While walking to the grocery store, or better yet the farmers market, is definitely the most environmentally friendly way to procure the things your family needs without bellowing out thousands of cubic feet of C02, there are prudent and money saving alternatives when walking isn't an option. 

Plan your shopping trips well.  Forgetting an important item may prompt a repeat trip to the store, and consequently require twice the fuel.  Secondly, try to shop as infrequently as possible while still maintaining a healthy variety of fresh foods.  If you can get by shopping once per week as opposed to three times per week, you'll feel good about both your fuel bill, and your conscience. 

Be careful to use everything that you buy, as infrequent shopping can lead to throwing out lots of forgotten spoiled foods!  That increases your carbon footprint, since the food had to be produced and shipped with little or no usage.  Consider freezing your meats, and properly storing all your fruits, vegitables, breads, and any other food prone to spoilage.  So long as your freezer is properly maintained, and energy efficient, this is a great alternative to more frequent shopping trips.   Keep your freezer full so it runs more efficiently and reduce your shopping even more!

Buy frequently used, non-perishable items in bulk.  This reduces shopping trips for necessities such as laundry detergent, hand soaps, and toilet paper, and saves you money, fuel, and headache.  Who wants to run out of toilet paper anyway?

More to come!   Feel free to add your tips for reducing trips!

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