Organic food on a budget

Everyone talks about the importance of eating organically, but for many it's simply out of the budget, and for many they don't know why it's so important. It doesn't have to cost a fortune. Organic food is typically more expensive, but there are ways to cut down the cost if you just know how.

Why eat organic? Commercially prepared and processed foods are typically loaded with antibiotics, pesticides and herbicides all aimed at destroying a different kind of bug and help the crop survive.

Antibiotics are given to livestock to prevent infection and fatten them up quicker. The overuse of antibiotics has unfortunately created strains of bacteria that are resistant to all antibiotic treatments, MRSA. These antibiotics make it into the animal meat we eat and therefore into our bodies creating problems in more people with those same antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Pesticides are generally aimed at interfering with a bugs ability to reproduce or damage their nervous system causing death. These bugs are becoming increasingly resistant to these toxic chemicals and stronger ones are being used. It's been said that these substances are not harmful to humans because of our larger size and the relatively low dose found in food. While this is true it doesn't take into consideration our longer life span and our tendency to accumulate these kind of toxins in our systems.

Herbicides are another toxin that builds up in a similar manner to pesticides. It also decreases the quality of the food. When foods are grown in conditions that are harder for them to survive they produce the most healing components like antioxidants. Herbicides protect a farmers crop and make it look nicer to the buyer, but they decrease the amount of healing properties found in the food. Plants produce these healing chemicals in order to protect themselves and without the need to protect the nutrient quality goes down.

So, how do you go organic on a budget?

1. Prioritize -
There are some organic foods that are more important to focus on than others. Not all organic food is good as the next. When eating organic it is most important first to focus on dairy products, meats and poultry. The best quality meat is grass fed. This will most likely be organic and also be the most nutritious.

When looking at vegetables focus first on the "dirty dozen". These are the fruits and vegetables that are known to contain the most pesticides and herbicides.
www.organic.org/articles/showarticle/article-214
Download the wallet version and take with you to the grocery store.

2. Organic foods are more expensive, no question. So how do you save money while still eating organic?
Shopping locally is a good start. Local farmers may not be certified as organic, but most of the methods they use will be organic in nature. The prices at your local farmers market are typically close to the sale prices of conventionally grown fruits and vegetables in the supermarket. You might also join a CSA, community supported agriculture, where you get a share in a local farm and wonderful food at great prices.
Adding vegetarian meals into your diet a few times a week will save money as well because pound for pound fruits and vegetables are cheaper than meats. Using dried beans, lentils, and legumes will also help to save money on your food budget. Even when dried legumes are organic the price tag is typically significantly less than meat.

These tips can also be used to decrease the cost of an allergy elimination diet like gluten free living.