Eating organic is really the only way to go. Here are the top 10 reasons to eat organically:
Ten Reasons to Eat Organic Foods
From: DrWeil.com (Dr. Andrew Weil)
1. It’s healthy. Organic food tends to contain higher levels of
vitamin C, cancer-fighting antioxidants, and essential minerals such as
calcium, magnesium, iron and chromium.
2. No nasty additives. Organic food doesn’t contain food additives
that can cause health problems such as heart disease, osteoporosis,
migraines and hyperactivity.
3. It avoids pesticides. More than 400 chemical pesticides are
routinely used in conventional farming and residues are often present in
non-organic food.
4. No genetic modification. Under organic standards, genetically
modified (GM) crops and ingredients are not allowed.
5. There is not a reliance on drugs. Organic farming standards
prohibit the routine use of antibiotics and growth hormones in farm animals.
6. There are no hidden costs. As taxpayers, we pay for chemicals
to be removed from our drinking water – including the pesticide runoff from
conventional farms.
7. There are high standards. Organic food comes from trusted
sources that are inspected to ensure compliance to organic standards.
8. Organic methods provide for animals. Animal welfare is taken
very seriously under organic standards.
9. It’s good for wildlife and the environment. The UK government
has said that organic farming is better for wildlife, causes lower pollution
from sprays, produces less carbon dioxide – the main global warming gas –
and less dangerous wastes.
10. It’s flavorful. Many people prefer organic food because they
say it tastes better.
Visit soilassociation.org for more information, as well a DrWeil.com.
Now I know that buying organic can be expensive. I have a family of nine and when I first hopped on the organic train, I spent way too much money! So much so, that one time in particular, I started panicking once I got my grocery total at Whole Foods, and returned half of it right on the spot and left disappointed.
Having said that, living organically is something I knew I had to make happen, not only because of the top 10 reasons above, but I also had 2 children with severe dental caries and knew that feeding them well was at least heading me in the right direction. (More on how I cured my son’s tooth decay, soon!)
But how do you feed your family organically without going over budget? I have found out how and I have a few tips and tricks that work for my large family where I can buy organic every week and stay on budget:
When you are buying your produce keep in mind the, dirty dozen. These are the foods you want to buy organically, as these have the highest pesticide residues.
- Peaches
- Apples
- Sweet Bell Peppers
- Celery
- Nectarines
- Strawberries
- Cherries
- Pears
- Grapes (Imported)
- Spinach
- Lettuce
- Potatoes
Tips that I use when buying my organic produce:
- Watch for sales on the organic produce/that is when I buy them. (They can get as low as the conventional when they are on sale.)
- Large bulk carriers such as Sams and Costco can have amazing prices on their organic produce.
These below, are the foods you can buy conventionally as they are the least contaminated.
- Onions
- Avocado
- Sweet Corn (Frozen)
- Pineapples
- Mango
- Asparagus
- Sweet Peas (Frozen)
- Kiwi Fruit
- Bananas
- Cabbage
- Broccoli
- Papaya
Knowing the “dirty dozen” keep you smart when buying the best produce for your family. Keep the list on your grocery list or keep a master copy in a notebook in your purse for an easy and quick reference.
Don’t buy processed foods
Bake as much as you can it saves you money and is healthier. Learn about creating a baking day to provide your family with nourishing baked goods each week from scratch.
Invest in Dairy, meat and eggs
Look at this as an investment for you and your family. Buying your dairy without the use of rbgh, click here for more information, is imperative to keep you and your family healthy. Best brands for the price:
- Whole Foods’ brand, 365/all of their dairy is rbgh free.
- Roberts dairy. Roberts dairy does not use milk from dairy farmers that inject their cows with the artificial hormone. This is another option for buying safer dairy.
Buy your milk raw or if you can’t find a dairy farmer near you that offers raw milk, buy vat pasteurized. Click here for more information on the vat process. It is offered at Whole Foods or at some grocers health markets.
Here is a family budget tip I use…I only buy 3 gallons of milk a week. It is more expensive to buy the raw milk so when we are out, we’re out. I provide other options for breakfast and snacks other than cereal.
Eggs are the most nutritious when you buy them cage-free and when they are allowed to eat a true chicken diet. My kiddos eat eggs all the time, so buying the most nutritious eggs is a must. If you can find a farmer that has free-roaming hens and eats a proper chicken diet, you’re in business!
Meat
This may seem too hard to accomplish since most organic beef and chicken is quite pricey. But it can be done! If you have a hunting husband, like mine, you are set! But if you don’t, no worries, there are ways to work around this.
You want to buy organic beef and chicken and here’s why.
So how can you afford to buy it for your family?
- Create your weekly menu around sales
- Join organic food co-ops
- Buy from farmers markets
- When you score a sale, buy big and freeze!
This was a long post, I know, but I hope that this information helps you decide to buy organic and how, on a budget!
What tips do you have for buying organic on a budget?
My main tip: wherever you live, try and have a veggie patch! You will always save money, and feel happier and healthier even during the growing stage as you see what you can accomplish working with the environment, and eat the produce! It's great!
bxx
bybande.blogspot.com
I totally agree!! I'm really bad at gardening, but even if it were a few veggies that you could use all spring, summer and early fall, it's well worth it, better for you and you do save money.
Great tip!
Jenny