Monday, April 20, 2009

Eating Organic on a Budget

We are all looking desperately for ways to cut the monthly budget, and like many of you, the first place my eye goes is to the grocery bill. I mean, we could survive off Ramen noodles for the next month (I did in college, didn’t I?), so this can be a tempting gold mine of cost savings in desperate times.

However, more and more research is coming out about how bad all the “cheap” food is for us (be sure to catch “The Unhealthy Truth” coming out in May by Robyn McCord O’Brien and go to www.allergykids.com for more information on this). We’re actually already spending less of our income on food than at any other time in history, and by choosing the cheap fillers of corn syrup, soy, and GMO’s, our children are paying the price. Childhood cases of food allergies, ADHD, Autism, and Asthma are through the roof, and tons of research (that I firmly believe) links it to the JUNK that’s in our food.

Another horrifying statistic is that just 100 years ago, Americans ate less sugar in an entire year than we now eat in a single day. It’s not that we’re loading up on desserts- this sugar is in our meals and “healthy” snacks!

So, how do we balance these two forces that are crashing down around our heads: the need to buy more expensive food AND the need to spend less money? Here are a few things that I’ve found that will at least help you get started on both eating more healthily AND cutting your food budget:

Buy frozen: Research has shown that frozen fruits and vegetables can be even healthier than fresh ones (often picked unripe and shipped long distances). Obviously, local, organic, and fresh is best, but frozen isn’t as bad as you think.


Start with just the essential organics: The most important things to buy organic are milk, eggs, chicken, and beef. If you can’t swallow the price of organic meat, at least go “all natural” with no antibiotics or hormones.


Eliminate corn syrup: Double-check your bread, granola bars, peanut butter, crackers, and kid snacks, and cut this ingredient out. This one step will do wonders for your kids health.


When you can, DO buy organic: strawberries, Chilean grapes (tons of pesticides!), peppers, spinach, cherries, peaches, Mexican Cantaloupe, celery, apples, apricots, green beans, and cucumbers.


Don’t bother buying organic: avocadoes, corn, onions, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, non-Chilean grapes, bananas, plums, green onions, watermelon, or broccoli.


Buy Organic, Free Trade Coffee but brew it yourself. After your morning is over, turn off your coffee maker with just a little coffee left in it, and when you need a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, don’t buy a chemical-laden Diet Coke- make a cold iced coffee (with real sugar, not sweetened chemicals).


Eat Less. Yes, I said it. We Americans try to lose weight and save money by finding the cheapest low-calorie “health” food we can buy, and then eating tons of it. Instead, let’s eat something real and authentic, enjoy it, and then stop eating.


Let’s start with just this. There are plenty more things we can do to be more healthy and save more money- and we’ll get to those in good time- but starting with these simple steps is a good start for both our bodies and our budget.


-TWM

51 comments:

Linda from Georgia said...

I liked the list of wise organic choices. I've been trying to go by those suggestions. Guess I need to print out the list -- keep forgetting when I'm standing looking at the produce selection.

Samantha Van Vleet LSP said...

Thanks for this! I'm bookmarking it! Do you care if I copy it onto my blog if I link back to you?

Anonymous said...

Привет!
прокси чекер =DD 2184

Anonymous said...

celexa medication =DD 5938 celebrex death ) 4138 weaning off paxil :-( 3521

Anonymous said...

protonix vs prevacid :-] 7328 wellbutrin vs paxil ) 1789 buy allegra d online %) 3247

Anonymous said...

avelox 400 ))) 5318 levaquin prostatitis )) 8456 levitra cheap =DD 2563

Anonymous said...

lexapro and high blood pressure )) 9476 side effects of nexium %) 7834 nexium medicine -)) 5792

Anonymous said...

online lipitor :-( 1752 flomax medicine :( 4956 tylenol history - 6135

Anonymous said...

здорово!
парсер маркета -) 8135

Anonymous said...

music on grays anatomy music entertainment channel 15 austin tx
i raise my hands music steampunk music abney miami website music hosting sites database celtic music for flute
counter christian music

Anonymous said...

http://46thstreetstudio.com/young-teen-porn.html free sexy porn clips free teen porn movie clips teen porn xxx movie clips

Anonymous said...

Привет! партнерские программы
:) 1259

Anonymous said...

[url=http://profiles.tigweb.org/pepada95]telephone orders kamagra[/url]
[url=http://profiles.tigweb.org/temituma99]kamagra quick[/url]

[url=http://profiles.tigweb.org/nuduka82]kamagra bulgaria[/url]
[url=http://profiles.tigweb.org/letemufu76]kamagra medicine[/url]
[url=http://profiles.tigweb.org/nadide56]cheapest uk supplier kamagra[/url]
[url=http://profiles.tigweb.org/nabade70]viagra kamagra uk erectalis[/url]
[url=http://profiles.tigweb.org/nabade70]dangers of kamagra[/url]

http://profiles.tigweb.org/letemufu76
http://profiles.tigweb.org/nabade70

Anonymous said...

Buy Diflucan Online -

Anonymous said...

paxil sleep :)

Anonymous said...

Секс Запознанства :-[[[ 93274

Anonymous said...

Symantec Mail Security 4.6.1 Console for MS Exchange 29847 )))

Anonymous said...

Aptech GAUSS Data Tool 10.0.2.1301 Linux 19756 :-(

Anonymous said...

iepazisanas seksam -)) 96732

Anonymous said...

iepazisanas seksam :-( 32579

Anonymous said...

randki kontakty ) 74326

Anonymous said...

купить сиалис софт )))







таблетки сиалис 863579
817 таблетки сиалис
дженерик сиалис софт 5318

fuck me daddy stories said...

Clifford atehis meals from a plate but never slacked his demands at my flowingmilk. I wasnt sure I wanted to be pregnant right away,after finally escaping from Cliffords clutches.
kristen masturbation stories
free erotic stories medical fetish
momson taboo stories
lesbian incest sex stories
adult sex stories gay
Clifford atehis meals from a plate but never slacked his demands at my flowingmilk. I wasnt sure I wanted to be pregnant right away,after finally escaping from Cliffords clutches.

Anonymous said...

бляди старой руссы проститутки можайска секс в гаврилов яму бесплатный сайт секс знакомств сайт секс знакомств в молдове братеево индивидуалки бляди осетинки интим знакомства в россоши индивидуалки алексеевской интим знакомства мужчин большой член видео интим знакомства менет телефоны шлюхи в перово 1000 в час индивидуалки 5000

самая дешевая шлюха осы

Davidpzwp said...

protonix vs prevacid :-] 7328 wellbutrin vs paxil ) 1789 buy allegra d online %) 3247

Anonymous said...

ambien cost ambien cr hangover - ambien high side effects

Anonymous said...

buy xanax online cheap what is xanax drug used for - what is xanax yahoo

Anonymous said...

buy diazepam diazepam withdrawal regimen - diazepam 5mg dosage

Anonymous said...

diazepam 10 mg diazepam shortage - buy valium online with mastercard

Anonymous said...

buy diazepam diazepam 5 mg injection - diazepam alcohol erowid

Anonymous said...

ativan online ativan withdrawal low dose - buy generic lorazepam online

Anonymous said...

cheapest xanax unmarked xanax bars - normal dosage xanax prescribed

Anonymous said...

buy diazepam online diazepam dosage as muscle relaxant - diazepam rxlist

Anonymous said...

ativan without prescription ativan and xanax - ativan dosage/addiction

Anonymous said...

buy soma online carisoprodol vs soma - does soma test drug test

Anonymous said...

cheap ambien no prescription quitting ambien cr cold turkey - ambien cr picture pill

Anonymous said...

soma online carisoprodol 350 mg recreational use - order soma online ga

Anonymous said...

cheap carisoprodol buy generic soma online - buy somatropin forum

Anonymous said...

valium for sale no prescription reverse effects valium - buy genuine valium online

Anonymous said...

buy ambien no prescription ambien side effects next day - ambien and pain medication

Anonymous said...

ambien zolpidem drug interaction lamictal ambien - ambien sleeping pill

Anonymous said...

ambien sale ambien for children - ambien cr buy online

Anonymous said...

soma online buy soma muscle relaxant online - side effects of soma medication

Anonymous said...

buy valium online valium generic cost - effects of valium drug

Anonymous said...

clomid twins success stories | is it safe to buy clomid online - can i buy clomid online, infertility clomid

Anonymous said...

teen dating problems http://loveepicentre.com/testimonials.php free adult dating personals feeds

Anonymous said...

Payday loans online Stype [url=http://loans.legitpaydayloansonline1.com]Payday loans online[/url] Flallododebag http://loans.legitpaydayloansonline1.com Fundpopog This is why you need to give your all really you may individual would is your reputation may be ruined.Right here you are introduced with fast pay however one of the most sought outstanding a friend as installment loans.

Anonymous said...

Салон Секреты Красоты предлагает большой выбор классических салонных услуг: парикмахерские услуги, маникюр, педикюр, косметология, перманентный макияж. Мы работаем более 10 лет и придерживаемся принципа соотношения цены и качества обслуживания. Для постоянных клиентов действуют акции и бонусная система. Заходите на наш сайт [url=http://s-krasoti.ru/] эпиляция екатеринбург форум
[/url]

Anonymous said...

Салон Секреты Красоты предлагает большой выбор классических салонных услуг: парикмахерские услуги, маникюр, педикюр, косметология, перманентный макияж. Мы работаем более 10 лет и придерживаемся принципа соотношения цены и качества обслуживания. Для постоянных клиентов действуют акции и бонусная система. Заходите на наш сайт [url=http://s-krasoti.ru/] наращивание волос за и против форум
[/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/rogaine-2-.htm][img]http://onlinemedistore.com/12.jpg[/img][/url]
canadian flomax pharmacy http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/lopid.htm terrace pharmacy ogden utah [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/metformin.htm]lovelace pharmacy drop box[/url]
pharmacy assistance programs http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/depakote.htm purchase evista pharmacy online [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/zyloprim.htm]zyloprim[/url]
pharmacy database examples http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/furosemide.htm what is the orange book in pharmacy [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/catalogue/c.htm]clintwood pharmacy[/url]
new mexico school of pharmacy http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/fludac.htm colorado university pharmacy [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/hytrin.htm]hytrin[/url]

Anonymous said...

Производственная компания «М-СЕТ» специализируется на производстве сварных сеток в рулонах, имеющих широкое применение в различных строительных работах.
Производство сварной сетки выполняется на многоточечных сварных машинах, методом контактно-точечной сварки крестообразных соединений. Все пересечения и стыки прутьев тщательно сварены, благодаря чему конструкция отличается превосходным качеством и является одной из самых прочных.
На нашем сайте Вы можете посмотреть образцы нашей продукции и связаться с нами
[url=http://setka-vlg.ru/]изготовление сетки сварной
[/url]