Mommy Goes Green

Our budget doesn’t allow us to purchase organic foods 100% of the time but I have found a few key ways to include them in our diet.   I’ve also prioritized the items for which I feel most strongly about purchasing organic ( milk, meat, and produce ) and those which I can live without for budget sake ( examples: cereal, bread, and snacks ).  That said, with a few of my favorite budget shopping tips below, I oftentimes am able to purchase organic snacks and cereal for the same price as the non-organic options.

1.  Buy in bulk - Winco, a large West Coast supermarket, has a large bulk section.  They have multiple organic options such as organic sugar and whole wheat organic spaghetti.  Costco and Sam’s Club also carry organic items – milk, sugar, snacks, to name a few.  You get a higher quality product at a reasonable price and less packaging.

2.  Shop outlet grocery stores - Look for ‘grocery outlets’ or ‘canned food stores’ as these stores carry bargain and close-out food items.  I visited my first grocery outlet two months ago and was pleasantly surprised that my trip was not wasted.  I found organic snacks, frozen meals ( Annie’s Burritos, for example ), canned diced tomatoes, cereals, and drinks, all at affordable prices.  The cereal was $1.99 – 2.99 per box, Hansen’s 6 pack of natural soda was $1.99 and organic milk boxes were 3/$1 ( great for traveling ).

3.  Find a farm – One way we’ve managed to eat organic meat is by purchasing a cow!  Don’t worry, you won’t have Bessie eating grass in your backyard.  Each year, we partner with 2-3 other families ( depending on the size of the cow ) to purchase a cow and all the meat is split ( evenly as possible ) amongst the families.  For our family of 3, it’s enough meat for the entire year, at the cost of about $250-300 per family ( depending on the size of the cow ).  To find a cow, start by asking around – someone you know might know a farmer.  Call local farms, butcher shops, or extension offices at your local university.  Ask around at your local’s farmers market.  I’ve even seen postings on Craigslist.

4.  Grow your own – Growing your own produce is an inexpensive way to eat organically.  It’s also a great way to get your kids interested in veggies.  Last summer my daughter came to love cherry tomatoes – she would go out each day and eat them like candy.  There are lots of fruits and veggies to grow – for prioritizing, check out ‘pesticides in produce‘ first.

5.  Coupons – Coupons are not as easily accessible for organic food but they do exist.  The easiest way to find them is to go to the websites of the companies that you like and print coupons from their website.  Sign up for their newsletter as well as they will likely send coupons in those, as well.  For the month of April, Go Organic for Earth Day, is offering free coupon books for organic groceries at select grocery stores – enter your zipcode to find a store near you.

Mom’s are resourceful – how do YOU shop for and eat quality food on a budget?

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