How to Eat Organically on a Budget
Organic produce is generally more expensive than non-organic---except when it's not. High-end grocery stores will sell their produce at higher prices even if the vegetables and fruits are not organic.
Eating well and staying on a budget is not impossible. Whether you are shopping for yourself or your family, there are ways to get the most bang for your buck in organic markets.
Instructions
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Buy in bulk. Every health food store has a bulk food section for grains, nuts, legumes, coffee, flour and the like. Instead of buying a $4.99 box mix of organic, gluten-free chocolate cake mix, buy the ingredients separately from the bulk section. There you will find brown rice or soy flour for less than $2 per pound. Baking soda and baking powder in bulk is less than 99 cent per pound. A dozen organic, free-range eggs are less than $4.
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Purchase fresh fruits and vegetables in season. If you have a local farmer's market, frequent it and talk to your suppliers. Buying corn and strawberries in summer and squash, apples and yams in fall will trim your food costs.
Develop a business relationship with your local farmer's market suppliers and bargain when appropriate. If you regularly purchase 3 loaves of bread from one purveyor, ask for a discount. -
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Make jams, jelly and peanut butter from scratch from organic ingredients. You don't need to be Martha Stewart to do this. Find good recipes for making orange marmalades, lemon jelly and apple butter and go to town. Peanut butter is a matter of pressing raw (or dry roasted) peanuts through a food mill to make organic peanut butter. This can also be done at many health food stores where a peanut butter station is located near the bulk food section.
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Avoid buying processed foods you can make on your own. Make your own organic pancake, waffle, banana bread mixes and store in large canisters. Add eggs, oil or bananas to whip up these items. Buying pancake, waffle or banana bread mixes will cost more. Making your own salad dressings, spaghetti sauce and pizza sauce is not very difficult.
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Use dried herbs instead of fresh. Organic herbs can be pricey if you are buying saffron threads at $14 per pound, however, other herbs don't have to be. Again, create your own mixes of herbs and use them rather than commercial mixes.
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Teach your kids how to make their own healthy snacks. Rather than buying bags of popped popcorn, potato chips and bags of cookies, make your own. Air pop popcorn and place in a paper bag and toss with olive oil and cayenne pepper or garlic salt.
Scrub and slice potatoes roughly and bake with rosemary and garlic. -
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Dump the soda habit. For many reasons, wean yourself and your children off sodas, flavored waters, ice tea or coffee drinks. Make organic, nutrient-dense versions at home.Brew strong peppermint tea and let cool. Add lemon or orange slices. Adults might prefer decaffeinated Bergamont or Breakfast Darjeeling. Prepare these teas in large quantities and pour into thermoses for the office. By the mid-afternoon slump, you can dig into your roasted almonds and blended teas.
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Tips & Warnings
If you have the time and energy to do it, the most cost-saving way to eat organically on a budget is to grow your own. Start with a small vegetable, herb and fruit garden.
