Be sure to check back every Monday for money saving tips for your family!
We wish we had the funds to buy all organic vegetables, we really do but the reality of our financial situation right now is that we cannot. That does not take away my desire to feed my children as few pesticides and bacteria as possible though! If your budget is constricting in this area you may want to spend some extra time washing your vegetables thoroughly before feeding them to your family to reduce some of the toxic consumption. Even if you do buy organic the fruits and vegetables you have still contain bacteria!!! This is a very inexpensive way to reduce bacteria ingestion that works for me!
- Before putting produce away wash and dry it all
Please be advised this is what works for me, otherwise my husband forgets to wash it before eating (ewww!) but washing fruits and vegetables before consumption does reduce thier shelf life. If you have trouble with fruit and vegetables going bad you will want to just wash it hte day of
- Use a mixture of vinegar and water as a spray on the vegetables
I have a confession to make I am really really in love with vinegar. About a year ago I started using it as a vegetable wash. I put a little in a spray bottle with water and went to town. It just seemed to get my veggies and fruit cleaner and didn’t leave any lingering flavor or smell. I simply spritzed the surface and then rubbed and rinsed under water (or in a bowl). Then I came across this fabulous article from NPR (love that station!) that explains just how effective it is.
According to the article the vinegar scrub removed 95% of the bacteria, a 15% increase from water alone. ( some people argue it does nothing more then water…but it makes my fruit feel “cleaner” and less waxy) Less bacteria and no expensive vegetable scrub, yes please!
- Dry the vegetables thoroughly before putting them away
This may seem like common sense but it is always a good reminder…your veggies will stay fresher longer when they are put away dry not wet. I just allow them to air dry on the counter (usually overnight) and then place them back in their bags…
What ways do you frugally reduce bacteria and contaminants in your food?
