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Eating Organic on a Budget – Pt. 1 “Food Babe”

The Food Babe’s New Article on Eating Organic on a Budget is a good read.  So I decided to share part of it here, and be sure to click the link above (or type it in from below – http://foodbabe.com/2013/05/20/how-to-eat-organic-on-a-budget/?sb ) to read the whole article.

If you have read my reviews of Food Babe before, you know that I think she is a little over the top, and that probably seems impossible for many of you.  But her efforts and details are good, she sometimes tells a story that I believe is probably impossible to follow.  Nonetheless, this is  good one.  Part two will be coming shortly, and it will be all of the little details that I like to use, that are not included in this blog post.

How To Eat Organic On A Budget (Over 75 Tips!)

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The one tried and true worry I get about living an organic lifestyle is the cost. It’s likely the only immediate downside because everything else about living organically is pretty magical. Remember, non-organic food often contains cancer-causing hormones, immunity destroying anti-biotics and dangerous pesticides. Pesticides by nature are designed to kill, they are poison. So when given the choice, I don’t know why anyone could logically buy food with poison sprayed on it? Pesticides can cause neurological problems, cancer, infertility, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, allergies and asthma, wheezing, rashes and other skin problems, ADHD, birth defects and more. That’s why buying quality organic food and eating the most nutritious foods on the planet will save you BIG BUCKS down the road in medical costs, prescription drugs and doctor visits…like my friend Birke always says “We can either pay the farmer or we can pay the hospital” – It’s totally up to us.

Over 75 Tips On How to Eat Organic On A Budget…

In hopes to mitigate the initial money pains of buying organic, I want to share the top organic money saving ideas that I’ve gathered from my friends and family members. And, let me tell you, I learned a lot myself while putting together this list and combining everyone’s tips into one cohesive guide. I can’t wait to put some of these new ideas into practice. Let the savings begin!

FIND AND USE ORGANIC COUPONS (details online on her site)
AT HOME AND IN THE KITCHEN

  • Stay organized. Plan out your meals for the week according to organic foods that are on sale and/or that you have coupons for.
  • Budget. Write out a weekly and monthly budget to help you keep track of both erratic spending and responsible spending. This will allow you to see your spending habits and help you prioritize purchasing organic food within your budget.
  • Do it yourself, rather than buy it. Make your own organic granola bars, kale chips, smoothies, juices to replaced store-bought with more overhead.
  • Learn how to portion and prioritize – it is a necessity to always buy organic meats and dairy products, and, therefore, learn to portion your consumption of these products each week. For example, keep meat to 4 ounces or less per serving.
  • Invest in a 4 stage water filter installed directly under your sink to avoid having to buy bottled water. Also, check the Environmental Working Group guide on choosing the right water filter for you.
  • Check out the book “Wildly Affordable Organic” for organic menu planning on $5 a day or less.

USE YOUR FREEZER (details online on her site)
MAKE CHOICES

  • Meat & dairy (animals products like chicken, eggs, cheese, butter, yogurt, milk, etc.) are the most important to buy organic because of the combined risk of pesticide, anti-biotic and cancer causing growth hormone exposure. Whatever you do, do not skimp here.
  • Reduce meat and dairy consumption if you cannot afford organic – One way to do this is to be vegan before 6pm, as Mark Bittman explains in his latest book. For example, have a green smoothie for breakfast with ezekiel toast, and then a large salad with lentils at lunch or a wrap made with hummus and then at night choose high quality meat in small portions.
  • Reduce amount of organic meat used by substituting half the portion with organic beans.
  • Buy a whole organic chicken for less per pound, vs. just the breast, legs or wings which are more expensive per pound. You can use the carcass to make your own chicken broth.
  • Use the “Clean 15” and “Dirty Dozen” lists available on ewg.org to help you navigate which products to buy organic (or take with you when you travel). For example, if you have a choice between more expensive organic red peppers and less expensive conventional asparagus – choose the asparagus. Asparagus naturally repel pests allowing it to be grown with minimal pesticides. Include red pepper in your diet when it is in season or you can find it cheaper at another grocery store.
  • Do not buy pre-washed and ready to eat fruits and veggies, as they can cost twice as much.
  • Skip conventional Starbucks (and other coffee shops). Buy organic coffee and tea such as: Larry’s Beans Organic Coffee and Numi and make it yourself. This will actually save you time in the morning too.
  • Eat out only twice a week – eating organic at home is significantly less expensive than eating at organic restaurants.

BUY IN BULK (details online on her site)
BUY ONLINE

  • Green PolkaDot Box – This service delivers organic and non-GMO food directly to your door step. It is membership club like Costco and Sam’s Club with some of the lowest prices available for organic staples, meat, dairy and other goods. (FYI – become a club member by Friday, May 25, 2012 to get 10% off the first order with the code “FOODBABE”).
  • Amazon – One of my favorite shopping sites, because they basically have every brand available and ship free over $25.00.
  • VitaCost – Another low cost website that has a wide variety of organic and healthy foods, vitamins, etc.
  • Herbs Pro – Another low cost website that has a wide variety of organic and healthy foods, vitamins, etc.
  • Before you check out online, visit Retail Me Not for online promotional codes and discounts for all your favorite online stores and sources.

 

So as said before – you need to read more… there is a lot, and I’ll add some more for you in a week.  Be well and Be blessed!  – Dr. E

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