My involvement in a better future focusses also on eating organic food and preserving our environment


And my challenge is to convince the most people possible that eating the good stuff (mainly organic or spray free and cooked the right way) does not cost much more to our budget and for sure does cost much less to the environment than eating processed food packaged individually and none organic food. Also, very importantly, it improves our physical and mental health and the quality of the world around us.


A few years ago, a bit as a family Challenge but also because of some health issues I was going through, we decided to eat, where possible, only organic food and also to avoid eating almost all types of processed food. Said like that it seems quite challenging in today's reality... But actually it sounds much more impressive than it really is! Yes, you need to put more of your time in the cooking process, need also maybe a bit more organisation, you have to re-think the way you do your grocery shopping as you'll spend less time in the supermarket and more in small local retailers, but the result after just 2 weeks of doing it and having started to adapt to this new way is SO rewarding!

First, you'll realise that cooking more is very pleasant and makes people around you happy. Also you'll start to feel free from the imperialism of big labels as you are in control of what you eat (no more preservatives, additives, nasty chemicals, artificial colorings, pesticides, abusive use of sugar, wrong cooking oils etc. etc.) then you'll realize that actually you can save money, yes you can...!!! I've noticed that lots of fruits and veggies that I buy at my organic shop are less expensive than non organic ones sold in supermarkets... so if you plan carefully by shopping some of your food at the supermarket, other at your local organic butcher and organic grocer, if you buy the right produces at the right time, season and place then you can really save money (indeed it's going to take a bit more of your time, but the experience of shopping will be much more enjoyable as you get a true connection with the local retailers). You can also save money because you bake more, you barely buy any more biscuits, crackers and others, which often accounts for a lot of our budget and filled up our bins with their packaging. So what a good surprise too, when you will be noticing that the amount of rubbish you produce has decreased radically! You can also adjust your budget allocated to meat by buying organic quality in smaller quantity than the quantity you use to buy for your usual non organic bits. Decreasing the amount of meat consumption is excellent for health and when combined with organic quality it without no doubt, adds huge benefits!

The thought and sensation of doing the right things for our health and for the environment are an absolute reward! And on top of that when you combine the right amount of exercise you can be sure that you put all the best chances on your side of having a healthy and environmentally responsible lifestyle.

Buying fresh local produces promotes and supports the local economy, allows some traceability of the products, probably also, pushes others farmers to go for organic productions because the demand in organic food increases more and more. This increasing demand is the result of a better awareness of health issues triggered by pesticides, herbicides and other nasty chemicals, but also because we are now much more educated on environmental questions and issues than we used to be in the past.

I can help you to go on that path, help you to plan your grocery shopping differently by taking you to organic grocers and to your usual supermarket to show you that you can shop quality products without spending more, not all foods need to be organic, but there are some which never should be eaten if non organic or non spray free. I want you to find the way to reach this amazing feeling that doing the right things for our health and for the environment generates. These are just small individually done things, but if we all do some and put them together, they will for sure contribute to a better living and a cleaner world. It is our responsibility to the future generations.

Good places to shop organic or spray free produces in Christchurch :
- Liberty Market for seasonal fruits, veggies, bulks (raisins, nuts, oat, rice, tomatoes tins, flour etc) Clearwater Yogurt, body care product, spices, breads, chicken and a lovley and smilly staff always happy to help : libertymarket.co.nz
- Opawa Farmers Market every Sunday for seasonal fruits, veggies and breads.
- Countdown for Macro organic produces (pasta are very good values) Mainland organic cheese often on special, Black&green Organic chocolat when on special.
- New-World Saint-Martins for organic beef and chicken, eggs, Luppi organic olive oil when on special, Organic Rye sourdough Mountain bread, organic waps, wines.
- Bakery Street at the tannery for beautifull artisanal organic breads.
- Banfields Butcher in Beckenham for delicious meat : banfieldsofbeckenham.co.nz
- Piko, quite pricy but good selection of organics : pikowholefoods.co.nz
- Lyttelton Market on Satruday mornings
- Lyttleton : harbourcoop.co.nz/food-and-groceries/pantry

For more information, great articles and inspiration about organic visit : http://www.organicnz.org.nz

To know which food we should always eat organic and which one we do not need to, Click on the button underneath and go down on the page to the article 11 :

Sandrine Labout
Mobile Personnal trainer
​Christchurch NZ
mobile phone : 021 08 29 10 33