Eating Organic on a Budget

If you compare prices while shopping, you might thing that transitioning to eating organic will break your budget. If this is you, please read the following tips for transitioning to eating organic food.
1. Eat more beans and whole grains and buy them in bulk. Eating organic beans is much cheaper than buying packaged TV dinners and meat. Beans and whole grains will keep you satiated and give you sustained energy. Processed food is devoid of nutrition and leaves you unsatisfied and hungry even though your belly may be full. (If you develop flatulence from eating beans, start with smaller beans such as lentils, mung, and aduki beans. Soak them overnight before cooking and add sea salt after cooking rather than during cooking.)
2. Join a CSA, a co-op, or buy produce from a local farmer. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Find a CSA or local farmer near you on www.eatwellguide.org
3. Prioritize buying the most highly contaminated fruit and vegetables organic and the buy conventional produce for the least contaminated fruit and vegetables. See a full list here: http://www.foodnews.org/index.php
4. Remember that you vote with your dollar. If you spend 50 cents more to purchase organic food, it is 50 cents well spent. Do your part to create a demand for high quality food and the supply will follow. Your best bet for finding quality food is from an organic or local farm. Wal-mart organics is not trustworthy.
Personally, my food bill is much lower than many people I know who do not eat organic. I have done this by joining a CSA and eating less packaged food and less animal protein. I am the healthiest I have ever been. The extra effort you spend on finding quality food sources and time in your kitchen is worth it. Your body will thank you and respond with exuberant health!