The New Human Condition

Whenever I am talking with someone about buying organic produce, the conversation always turns to cost. And while it’s true that organic fruits and veggies tend to be more expensive than “conventional” varieties, it’s easy to buy produce without breaking the bank.

Eat in Season: As winter sets in many parts of the country, there aren’t as many local seasonal choices to choose from. But if you look hard you should be able to find items grown by local farmers. Winter vegetable varieties include lettuces, cabbage, garlic, onions, and carrots. Other veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, and several varieties of greens are also grown during the colder fall and winter months. Buying foods that are in season means that you have a large variety to choose from, and prices are usually lower.

Buy Local: Produce that is grown locally is allowed to fully ripen before being picked. Vegetables that are shipped across the country (or overseas!) are usually harvested when still green and as a result lack some flavor and nutrients gained from ripening. There are many advantages of buying at local farmers markets, including tastier and cheaper veggies, less local pollution, and community support. I have often found vegetables that were raised organically at farmers markets for far cheaper than I could buy them at the local Publix (my nearest chain grocery store).

Start a Container Garden: Grow your own! If you have a backyard to use, then start a garden. If you live in an apartment or condo, grow fruits and veggies in containers around your place or on a balcony. Start-up costs like pots, soil, and seeds quickly pay for themselves when you harvest your veggies. I enjoyed tomatoes and two types of peppers this past summer. In total, the materials probably cost me about $20, and I probably got about 50 tomatoes and peppers from my container garden.  Buying those in a store would have cost me much more.

Don’t let the price of fresh, organic produce deter you from a healthy diet. If you look outside of the large grocery stores, organic options are usually available and affordable.

Joe Food and Nutrition Budget, Container Garden, Gardening, Produce

Recession. The word is everywhere these days. Our economy is fragile, the market has dropped, and energy costs are rising. (Ok, enough bad news)

The good news is that you can still afford to eat healthy on a limited budget. Here are five easy ways to get the most for your money:

Buy in Bulk: My nearby chain grocery store and the local organic grocery store both have a bulk section. Chances are yours does too. Here you can find things like beans, rice, nuts, flour, dried fruit, and coffee. Basically any dried staple item can be purchased like this. Buy a bunch, store it, and pocket the discounts.

Learn to Cook Beans: Combine with the rice you bought in the bulk section and you have the cheapest protein you can buy. Most of the world relies on some form of bean for sustenance because they are affordable and offer a lot of nutrition. Think about making soups, burritos, chili, or just simple beans and rice.

Shop Sales: Compare various stores to see which has your own staple items for the cheapest. Don’t cut corners here and switch brands, just shop around. If you love organic coffee, don’t buy a random brand just because it’s on sale…find out where you can get yours the cheapest. Stock up when there are sales on your favorites.

Buy Local: Check out farmers markets in your area. Almost every city no matter the size will have one now (yay!). You can also ask around for locals that sell their own produce or animal products out of their home. A friend of mine gets a great deal on organic eggs and grass-fed pork because he made friends with a lady who sells these things out of her home. Oftentimes these products are cheaper and better than store varieties.

Start a Container Garden: No matter what size of home you have you can do this (even in a house or condo!).  Buy a few cheap pots, some soil, and some seeds or seedlings. Gardening in pots is really easy, and you can grow many of your own fruits and vegetables for a fraction of the cost. Plus, you get a new hobby.

You can also check out my previous post on Eating Well for Less

Joe Food and Nutrition Beans, Bulk, Gardening, Local, Sales