We’re joined today by Irish Times journalist Louise Holden for a special guest post on the politics of shopping.
Grocery shopping has become complex to the point of absurdity. There has been a steady convolution of the simple act of shopping over the last twenty years, but recession brings a new and bewildering twist. How does [...]

When I moved to the countryside a couple of years ago it was assumed that I would be baking tarts, making doilies, and hand-rearing lamb in the living room - or at the very least cultivating my own vegetable patch.
I can’t say I have done all of the above but I did have great success [...]

Do you have guests coming over and want it to look like you care about them more than you do? This menu is a winner.
Assuming you have a couple of basics in your larder, the moussaka is straight forward enough and especially good because the potato and aubergine are treated and then fried. A lemon [...]

There are some great deals on vegetables and fruit at the moment. But what’s the point in stocking up if you don’t know how to store them properly? I use to shove all my fruit and vegetables in the fridge and then moan a few days later when some were rotten. Well, there is a [...]

It’s National Organic Week. The annual event is all about raising consumer awareness of organic food, how to recognise it, and where to buy it. Sales of organic food are defying the recession, having risen by 16% in the past year.
I’ve been buying organic bananas, potatoes, tomatoes and carrots in Lidl and Aldi for the [...]

I’ve been in a chicken conundrum for the past few years and purposefully sabotaged myself by avoiding the delicious bird except for the odd occasion. The reason being is that I find it hard to stomach chicken that hasn’t had a decent life, and either opt for organic or at the very least free [...]

Pricewatch - one of CheapEats’ favourite newspaper columns - returns in today’s Irish Times after the summer break. Conor Pope has some great tips on how to spend less in the supermarket, including my personal favourite:
Avoid value-added stuff: Bagged salad, grated cheese and pre-chopped onions are enemies of the budget conscious and cost as much [...]

Wow! Look at all this food. Why don’t we have anything like this in Dublin?
Corkonians need no introduction to The English Market, but the rest of us might. Last Saturday, I was amazed and enchanted by an extraordinary feast for all five senses.
This huge indoor market has been around since 1788 and is jammed with [...]

A few weeks ago, we started a list of resources for children, parents, teachers, and anybody who wants to learn a bit more about healthy eating and growing your own food. Food doesn’t get much cheaper - or better for you - than that.
Teaching Resource #2: Irish Seedsavers
Irish Seedsavers is an absolutely essential organisation dedicated [...]

Now that we’re all more cost-conscious, how many of you are still buying organic vegetables?
If you’ve had to cut back but would prefer not to, you may be interested in some advice I found in last Sunday’s Observer Magazine about shopping strategically and only buying organic versions of certain fruit and veg.