Eating Organic on a Budget

[liquidstayce]

Martrae's post made me thing about this topic.....

http://www.greenfeet.net/newsletter/eatorganic.shtml

excerpt..

So why don't more people eat organic? Most people feel it's too expensive. It costs an average of 30% more for organic goods than for conventionally grown products and not everyone has that extra money to spare. But by employing smart shopping tactics, you can save money and eat healthier. Here are a few tips and resources that we have found to help make eating organic a healthy and affordable choice.

Evaluate the food products that you consume every day. Whether it's produce, milk, cereal or bread, decide which products makeup the core of your diet. The next time you're in the supermarket, check out the natural foods section or visit your local natural foods market. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that organic milk does not cost significantly more than your normal brand and considering the huge health benefits (no hormones, pesticides or antibiotics), this is a great place to start - especially if you have children.

Prioritize the items that you feel would benefit you and your family the most. Dairy products, produce and grains may take precedence while you may decide that it is not necessary to spend the extra money on a bottle of organic ketchup. This is where you can make choices.
...

and then this one 17 tips for buying organic
ie- shop at farmers market
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cheap/20040901a1.asp

these are good too
http://www.eatwellguide.org/index.cfm
http://www.organicconsumers.org

[Diekan]

I always get a kick out of foods that are called "organic."



pssst... unless you've gone to eating rocks and minerals... EVERYTHING you eat is organic.

[liquidstayce]

[Organic’ is a labeling term that denotes products produced under the authority of the Organic Foods Production Act. The principal guidelines for organic production are to use materials and practices that enhance the ecological balance of natural systems and that integrate the parts of the farming system into an ecological whole.

Organic agriculture practices cannot ensure that products are completely free of residues; however, methods are used to minimize pollution from air, soil and water.

Organic food handlers, processors and retailers adhere to standards that maintain the integrity of organic agricultural products. The primary goal of organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals and people."

There is a difference. I guess they just couldn't come up with a better word..
Fiji Apple fertilized with shit instead of chemicals just doesnt sound as appetizing as an Organic Fiji apple.

[Diekan]

Yeah I know... it's just a funny play on words I guess...

Technically anything that was once, or is currently living is made of *organic* materials. It's hard to not to laugh at the clueless people in the stores who refuse to buy X brand of meat because it's not *organic* Even though they just mean the cow was raised without chemicals and such...

[labbats]

I don't buy organic because I'm afraid some tree hugger will forget to wear his hairnet and I'll get his rebellion in my mouth. Cut it off and shave, deviant!

[Diekan]

I don't eat organic either. I perfer a hearty diet of basalt and granite.

[liquidstayce]

Yeah I know... it's just a funny play on words I guess...

Technically anything that was once, or is currently living is made of *organic* materials. It's hard to not to laugh at the clueless people in the stores who refuse to buy X brand of meat because it's not *organic* Even though they just mean the cow was raised without chemicals and such...

but thats the whole point... *CERTIFIED* organic is better for you and has more controlled standards. Mop was telling me about how they are feeding cement to cows to make them weigh more at a regular farm.


Read this paul check article from you are what you eat series:
http://www.chekinstitute.com/articles.cfm?select=44
that way you won't be cluless yourself =P There are good sound reasons for buying organic.

[Gypsiyee]

Our two cows that we butchered in December.. you could really tell the difference - much less fat, meat was way more tender and didn't need seasoning.. those cows were fed well with no tricks involved. The butcher told us that ordinarily the horns get cut off which puts them in distress, and stressed cows don't taste as good for whatever reason, most bizarre thing I've ever heard

There's not a ton of items that we'd buy organic instead, things like milk we could.. but a gallon of organic milk here costs 7 bucks as opposed to 2.50 =\

[Martrae]

Stress sends hormones to the muscles which changes the taste.


EDIT cuz I can't spell which

[Gypsiyee]

Well our cows must've been stress free! I tell you, that's the best damn beef I've ever had

The butcher said those are 2 of the happiest cows he's ever seen.. and they were pretty spoiled cows. They got the best food I swear.. they got pet every day and loved, now cows are stupid as hell but they seemed to enjoy visitors. I felt awful when it came time to butcher them because they'd grown on me, but they killed them in the most civil way possible.. no suffering whatsoever.