Posted in Health

Since the 60's health food has had a following.  Today a desire to eat more healthfully is taking precendence over convenience (which is what inspired the mass production of processed foods).  When you say you buy organic produce, or milk, etc people no longer look at you like your a monkey doing a math problem.  There is a better sense of "good for you." 

All this aside, it can be very difficult to finance an "organic lifestyle." in search of less chemicals and modified food.  To make some decisions in the ol' food budget, you need to think ahead, and to determine your motivation and plan. 

Firstly, why do you want to buy organic?  Are you switching because you feel pressure to get on  the band wagon?  Do you want to know what all the fuss is about?  Are you searching to rid yourself of chemicals, as much as possible?  Do you have a desire to get back to God's food for nutrition?  etc.  These are important questions to answer.  You may have a little of pondering to do.  But finding your motivation in searching for how to make a switch is essential. 

Next, spend a little time checking out various sources of food suppliers for price.  Even Wal Mart now carries some organic food products.  Jot down brands, size, and prices, as you would for any other products in your price book.  You will probably need to look outside your normal brick and mortar stores for some other options.  As you are finding who carries what, you will probably notice a large discrepancy in pricing of different types of items.  (I am still not sure why food that has less processing and additives costs more?)  Determining how the discrepancies are grouped according to the store is going to be one of the best investments of time you make. 

Now, you will make a plan.  Let me give you an example of my plan.  My regualr grocery carries a limited, but fresh selection of fresh organic produce and meat.  In the organic meat section they also carry a brand that, while not organic, uses no antibiotics, hormones, or fillers of any kind.  Wal Mart as I said also carries certain organic items, but their produce department is slim at best and they do not carry organic meat.  Next is a local gourmet grocer.  They have a bigger selection of produce and meat and other health items.  Produce us reasonably priced, but isn't always "fresh" looking.  The meat is way out of my price range.  Other items they carry are priced mid way, and items I would used regularly.  (some bulk items, jam, milk, coffee, tea).  They also offer 10% off your entire order every thursday.  Then there is a small whole foods store.  They carry a very small produce section, which looks fresh, but at times is fairly high priced.  They also carry other health items, but at a higher price.  Their bulk section is unbeatable.  Wide variety, great prices.  Last is a large national chain gourmet/whole foods grocer.  This store has a huge selection of produce, but the prices are not always good, and sometimes freshness (especially for berries) isn't there.  They have a full fresh fish dept, with some reasonable prices, some OUCH prices.  Their butcher dept is lovely, except it is over the top expensive.  Almost all the meat is "natural"  or "fresh" which doesn't offer the health conscience shopper any assurances.  They carry a wide variety of everyday items, and even have their own store brand of organics which are, for the most part, so reasonably priced, that I often find items that are priced at or below what the chemical versions are in the regular grocery.  This store also offers a fresh cheese section, that I cannot compare to anywhere else...but I don't have a call for fresh cheeses too often.  Prices are a bit high.  In addition, they offer a bulk section (steep pricing), a huge supplement section (great pricing), a fresh salad bar (great for grabbing quick lunch for the whole family), an olive bar, a wide variety of organic free trade coffees, milk & dairy, paper products, frozen, etc.  Oh, and they have a juice bar. 

Well, in some ways I wish I could afford to shop at the latter store everyweek, but it wouldn't be cost effective in some ways, and it is a 45 min drive from my home.  I have searched high and low, crunched numbers, over and over and over and over again.  (Ok, I still crunch numbers on this issue), and have come up with a sensible plan that allows me to get what I need at the best prices, figuring travel time and gas.  I wish I was about to tell you that I have found tyhe  ultimate one stop shopping emporium for healthful living.  But I haven't.  However, you can figure this out with your price book, schedule, and your already developed sense of bargain shopping.

Just as you plan your regular shopping, if you are interested in shopping for more healthful alternatives, you will plan in the same way.  First make some lists of the items you  need by store and cheapest price.  For me, that involves 5 stores.  I eliminated the gourmet grocer in the next town, because their produce is unreliable, the bulk is more pricey, their meat is out of the question, and their other products can be purchased elsewhere for the same or less, elsewhere.  Once a month (sometimes twice) I head to the smaller whole foods store and stock up on bulk items such as flour, grains, beans, nuts, and spices.  On occaision, if the price is right and the freshness too, I may purchase some produce items on that day.  I do this on a day when I am already in the area.  I use my local grocer for certain produce, meat (when the budget allows), eggs, and some canned goods (this grocer has an excellent price on their store brand organic canned beans).  I will also pick up organic milk if we are running low.  Because Wal Mart does not carry enough selection of what I normally purchase, I only figure on shopping there if I have something to pick up there, because their prices are only so so.  Lastly, I use the national cahin gourmet grocer about 1-2x per month.  I stock up on some convenience items like mac & cheese, sale cereal, couscous.  I also purchase produce that is fresh, reasonably priced, and that I cannot get anywhere (WARNING:  some times it is hard to find produce that fits all those criteris.  When I cannot, I make do without).  Then I purchase any supplements, coffee, olives, pasta (can't beat the price here for organic pasta), and sometimes fish.  Lastly, they sell organic milk by the gallon (the only store that sellsit in the gallon) at a great price, so I stock up on those.  (Milk can be frozen).  They also carry a wide variety of reasonably priced vegetarian protein options, not just tofu.  This trip is also worth my while when we couple it with other outtings in that area.  For example, if the kids are well behaved while shopping, we will go to the big bookstore and hang out for a few hours. 

By making this plan, keeping track of sales, and knowing who sells what, our family is able to have the bulk of our food without chemicals, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, and they are not modified in any way.  It can be a lot to keep track of, but it is well worth my time and effort.

One last note:  Chemical free cleaning products are wonderful.  Currently, I order them directly from a company.  However, I have been watching stores as more healthful chemical free living is moving mainstream.  Target has be known to carry Seventh Generation and a few other brands.  The prices are a bit higher than what I pay to have products shipped direct, but they have come down, a lot.  I look for it to soon be as cost effective as the ones I order. Keep your eyes open, look for a sale, and ALWAYS check the specific company's website before shopping; they often have coupons. 

These are my thoughts.