With disease rates and environmental decay on the rise, switching to organic foods serve as a responsible measure to mediate both.
Pesticides and chemicals found in non-organic foods create toxic debris that your body has a hard time metabolizing. This leads to fatigue, headaches, and skin conditions, or more serious disease states like cancer.
Externally, non-organic crops emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and contaminate plots of earth that ultimately compromise our wildlife and natural resources.
I am also very clear that eating organic food can be expensive. If organic were the same price as non-organic, you wouldn’t think twice about making the switch.
Luckily, there are some tricks to eating organically that won’t break the bank, and will give you some dietary options with more peace of mind.
Follow these helpful tips to make eating organically work for you and your family:
Shop around: Instead of buying organic items at one location, shop around for the deals. Visit two to three stores, find what’s on sale, and stock up. This works great for eggs and other animal products (i.e. meat, chicken, fish) that you can freeze.
Buy in season (and freeze for later): Organic produce is cheapest when purchased seasonally. Stock up on seasonal produce and freeze it. When frozen at its peak, you can retain the nutrients and flavor that makes for a yummy treat in the dead of winter. Click Here to learn more about eating in season.
Familiarize yourself with the bulk section: Many stores have bulk sections that offer organic nuts, grains, oats, chocolates, dried fruits, and much more for a fraction of the price. Keep these items in the fridge or freezer to maintain freshness.
Support your local farmers’ markets: This is a fun way to find organic food for less. Since the food is grown locally, you won’t pay high prices that grocery stores pass onto you to cover transportation. Don’t be afraid to barter – many farmers will lower prices if you buy in bulk.
Download coupons: Visit the web sites of your favorite organic brands, as many of them have printable coupons. Some sites to explore are Stonyfield Farm and Organic Valley.
Buy a share in a Community-Supported Agriculture program: A C.S.A. is an opportunity to buy into local farms. Each week, you will receive a box of the freshest produce. A share generally costs about $300 to $400 upfront for a 24- to 26-week growing season. Click Here to find shares near you.
Grow your own: Instead of searching for organic produce, why not grow your own? A small home garden can provide you with amazingly fresh (and low-cost) produce, and it’s a great hobby! To learn more, keep your eyes out for our upcoming article “Growing Your Garden”.
It’s not critical to buy all your food organic. A box of organic crackers may not be the best use of your resources. Rather allocate the money to fresh produce that gets your family eating more fruits and vegetables.
If you are still challenged by this proposition, contact me to learn more about affordable and convenient whole food concentrates that give you an organic bang for your buck!
Have a wonderful week ~
