This is the question we face every time we go in the grocery store. When we see the produce, we're always looking for the lowest price. So why buy the higher priced organic lettuce or apples? Can we afford it? Here are some tips about buying produce.
#1. Know why organic is important.
In the past two years I have wavered between eating some organic produce, and then returning to the lower prices. "Remembering our why" is important because otherwise we will just buy the low priced food.
In the book True Food, the authors say, "80% of commonly used pesticides today have been classified by NAS (National Academy of Sciences) researchers as potentially carcinogenic." Pesticides are also linked to birth defects and human reproductive problems. (Bond, Breyer, and Gordon, p. 93)
Here is a fun link from my friend, Jennifer. It shows a girl's science experiment using organic and local sweet potatoes. Click here.
In the book True Food, the authors say, "80% of commonly used pesticides today have been classified by NAS (National Academy of Sciences) researchers as potentially carcinogenic." Pesticides are also linked to birth defects and human reproductive problems. (Bond, Breyer, and Gordon, p. 93)
Here is a fun link from my friend, Jennifer. It shows a girl's science experiment using organic and local sweet potatoes. Click here.
#2. Start small, begin with the most harmful produce.
Foods to buy organic and some that are okay not to buy organic:
Environmental Working Group's Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen (These lists help if you can remember them when you are in the grocery store. I had to write them down when I first learned them.)
#3. Know what is in season, and what you can buy local.
I love to buy apples at the nearby orchards because they taste so much better than even the organic apples. Local produce does not have to be shipped far, so we are decreasing energy consumption. It is also important to support growers in our area. Usually it will cost less, too.
Farmer's Markets are wonderful options, and they are popping up everywhere. Buy when it is in season and freeze or can for the winter. It costs less when it is in season, and it tastes so much better. We like to freeze fruit when it is in season, then we have it all winter to enjoy. There is nothing like pulling out frozen blueberries or peaches to enjoy in January!
I love to buy apples at the nearby orchards because they taste so much better than even the organic apples. Local produce does not have to be shipped far, so we are decreasing energy consumption. It is also important to support growers in our area. Usually it will cost less, too.
Farmer's Markets are wonderful options, and they are popping up everywhere. Buy when it is in season and freeze or can for the winter. It costs less when it is in season, and it tastes so much better. We like to freeze fruit when it is in season, then we have it all winter to enjoy. There is nothing like pulling out frozen blueberries or peaches to enjoy in January!
Simple steps: Lists food that are in season in your area
#4 Grow your own food. (This is my favorite, but hard to do in January)
We love digging up our own potatoes and going out to the garden to pick all we need for a beautiful salad! Seeds and starter plants are very inexpensive. Start with a container or a small plot of ground.
#5 Save money in other areas.
a. Buy only fresh whole real food. (You will save money because it will narrow down what you can buy.)
b. Go plant-based. You can make many simple meals with organic produce. Eating lower on the food chain should cost less, so switch some meals from meat to plant-based meals.
Watch Forks over Knives or Planeat documentaries.
c. Buy in bulk. I like to go to Miller's Country Market that has bulk grains, flours, beans, nuts, honey, and coconut oil. I stock up, so that I don't need to pay the higher prices at the grocery store.
Here is a bulk store you can order from online. (I haven't tried it yet.) Country Life Natural Foods
d. Pretend the other harmful options don't exist.
#6 Pay now or Pay Later
Paying for organic or local food now, will save you later in trips to the doctor, prescriptions, and health problems. Keeping the goal of good health in front of us will help when we are paying a little more now for food.
21 Days of Clean Food: Days 14-16
Molasses Cookies Recipe with Better Ingredients
Cream together:
1 c. butter
1 1/2 c. black-strap molasses
2 eggs
1 Tbsp. flax meal (optional)
Add:
2 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/3 c. almond milk
Stir in:
4 1/2 c. whole-wheat flour
Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes
Enjoy!
#4 Grow your own food. (This is my favorite, but hard to do in January)
We love digging up our own potatoes and going out to the garden to pick all we need for a beautiful salad! Seeds and starter plants are very inexpensive. Start with a container or a small plot of ground.
#5 Save money in other areas.
a. Buy only fresh whole real food. (You will save money because it will narrow down what you can buy.)
b. Go plant-based. You can make many simple meals with organic produce. Eating lower on the food chain should cost less, so switch some meals from meat to plant-based meals.
Watch Forks over Knives or Planeat documentaries.
c. Buy in bulk. I like to go to Miller's Country Market that has bulk grains, flours, beans, nuts, honey, and coconut oil. I stock up, so that I don't need to pay the higher prices at the grocery store.
Here is a bulk store you can order from online. (I haven't tried it yet.) Country Life Natural Foods
d. Pretend the other harmful options don't exist.
#6 Pay now or Pay Later
Paying for organic or local food now, will save you later in trips to the doctor, prescriptions, and health problems. Keeping the goal of good health in front of us will help when we are paying a little more now for food.
21 Days of Clean Food: Days 14-16
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| Day 14 Dinner: Veg/Tofu stir-fry with brown rice |
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| Salad with oranges, golden raisins, walnuts, and cranberries |
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| Day 15 Lunch veggies: My mom came and cooked us a plant-based meal! |
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| Sorry, we were hungry, and ate it too fast for a picture. It was boiled potatoes with a wonderful homemade tomato sauce on top, and a side of sweet corn. The recipe was from Extending the Table Cookbook by Joetta Schlabach. |
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| This is Blane's plate. |
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| Elena and Slade made the homemade whole-wheat tortillas for Dinner. |
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| Refried beans cooked in the crockpot. |
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| Green salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, and yellow peppers. |
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| Evening snack: Kale and mango smoothie: Yogurt, mango, kale, bananas, chia seeds, ice |
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| John Deere Green Smoothie: Just the way Blane loves it! |
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| Day 16: Breakfast: Cereal, Lunch: Refried beans and rice made into burritos, Dinner: Whole-wheat pita pizza, with fresh garlic, diced tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese/ Salad/ Kale and white bean soup (from the freezer) Easy Day! |
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| Special Friday Dessert: Molasses Cookies |
Cream together:
1 c. butter
1 1/2 c. black-strap molasses
2 eggs
1 Tbsp. flax meal (optional)
Add:
2 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/3 c. almond milk
Stir in:
4 1/2 c. whole-wheat flour
Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes
Enjoy!
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