15th January 2019
By Lyza May
Comments One thing to keep in the back of your mind when it comes to food choices is, “What you pay for now, you won’t pay for later.” Eating nutritious, chemical-free food will save you on doctor’s bills down the line. It’s more than our personal health, however.
What impact is our food having on the environment? Foods that are laden in pesticides harm the planet in myriad ways. How do you know which foods are organic or more sustainable? You can look at and read labels, talk to someone at the source, or do the research yourself. There are several certifications that can be found on the label that represent sustainable methods such as USDA certified; Non-GMO Project Verified; Certified B Corporation, and Fair-Trade Certified.
It’s important to be organized and prepared if budgeting for sustainable, organic food shopping. Eating at home instead of going out will not only save you money, but it will also ensure that you know what your ingredients are and where they are sourced from. Cooking from scratch is another way to save money and reduce waste, rather than using boxed, jarred or prepared foods to cook. If time is a factor for you, then try to set aside one day a week where you do the bulk of your cooking. In fact, bulk cooking is a great way to prepare food for the week. Freezing extra foods and storing them in mason jars or silicone ice cube trays for smaller portions are great ways to reach for quick meals when on the go. Canning foods yourself is a great way to store foods that you made from scratch.
Meat vs Fruits & Veggies
You’ve already decided how important it is to eat organic and to support sustainable methods, but changing your diet can be an overwhelming task. While transitioning to a more earth-friendly diet, it’s a good idea to decide which items must be organic for you and which ones you can let slide if you have a tight budget. The Environmental Working Group publishes a shopper’s guide to pesticides in produce each year.
Animal products tend to have higher concentrations of toxins. Toxins in animal products bioaccumulate and stores in their fat. The pesticides that animals ingest cannot be easily washed off or peeled as with some fruits and vegetables, which can lower their pesticide load. With that said, meat can be a big expense not only for your wallet but for your health and the environments. You can cut down on portion size—it is always a good idea to eat more vegetables and fruits anyway, as they are full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
Finding Affordable Meat
When buying meat in bulk, look for local farms that sell their meat by the whole, half, or quarter. Buying a whole or half a grass-fed cow could cost as little as four dollars per pound, hanging weight. Compare that with grass-fed beef in the store and you could be paying upwards of ten dollars per pound. But, if you don’t have the storage space, then you can also look into buying into a meat CSA from a local farm or sustainable meat online. Finding reputable and affordable meat online can be a weary process, however, it is also convenient with today’s busy lifestyle. US Wellness Meats has been selling allergy and specialty-diet friendly sustainable meats for nearly 20 years. While it doesn’t sell a monthly pre-boxed subscription, you can buy in volume, bringing down the cost. There are several other websites that sell organic meat, usually a mixed box, where it works out to cost five dollars a pound. Do some research and find the options best for you!
Coupon Craze
One way to start saving money is by using some good, old-fashioned, and sometimes technologically advanced, coupons. There are coupon apps; coupon websites; store coupons, even local grocery chains have organic coupons; and social media coupons. Also, check out your favorite brands’ websites; signing up for their mailing list will enable you to get coupons for your favorite foods.
When shopping, stick to your list, which you have hopefully already sought out sales and coupons and written them down. Buying frozen organic meats and vegetables tends to be less expensive than buying fresh, especially with fruits and vegetables out of season. Although, buying seasonably is more economical, sustainable, and fresher.
Membership Programs & Bulking
Another way to save money is to buy a membership to a health-minded company online, for example, Thrive Market or Healthy Buyers Club. These membership-based companies use the power of direct buying to pass these savings down to their members. Thrive Market also sponsors low-income American families. You can save twenty-five to fifty percent on your grocery bill. To boot, it is also a zero-waste facility and uses 100% recyclable packaging for shipping.
Bulk seems to be an operative word when it comes to savings: saving time and money. Most stores have a bulk section where you can buy items without the fancy packaging such as dried fruits, nuts, granolas, dry grains, and legumes.
Food Waste & A Starving Nation
Another aspect of saving money is to consider that in America, food waste is a big factor. The USDA estimates that 30-40% of the food supply is wasted. Not only is this wasted money from your budget, but it is otherwise food that could feed individuals and families with food insecurity.
Seek out local sustainable farms or shares. Farmers markets and farms may sell “seconds” for a lower price. Community Supported Agriculture, also known as CSAs, are a very economical way of buying meat or produce at a discounted rate. A box of fresh, organic produce might be $30 a week, compare that to organic produce at the store. There are also meat CSAs that sell a variety of meats at a bulk rate.
Take Away:
Organic, sustainable food in everyone’s kitchen IS possible! Setting aside 30 minutes to an hour a week for all tasks pertaining to your food will make this happen.
And believe me, your body, wallet, and planet will thank you for it!
Remember these crucial steps you can take to save money on organic food:
•Budget
•Meal-plan
•Coupon-clip
•Smart shopping
•Cook from scratch
•Eat more plants
•Eat smaller portions
•Cook with seasons
•Buy in bulk
•Reduce food waste
