I have always heard that organic food was great and healthier for you, but it took having a child to actually jump on the bandwagon. The only problem is the added cost. As our daughter grows, the amount of food she consumes is increasing at a rapid rate, as is our grocery bill. So I did some research and found some helpful ways to buy organic while maintaining your monthly budget.
Tip #1 - Know the Dirty Dozen vs. the Clean Fifteen. In an article by About.com, it says that the Environmental Working Group has developed the "Dirty Dozen" list of foods that are best to buy organic. These non-organic items tend to be high in pesticide residues:* Peaches
* Apples
* Bell Peppers
* Celery
* Nectarines
* Strawberries
* Cherries
* Kale
* Lettuces
* Grapes
* Carrots
* Pears
They have also come up with the "Clean Fifteen" list of foods that tend to be very low in pesticides for those that are grown commercially. Items in particular that can be peeled before eaten tend to have fewer pesticides in their flesh. You can save money by purchasing the following as regular, non-organic produce:
* Onions
* Avocadoes
* Sweet Corn
* Pineapples
* Mangoes
* Asparagus
* Sweet Peas
* Kiwis
* Cabbages
* Eggplants
* Papayas
* Watermelons
* Broccoli
* Tomatoes
* Sweet Potatoes
Tip #2 - Try shopping at your local farmer's market instead of at a supermarket. Prices tend to be lower there because you are buying straight from the farmer thus avoiding the additional costs added on by supermarkets.
Tip #3 - Purchase store brand organic products. Since there is a growing demand for organics, some chain stores have started their own private organic label, for example 365 brand by Whole Foods. Because they are able to manufacture and sell in bulk, they are able to price their items cheaper than other brand names.
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