Organic on a budget, is it possible?

With the economy continuing to head in a downward direction, saving money is on the top of everyone’s mind. And often it’s the organic and sustainable foods on people’s list that get cut for cheaper, conventional options.

Here are two articles with some suggestions to keep eating healthy through these rough times.

Indystar.com, 4 ways to eat organic on a budget

“People are expecting food to be cheaper and cheaper, and there’s a high cost for that,” Zak Zaidman says. “It’s a very high cost that we’re paying in our health and in the health of the planet.”

His four tips: 1. Buy in bulk, 2. Cook your own meals, 3. Grow your own food, 4. Reconsider how much you spend on food.

Organicjar.com, 5 Ways to Spend Your Organic Food Dollars Wisely

“We all know organic food is more expensive, and here’s why: Organic food is more expensive to produce due to more manual labor – people are more expensive than petrochemicals. Demand is greater than supply – when demand is greater than supply, prices are higher. Finally, billion dollar subsidies are given to conventional farmers, not organic farmers – this lowers the prices of conventional (non-organic) food.”

Their five tips: 1. Buy smart, 2. Shop around, 3. Buy local, 4. Join a Co-op, 5. Grow your own.

I always find that planning in advance makes a huge difference. If I plan a few meals for my week, and take the time to shop at my coop- I can save money and end up eating healthier too! Not to mention I have wonderful leftovers to take to work, another great way to save money and not be limited by the bad food options near my office.