of great goodies. They also have refill stations for all your necessities, washing liquid, laundry detergent, dishwasher tablets and much more. The Little Green Larder is a great place to shop without worrying about all that pesky plastic.
Dundee’s Farmer Market
A fantastic place to pick up some cupboard essentials is the Dundee Farmer’s Market. Held on the third Saturday of every month outside Caird hall, the market has a great collection of local family-run farms and businesses to pick up some great food options. Prices are really reasonable, so it is another great option to shop a little more environmentally friendly. In addition, with the run up to Christmas there is some fantastic stalls to pick up some unique gifts.
Community Fridge
Located just off Perth Road, on the edge of campus is the Community Fridge run by the Gate Church’s Carbon Saving Project. This is a great local initiative that allows anyone to pick up some free food, yes that’s right free, that otherwise would get chucked in the bin. The fridge represents another great opportunity to save some pounds and also lower food waste.
If you are still interested in exploring some more options, there is also:
Birchwood Food Emporium and Café
Heart Space Whole Foods
Sea No Waste (in Arbroath)