How to Go Organic Without Breaking Your Pocketbook

You've heard about the benefits of organic food: less health risks, better taste, etc. You'd love to go organic, but you don't think you can afford it. Cheer up! This was me a few weeks ago, but I am now discovering how you can afford to go organic--without going broke.

First, you have to change how you think about food and grocery shopping. We used to make a list of foods and went every payday to get everything on our list, like most people do. Not only did we have to change what's on our list, we've had to change how we shop. We've found many ways to save money, even though the cost of organic items is usually higher than those of conventional foods.

Instead of planning our meals and then going to the store, we now go to the store--and then plan our meals. We buy whatever is on sale that week, and that's what we eat until our next shopping day. We buy what is in our price range, and then I go online for recipes that include those items. We are slowly replacing the conventional foods in our home with organic, natural foods without going broke.

Start small. Buy the dirty dozen first, and then slowly work your way to going all natural. Apples, cherries, grapes, nectarines and peaches, pears, berries, peppers, celeries, potatoes, leafy greens, and animal products are the most important foods to buy organic. Their soft texture makes them absorb more chemicals. These are the most important foods to buy organic. You can slowly ease into buying everything else natural.

Meat is expensive, and organic meat is even pricier. Try limiting your intake of meat, eating it only once a day at the most -- as a side dish, not an appetizer. Use very small portions of meat in your cooking. This will make it last longer, and you'll spend far less on meat. Organic beans are a great alternative to meat--much cheaper and just as healthy!

Cut out prepackaged foods. Learn to make your own condiments, salad dressings, cookies, crackers, chips, candies, Popsicles, etc. Limit your spending on cereals, too. These foods are often more expensive--not to mention, they produce more trash. In some areas you can save by putting out less trash. You are certainly helping the environment by doing so, and you will save money by not spending on packaging.

Do the work yourself. Stop buying convenience foods. You get less for your money, small portions and high prices. Instead of popping a frozen burrito in the microwave for lunch, try cutting up some vegetables into your crock pot with some beef or chicken stock. Let it cook over night, and eat that throughout the day instead of convenience foods. Instead of buying soup in a mug, make your soup, and then put it in a mug yourself!

Buy in bulk. Everything is cheaper when you buy it in bulk. A lot of natural grocers have a bulk isle where you can find a variety of healthy, decently priced foods. You can also buy in bulk from local farms, CSAs, and co-ops. Food clubs, such as Sam's, probably have little too offer, but it's worth checking it out anyway. You never know what you are going to find until you look.

Buy only produce that is in season or on sale. Items that aren't in season are more expensive and more likely to have been chemically altered. Try to cut down on imported foods, too, because they are pricier. Buy in bulk when in season and on sale, and save the extra for the winter. You could even make meals in advance with the extra, freeze them, and unthaw them weeks later when you haven't got time to cook!

Grow a garden! Tomatoes, peppers, cantaloupes, eggplants, cucumbers, and various other fruits and vegetables are incredibly easy to grow--even if you don't have a yard. The cost is minimal, too. Grow more than you need, and freeze the extra for winter. Trade foods with others you know who have a garden. You could even sell your extras at the market to make a profit--and help others go organic!

If you have the space, buy your own cow, and make your own milk. It doesn't cost much to build a chicken cook and buy a few chickens. The cow and the chickens will be wonderful additions to your family, and they will definitely pay for themselves by producing milk and eggs. My father has a ton of chickens and roosters, and eggs are a big part of his diet. Every time he has a batch of eggs actually hatch, he gets so excited that you'd think he was having his own baby!

Try out Trader Joes and other discount programs. Join a local CSA or co-op. Check out your local farmer's market. Trade coupons on the internet. Keep your eyes open for sales at the organic store, discount days and whatnot. If you are military, always ask if a discount is available! There are a ton of ways to go organic without going broke.

Remember that it doesn't have to be all or nothing. Some foods are more important than others to buy organic. You don't have to eat organic 100% of the time. An occasional trip to a fast-food restaurant or dinner at a friend's house won't break your diet. A general rule is that if you eat healthy 80% of the time, it's okay to slack off the rest of the time!

We are spending only a small amount more than what we usually do on groceries, but we are eating much healthier. Our food tastes better, and we are learning to do for ourselves what we'd otherwise have others do for us. We have more energy, and we feel great. It has definitely been worth the transition. It takes preparation, planning, and research, but the benefits are worth the costs.