One thing most people know about me or learn very quickly is that I LOVE food! I especially love sweets :) One of the goals I have set for myself is to try to cook more and to use organic ingredients. With such a busy and inconsistent schedule, it is so easy just to grab some food on the way home or to eat out. Besides draining my wallet, it is also detrimental to my health.
It is crazy to read the ingredients on many of the frozen and prepackaged food at the grocery store and realize I have no clue what 95% of the things are in the food I was eating. My rule of thumb is if a third-grader cannot pronounce the ingredient, you shouldn't be eating it :) It is definitely challenging to change your lifestyle when you are accustomed to living a certain way, but once you start eating more fruits and veggies and whole foods, you will feel so much better and have more energy. My goal is to plan a rough menu for the week of what I will eat so it will be easier and I won't have to try to think of something when I get home from work. Another thing that will help is to plan healthy snacks when you're on the go. There are a lot of recipes for the crock pot too which I love because it will be ready when I get home from work.
Many times people use the excuse that cooking organically is too expensive. The way I see it is, you can either pay a little more for good food now or you can pay for it in health bills later. I would rather pay a little more for the food now :) Chemical free skinny posted an article about buying organic on a budget and I thought it was very helpful. Here are their tips:
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1-Eliminate all processed/prepackaged foods from your grocery cart. This will allow more available funds for healthy/organic items. Anything that is frozen is going to have preservatives in it that are very bad for you. More or less, only buy things that can eventually spoil.
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2-Buy foods that you prepare and cook yourself rather than ‘convenience’ versions—they are far cheaper. (Example: buy individual salad ingredients rather than bags of packaged, pre-cut salad; buy blocks of cheese and a grater rather than bags of pre-shredded cheese, etc.) I used to do this all the time. It is so easy to see a bunch of cut-up fruit and buy that package. You can buy a small amount of cut-up watermelon for 2.49 or a large watermelon for .99...you just have to cut it up.
…
3-Invest in a good cookbook (used copies can be found online) and collect a file folder of recipes you find for free online. You can never have enough recipes. It is always fun to try new things. It is also fun to do a recipe exchange with friends :)
…
4-Avoid eating out (it’s expensive and unhealthy…most restaurants obtain their ingredients in bulk—ingredients that are frequently filled with potentially dangerous preservatives as well as colorings and additives) and instead invite your friends and family to potluck dinners of healthy/organic dishes. Now it is unreasonable that you will never eat out...the point here is to do it sparingly. When you do eat out, don't be afraid to ask how things are cooked or what is in a certain dish.
…
5-Take advantage of the times your local health food/organic store has specials on large shipments of fruits and vegetables. If you have a good supply of recipes you can save money by getting the fruits and veggies that are on sale because you will know what to do with them/how to prepare them. Farmers markets are also great for getting things in bulk for very cheap!
…
6-Make grains and beans a key part of your diet. They supply plenty of nutrients and can be purchased very cheaply in bulk. There are many delicious recipes that focus on both of these food groups.
…
7-Grow your own vegetables and herbs/seasonings. We have posted numerous pieces on how to do this including for people who have apartments or even a single room they are renting. Arizona is not the best place to grow your own garden, but I'm sure there are ways it can be done.
…
8-Check your area for community gardens and discounts with local farms. Many offer deep discounts for picking your own fruits and vegetables and/or volunteering a couple hours a month.
…
9-Make your own healthy/organic snacks and breakfast drinks rather than buying prepared versions. We have posted recipes for both so check our blog and watch for future postings. Once again, planning is key here. It is so easy to grab an unhealthy snack. If you plan ahead, you can have snacks handy that are healthy.
…
10-Use the recipes we have posted on this blog to make your own grooming products like shampoo, conditioner, facial wash, masks, etc. Not only are these organic versions chemical-free and healthier for you but you will save a significant amount of money that can be put towards your organic food budget.
…
2-Buy foods that you prepare and cook yourself rather than ‘convenience’ versions—they are far cheaper. (Example: buy individual salad ingredients rather than bags of packaged, pre-cut salad; buy blocks of cheese and a grater rather than bags of pre-shredded cheese, etc.) I used to do this all the time. It is so easy to see a bunch of cut-up fruit and buy that package. You can buy a small amount of cut-up watermelon for 2.49 or a large watermelon for .99...you just have to cut it up.
…
3-Invest in a good cookbook (used copies can be found online) and collect a file folder of recipes you find for free online. You can never have enough recipes. It is always fun to try new things. It is also fun to do a recipe exchange with friends :)
…
4-Avoid eating out (it’s expensive and unhealthy…most restaurants obtain their ingredients in bulk—ingredients that are frequently filled with potentially dangerous preservatives as well as colorings and additives) and instead invite your friends and family to potluck dinners of healthy/organic dishes. Now it is unreasonable that you will never eat out...the point here is to do it sparingly. When you do eat out, don't be afraid to ask how things are cooked or what is in a certain dish.
…
5-Take advantage of the times your local health food/organic store has specials on large shipments of fruits and vegetables. If you have a good supply of recipes you can save money by getting the fruits and veggies that are on sale because you will know what to do with them/how to prepare them. Farmers markets are also great for getting things in bulk for very cheap!
…
6-Make grains and beans a key part of your diet. They supply plenty of nutrients and can be purchased very cheaply in bulk. There are many delicious recipes that focus on both of these food groups.
…
7-Grow your own vegetables and herbs/seasonings. We have posted numerous pieces on how to do this including for people who have apartments or even a single room they are renting. Arizona is not the best place to grow your own garden, but I'm sure there are ways it can be done.
…
8-Check your area for community gardens and discounts with local farms. Many offer deep discounts for picking your own fruits and vegetables and/or volunteering a couple hours a month.
…
9-Make your own healthy/organic snacks and breakfast drinks rather than buying prepared versions. We have posted recipes for both so check our blog and watch for future postings. Once again, planning is key here. It is so easy to grab an unhealthy snack. If you plan ahead, you can have snacks handy that are healthy.
…
10-Use the recipes we have posted on this blog to make your own grooming products like shampoo, conditioner, facial wash, masks, etc. Not only are these organic versions chemical-free and healthier for you but you will save a significant amount of money that can be put towards your organic food budget.
2 comments:
I loved this post <3
I have done this twice and if you are interested in organic they have organic produce available. I have purchased the regular in the past. The only down side is that you don't know what fruits and veggies you will be getting but it is sort of a fun surprise! The website is www.bountifulbaskets.org. You get a great deal for what you get. I know it says on there that prepackaged frozen foods are bad but don't forget about preparing your own meals and freezing them! If you make them yourself they are healthy and last longer if frozen. Also, most vegetables can be blanched and frozen to use later in meals and fruits freeze super easy!
Thanks Beth! I will have to try that :) Yes I am all for making meals and freezing them! That is such a great idea and I have seen some of the recipes you have posted on your blog! I definitely need to start doing that. Maybe we can get together someday and you can give me some pointers!
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