You Don’t Have To Be Wealthy To Eat Well - The Truth About Your Grocery Budget

You Don’t Have To Be Wealthy To Eat Well - The Truth About Your Grocery Budget

Many people complain that organic foods are more costly than conventional. In many cases, organic foods are priced higher. However, people aren’t weighing the costs of eating healthy against the costs of eating poorly. Americans spend millions of dollars each week on “coffee house foods”—fatty lattés and sugary frappucinos, not to mention the white-floured, trans fatty pastries that go along with them. If you were to keep a strict accounting of all the money you spent on soda, pizza, potato chips, pastries, etc., then the question is not so much how much things cost, but where the money is being spent.

And the costs don’t just stop there. The health hazards of the fungicide, pesticide, herbicide and chemical residuals found on conventional foods have been well documented. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers 60% of herbicides, 90% of fungicides and 30% of insecticides to be carcinogenic. Such substances also compromise our immunologic defenses and are disruptive to our endocrine systems.

But not only are conventional foods more harmful because of chemical contaminants, they are also less nutritious. Organic produce has consistently shown significantly higher levels of nutrients such as vitamin C, iron, magnesium and phosphorus. Can you really put a price on the safety of the foods you and your family eats?

There are ways to eat well, without taking a huge bite out of your wallet:

1. Join an organic co-op;
2. Go to local farms to pick and purchase fresh, regionally-grown produce;
3. Check out stores like Trader Joes, discount grocery stores that have begun to offer a greater selection of organic products;
4. Scan the coupon sections in the paper . . . more and more grocery coupons are applying to organic products now;
5. Make two lists—one list of “non-negotiables”—products you won’t compromise on, and a second list of items that are of lesser priority. For example: organic bananas aren’t as critical as organic strawberries, as berries are heavily sprayed and not protected by a thick skin.
6. Processed foods often come in a box or can, are intended for single meals, and do not preserve well as leftovers. Organic, whole foods on the other hand lend themselves more readily to stews, soups, and casseroles, which means more leftovers. The investment of time in preparing these meals is more than made up for in their multiple uses throughout the week. Incredible savings can be found in cooking this way.
7. And finally, the more people demand and purchase organic foods, the more the prices will drop!

Super Health Nutrition Tip: Put these low-calorie, nutrient-dense Superfoods at the top of your grocery list:

• Grain grasses (like wheat grass)
• Sea vegetables (like kelp)
• Dark green vegetables (like spinach and broccoli)
• Bright-colored vegetables (like bell peppers)
• Berries (blueberries)
• Eggs from free-range hens
• Grass-fed/grain-free/organic beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, venison, bison, etc.
• Rice and yellow pea protein
• Goat milk protein
• Non-denatured why protein
• Stabilized brown rice bran
• Sprouted legumes and grains such as kasha (buckwheat)
• Fresh-squeezed combinations of vegetable juice
• Sprouts (alfalfa or mung bean, for example)

Other articles you may find interesting:

Seasonal Sales Shopping List

Been saving up for that 'something special'? Want to know when you will get the best deal? Are you curious to know when your favorite foods will be going on sale?

Let this seasonal shopping guide help you make those strategic shopping decisions!

JANUARY

• Post-Holiday Sales
• White Sales
• Sports and Weight Loss Equipment
• Computers
• Winter Apparel and Accessories

FEBRUARY

• Electronics
• Floor Coverings
• Housewares
• Furniture
• Candy and Chocolates

MARCH

• Spring Apparel and Accessories
• Winter Sports Equipment
• Gardening Supplies
• Luggage
• Frozen Food

APRIL

• Spring Apparel and Accessories
• Coats and Hats
• Paint
• Wallpaper
• Jewish Foods and Eggs

MAY

• White Sale - Linens and Towels
• Spring Cleaning Supplies
• Auto Maintenance
• Home Maintenance
• Sodas, Hotdogs, Hamburger Meat, Condiments

JUNE

• Summer Apparel and Accessories
• Pianos
• Television Sets
• Building Materials and Hardware
• Dairy Products

JULY

• Air Conditioners
• Summer Sports Equipment
• Sportswear
• Craft Supplies
• Sodas, Hotdogs, Hamburger Meat, Condiments

AUGUST

• White Sale -
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  Helping Your Car Run The Extra Mile

  by John Sanderson
  

  A little extra care here and there when it comes to your car, and you'll find yourself saving loads of money - not just on repairs, but on fuel as well!

  Keep your engine tuned up. A misfiring spark plug can reduce fuel efficiency as much as 30 percent. This means less money in your wallet. Follow the service schedules listed in your owner's manual. Replace filters and fluids as recommended.

  I know it doesn't always fit into your schedule. You just have to make yourself do it. If the dealer is charging an arm and a leg for a tune-up, get a second opinion
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  Shopping at Warehouse Clubs

  by Sandy Shields
  

  General Shopping Tips to Use

  Before shopping:

  • Know the prices of items you are planning to purchase.
  • Keep track of the UNIT prices, and sales cycle in your area.
  • Make and take along a price list, coupons, and calculator.
  • Eat before you go.
  • Buddy-buy with friends or family to split large purchases and save.
  • If possible, shop alone.
  • Take cash only and you will not spend over your limit.
  • Create meal plans based on what you have and loss leader sales.

  While shopping:

  • Use coupons if store accepts them.
  • Avoid impulse buys.
  • Don't buy convenience foods.
  • Remember that it's not a deal if you can't use it.
  • Remember the difference between wants and needs.
  • Remember larger
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    All Natural Household Cleaning Solutions

    by Sandy Shields
    

    Save time and money by trying these simple household cleaners!

    Window Cleaner

    Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 quart warm water.

    Floor Cleaner

    Mix 1 cup vinegar with 2 gallons water.

    Glass Coffee Pot Cleaner

    Place crushed ice, salt and sliced lemons in pot and swirl till clean.

    Furniture polish

    Mix 1/4 cup vinegar with 3/4 cup oil (olive, vegetable, lemon).

    Brass, Copper, and Pewter Cleaner

    Mix equal parts salt and vinegar, then thicken with flour.

    General Cleaner

    Mix 4 tablespoons baking soda in 1 quart warm water, or use plain baking soda with a wet sponge.

    Disinfecting/Deodorizing Cleaner

    Mix 1/2 cup Borax in 1 gallon hot water.

    Mildew Remover

    Mix 3/4 cup chlorine bleach
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    Budget Furniture Fix Ups

    by Kathleen Wilson
    

    Faced with my own furniture dilemma recently, I thought what a great opportunity for me to share ideas with you on how to turn around that tired piece of furniture, without having to spend big bucks! So here it is, secrets from The Budget Decorator on transforming your furniture from trash to Treat For The Eyes!

    One of the most expensive items in our rooms is our furniture, and we can’t always afford to just replace it when it gets worn, outdated, or just no longer works in your room.

    The number one concern for those trying to update existing furniture is
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