In part 3 of our series, Healthy Eating on the Cheap, financial blogger Victoria, happens to also be a health food nut who is passionate about organic eating. She has some great tips for buying organic foods if you are buying on a budget.  Thank you for blogging for me today Victoria!

Buying Organics on a Budget

Perhaps you have decided that purchasing organic foods is going to be a
priority for your family. Although your budget may not have much wiggle room,
there are ways to make this lifestyle work. Fortunately with more and more
interest in organically grown food, there are many options available.

Many chain grocery stores, and even some warehouse type stores are beginning to offer more organic options than they once did. These items will be labeled, but make sure they say “USDA Organic”, as they are the only ones that have met USDA standards. Although organic items will typically be higher in price than conventional items, by purchasing them at places like Wal-Mart and Costco, you may find that they will still fit into your budget.

There are also some smaller, local organic grocery stores. Typically these stores will have prices quite a bit higher, just as any local, non-chain based grocery store would. However, if you are fortunate enough to live in an area that offers a Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods Market you may have better luck cost-wise. These larger organic chain stores have endless options, and prices are a bit more affordable. Whole Food Markets even offer a 10% discount if you
buy items in bulk.

Buying items that are in season will save you money. Don’t be afraid to ask your grocer what days certain fruits and vegetables arrive to the store. By purchasing those items as soon as they arrive, they will stay fresher longer. Make sure you only buy what you need for fresh foods. This way, you don’t have unnecessary food going to waste. However, if it is an item that can be frozen and it is at a good price, buy in bulk and stock up! Meat can be difficult to buy when trying to stick to a budget. Try to come up with meals that are “meatless.” By eating a few meals a week that don’t require any meat, you can save money easily.

Consider getting a CSA membership. Community Shared Agriculture or CSA, is available for you to order food from a local farmer, much like you would order a subscription to a magazine. When available, you will receive a share of local fruits, vegetables, eggs, and meats, all depending upon what is in season. However, you don’t necessarily get to choose what types of products you will receive, so if you have picky eaters in your family this may not be the best option. Also, you may have to get creative with some of your recipes to incorporate the items in your share.

Farmer’s Markets are also a great place to find locally, organic grown foods. Although items may seem pricey, there are ways to obtain some things more affordably. If you wait until close to the end of the day, many of the prices
at the Farmer’s Markets are marked down in order to sell them before the market closes. You could even consider growing some of your own food. Items like cherry tomatoes and herbs are very easy to grow and can be done in a
sunny window, or on a patio. As you get used to growing simpler items, you can learn how to grow even more complicated foods.

With a little research and comparison of prices, organic foods can fit into your budget. If eating organically is important to you, finding other places in your budget to make sacrifices may be helpful as well.

Written by Victoria, financial researcher and blogger at Ratelines, a financial portal for the best cdrates and insurance rates

I have another special guest…Victoria, a financial researcher and blogger, has written a very informative article that explains the “basics” of organic foods. So, if you are thinking about switching to organics, or looking for more information about what “organic food” means, Victoria has some great information below. Thanks for blogging for me today Victoria!

Basics of Organic Food

Although recent studies have shown that there really aren’t significant nutritional benefits to eating organic foods as compared to conventional foods, many are still choosing to pick items that are labeled as being organic. Those buying organic foods seem to be making their purchases based on what’s not in the products, such as the pesticides and chemicals used to grow conventional products. People that choose to purchase organic foods are doing so to avoid ingesting pesticides, but also to help the environment by not supporting foods created with pesticide use.

However, if you’ve ever tried shopping for organic foods, you may have encountered some difficulties. First, organic foods are typically more expensive. Since farmers growing organic foods are not using chemicals and pesticides, their labor may be a bit more tedious, which drives up the price of their products. Also, you may find that some organic foods seem to spoil sooner than those that are not labeled as organic. This is due to the fact that they contain no chemicals to help with preservation, like some conventional items do. In some cases, organic foods may look a little different, perhaps with a different shape, slightly different colors, and maybe even be smaller in size. Taste is one factor that depends more upon the person. Some claim they can tell a difference in taste between organic and non-organic foods, while others think there is little or no discrepancy between the two.

According to “The Daily Green”, a website for environmentally conscious people, there are thirteen fruits and vegetables that you should buy as organic, due to the high level of chemicals used when growing them conventionally. These items include peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, kale, leafy greens, grapes, carrots, pears, and potatoes. Meat and milk are two other recommendations the site gives as items you should buy organically, due to the hormones and antibiotics given to some animals, as well as the types of grass they eat. Additionally, the Environmental Working Group has published “The Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides”, which ranks forty-seven fruits and vegetables by their contamination levels.

On the other hand, “The Daily Green” also lists a few things that do not need to be organic, in case you are wondering which items you should spend a little more on for the organic label. According to their list, onions, avocados, sweet corn, pineapples, mangos, asparagus, sweat peas, kiwi, cabbage, eggplant, papaya, watermelon, broccoli, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes are all items that you could pass on the organic label. Most of these items either are limited in their exposure to pesticides, or they have such hard outer layers that the pesticides cannot easily impact them.

When deciding which organic foods best fit your budget, there are many factors to consider. If you want to purchase from the long list of fruits and vegetables mentioned above, make sure you are buying them in season. For instance, purchase your apples in the fall, and save grapes and strawberries for the summer. This will help save quite a bit of money. Also plan your meals around what is on sale. If a certain type of organic meat is on sale, stock up on it and freeze some for later.

Buying organic is a personal decision. There are many benefits to doing so, however, it may not always be the easiest choice to make based on the higher prices. You must weigh your options and decide what is best for you and your family.

Written by Victoria, financial researcher and blogger at Ratelines, a financial portal for the best cd rates and money market rates.

Today, another awesome guest post about healthy eating on the cheap. If you didn’t catch Wednesday’s post, check it out here…

How to Buy Cheap and Healthy Food

It is one thing to want to eat healthy, but it’s something else to try to pay for it! Unfortunately, unhealthy items, like boxed macaroni, chips, and cookies are often times cheaper than premium produce. If you are looking for the best way to buy healthy options in regular and organic foods, here are some tips to help you out:

• Start out by scouting out farmers markets. This is often the best way to purchase organic foods, which means that they are free from pesticides. If you have ever looked at the price difference of regular and organic food in the grocery store, I’m sure that you have noticed a significant difference. However, you can often barter at a farmers market, and you will get even better deals for purchasing in bulk if you can!
• This leads me to my next point, which is joining a co-op. This is something that you can do with friends or a group of farmers, but you will have a discount on organic foods from purchasing within the co-op. Co-ops are mostly within local areas, and you will pay small dues. However, you can create your own co-op with friends for organic produce by each purchasing in bulk to save money and share with one another. This is an affordable way to have fresh organic produce!
• When you are at the grocery store, look for beans as a healthy treat and a valuable protein source. Cooking dried beans, like pinto beans, lentils, garbanzo beans, and black beans are all low in fat, and they are full of fiber to beef up your diet. They can be used in soups, salads, or as a side dish, and they are much more filling and satisfying than a Big Mac any day!
• Look for sweet potatoes as a healthy and cheap side dish in the grocery store. Sweet potatoes are much healthier than regular potatoes, especially if you prepare them in a way where they are not fried or drenched in butter. Try a baked sweet potato or even baked sweet potato fries as a delicious treat that almost tastes like a real french fry!

These tips are just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak, when it comes to learning how to purchase healthy and inexpensive foods. It is so much better for you and the environment to eat organic, and it doesn’t have to

Chuggin McCoffee is a coffee fanatic that has spent the entirety of his career cultivating and studying all of the best uses and brewing styles for optimal coffee and espresso flavor. His specialty site for all coffee needs, supplies, and commercial coffee makers can be found at The Coffee Bump