Think about this situation: You are trying trying to stick to a pretty tight food budget, but you are trying to eat foods that are wholesome, fresh, and good for your body.
What do you buy?
There are so many conflicting opinions out there about which products are truly the best to buy organic, but you are never going to find a straight up correct answer.
- Some people agree that you should buy organic produce.
- Some people think it is more important to buy organic meat and poultry.
- The list goes on…
On a limited budget, how do you choose?
Nearly every week, I get asked the same question over and over…
How do you afford to buy so many organic products on a limited budget?
It really is not that tough. I use Mint to plan my budget, so I just cut costs in other areas.
- I pack my lunch and dinner if I am going to be out.
- I ride my bike save gas.
- I shop the sales and eat what is in season.
If you want more tips, give me a shout .
But what if your budget is still tight?
When it comes to buying organic, I think that the best way to decide which organic products to purchase is to carefully examine your diet. If you are eating something consistently, go ahead and buy that organic.
If you drink a gallon of milk a week, make it organic milk. If you eat a ton of fruits and vegetables, purchase the organic variety of the ones you eat the most.
Here are few foods I ALWAYS buy organic:
Meat: Raising animals with conventional modern methods often means using hormones and antibiotics. Not only are these chemicals dangerous to the animals, but they are also dangerous to the environment. To meet USDA standards, organic meat can come only from animals fed organic feed and given no hormones or antibiotics. Grass fed beef is my meat of choice 
Milk: I do not normally buy dairy milk to drink, I do use it for cooking quite often. Milk that is labeled “USDA Organic” must come from cows that have not been treated with bovine growth hormone (BGH) to increase milk production. Another requirement is that the cattle must be raised without the use of antibiotics and must be fed certified organic grains or grass. Not only is this better for the cattle and the environment, it is also better for the humans consuming it.
Eggs: We all know that I love eggs and I go through around a dozen every week, so I definitely buy them organic. You can read my thoughts on organic eggs here .
Coffee: Call me crazy, but I always buy organic coffee. It is something that I drink every single morning, so I feel the need to buy organic beans. Many of the beans you buy are grown in countries that don’t regulate use of chemicals and pesticides. When buying coffee, look for Fair Trade certified beans as well.
Fruits and Vegetables (certain ones):
- Apples
- Strawberries
- Bananas (fair trade certified)
- Potatoes
- Sweet Potatoes
- Broccoli
- Tomatoes
- Leafy Greens
- Baby Carrots
I buy these fruits and vegetables organic because they really are not that much more expensive than the conventional variety. At Whole Foods , I can get a 3 pound bag of organic apples for $3.99. That really is not that much more expensive than the pesticide ridden ones.
I can also get a 5 pound bag of organic potatoes for $4.99.
I also consume these fruits and vegetables EVERY DAY, so I feel the need to buy them organic. If I am buying something for one or two meals, I will normally buy conventional. If the organic version is only a little bit more, I will most likely pick that up.
The next time you head to the store, make sure you take this list with you.
I have it memorized
I eat this way because I like the fact that I am supporting the companies and farmers who are providing us with REAL FOOD. I have also noticed an increase in my energy levels, digestion, and overall way off life.
What do you always buy organic? What are your thoughts on buying organic?
Think about this situation: You are trying trying to stick to a pretty tight food budget, but you are trying to eat foods that are wholesome, fresh, and good for your body.
What do you buy?
There are so many conflicting opinions out there about which products are truly the best to buy organic, but you are never going to find a straight up correct answer.
On a limited budget, how do you choose?
Nearly every week, I get asked the same question over and over…
How do you afford to buy so many organic products on a limited budget?
It really is not that tough. I use Mint to plan my budget, so I just cut costs in other areas.
If you want more tips, give me a shout .
But what if your budget is still tight?
When it comes to buying organic, I think that the best way to decide which organic products to purchase is to carefully examine your diet. If you are eating something consistently, go ahead and buy that organic.
If you drink a gallon of milk a week, make it organic milk. If you eat a ton of fruits and vegetables, purchase the organic variety of the ones you eat the most.
Here are few foods I ALWAYS buy organic:
Meat: Raising animals with conventional modern methods often means using hormones and antibiotics. Not only are these chemicals dangerous to the animals, but they are also dangerous to the environment. To meet USDA standards, organic meat can come only from animals fed organic feed and given no hormones or antibiotics. Grass fed beef is my meat of choice
Milk: I do not normally buy dairy milk to drink, I do use it for cooking quite often. Milk that is labeled “USDA Organic” must come from cows that have not been treated with bovine growth hormone (BGH) to increase milk production. Another requirement is that the cattle must be raised without the use of antibiotics and must be fed certified organic grains or grass. Not only is this better for the cattle and the environment, it is also better for the humans consuming it.
Eggs: We all know that I love eggs and I go through around a dozen every week, so I definitely buy them organic. You can read my thoughts on organic eggs here .
Coffee: Call me crazy, but I always buy organic coffee. It is something that I drink every single morning, so I feel the need to buy organic beans. Many of the beans you buy are grown in countries that don’t regulate use of chemicals and pesticides. When buying coffee, look for Fair Trade certified beans as well.
Fruits and Vegetables (certain ones):
I buy these fruits and vegetables organic because they really are not that much more expensive than the conventional variety. At Whole Foods , I can get a 3 pound bag of organic apples for $3.99. That really is not that much more expensive than the pesticide ridden ones.
I can also get a 5 pound bag of organic potatoes for $4.99.
I also consume these fruits and vegetables EVERY DAY, so I feel the need to buy them organic. If I am buying something for one or two meals, I will normally buy conventional. If the organic version is only a little bit more, I will most likely pick that up.
The next time you head to the store, make sure you take this list with you.
I have it memorized
I eat this way because I like the fact that I am supporting the companies and farmers who are providing us with REAL FOOD. I have also noticed an increase in my energy levels, digestion, and overall way off life.
What do you always buy organic? What are your thoughts on buying organic?