One of the most lacking parts of a student’s diet tends to be their intake of fruits and vegetables. They tend to spoil much quicker than other products, and buying in bulk doesn’t bold well on the money pockets.

What’s a way to keep your change purse full and your health happy?

Buy cheaper and fresher. Below are some places or ways to get a fresher veggie intake on a student budget.

The Market at Western Fair District

The large warehouse building on Dundas St. hosts a bundle of various vendors. The Market supports the community by offering products made by locals, including farmers, bakers, and artisans.

For those looking for fresh veggies and even seasonal herbs, take a gander at the selection The Market has to offer. There are a wide selection of choices, from oregano to cucumbers, all of which is fresh and grown right here in London. Cheap prices hammer in the deal as you are more likely to find spices to be fresh and in large bags, rather than dried and in tiny bottles, which you would usually find.

Farmer’s goods on Campus

Every Thursday in the hallway in front of the Campus store a farmer from Leamington sets up shop with a handful of fruits and vegetables available to buy. Selling all year round, the vegetables and fruits are at a cheaper price than most of these products found in a store. Students on campus to be able to buy some fruit and vegetables, cash only, to take home without going out of their way to a miles away grocery store. No more having to lug big bags of product around back to campus. By buying at the farmer’s stand, students are also supporting the growth of produce in Canada.

DIY: Growing your own fruits and veggies

Just because you don’t have a garden, doesn’t mean you ae limited in the ability to grow your own food. Many fruits, vegetables and herbs can be grown in a pot with minimal care required. More importantly there is more freedom to choice of home grown produce, since your preferences are the deciding factor of what is or is not grown. It’s a little bit of a waiting game and the initial cost of starting up may be a bit pricey, but by growing your own greens you can get a lot more product for your overall expenses than normal.

To grow fruits, vegetables, or herbs generally you need to have some potting mix, a big enough pot with drainage and maybe some fertilizer. Look up before hand what the fruits, herbs and vegetables you are wanting to grow specifically need in terms of sunlight, water and pot size. This will ensure yielding a large crop for a longer period of time.

Some fruits, vegetables and herbs you can grow in your home:

• Tomatoes
• Bell peppers
• Carrots
• Lettuce
• Potatoes
• Broccoli
• Basil
• Chives
• Oregano
• Mint

Flashfoodbox, crates full of produce

Due to the standards of stores, farms are required to supply them with products that are aesthetically pleasing, while the “ugly” food left is left to be thrown away. Flashfoodbox subverts this waste of food by creating weekly produce crates that people can order online. Each crate is full of around nine to eleven types of “ugly produce,” weighing about 12 pounds per box. The price is the real kicker though, as it is only about $26 to get a crate full of ripe food, all of which is freely delivered right to your doorstep.