My Million Dollar Grocery Bill
Almost every weekend my parents hit the supermarket near my house and then
come by for a visit. Not one week goes by without my dad sharing his regular
joke: “Whole Foods should really be called Whole Paycheck.” (He’s referring to
the fact that his organic groceries are quite pricey).
Affordable Organic foodLet’s face it. Organic foods are great, but they can
sometimes run you more money than a new flashy Benz. (Not that both aren’t
worth the money, but you would look better in your Mercedes after you bought
the organic food).
Before you go and spend your own “whole paycheck”, you may be wondering if
these foods are really worth the money and all the hype. My answer is a
resounding YES!
Organic food is food grown or raised without the use of synthetic (chemically
formulated) pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or fertilizers. This method of
farming allows foods to grown in nature as they were intended. Consider that
conventional farmers in the United States spray 2 billion pounds of pesticides a
year on crops to compensate for poor farming practices. Do you know where
those pesticides end up? In our food supply!
Aside from pesticide contamination, conventional produce tends to have fewer
nutrients than organic produce. On average, conventional produce has only 83
percent of the nutrients of organic produce. Studies have found significantly
higher levels of nutrients such as vitamin C, iron, magnesium and phosphorus,
and significantly less nitrates (a toxin) in organic crops.
When I first discovered that organic foods might be the missing link to my weight
loss and health efforts (read my story here), I had just graduated from college
and was living in a miniature apartment in New York City for like a bizzillion
dollars that I could barely afford. In other words, I was broke with a capital "B".
How in the world was I going to spend the big bucks on organic food? Let alone
pay my rent on time?
Here is how I mastered the art of “going organic on a budget”:
1. I stopped buying crappy “non foods” (and, yes, crappy is a scientific term).
Most protein shakes, “health” bars, and processed foods are actually pretty
expensive and when you completely eliminate them from your grocery list, you
will save hundreds of dollars. Take a good look at the price of sugar cereals,
packaged cookies and cakes, and frozen TV dinners. You will see how the prices
of these foods quickly add up. That same amount of money can be better spent
on a week’s worth of organic produce.
2. When I started eating reasonable portions, the food was not that expensive.
When I really took a look at how much I was eating and how much I was
supposed to be eating, I clearly had mistaken myself for a 200 lb sumo wrestler. I
had portion distortion to say the least and eating less meant spending less!
3. I sought out the local farmer’s markets. The prices were so much better and I
always got fresh food in season. And, honestly, if the price of cherries was the
equivalent of diamond earrings, I would choose a different fruit. Go for the
apples, pears, or bananas. Variety is good anyway so choose the fruits and
veggies without the diamond prices.
4. I transitioned my kitchen and my whole house slowly. I probably did not have a
complete organic kitchen until 3 years later. Not the ideal, but I did the best I
could. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was my organic palace. Do the
best you can, start with a few items and then go from there.
5. Buy organic foods “selectively”. The following foods have been shown to have
the highest levels of pesticide residue, so they should really always be
purchased organic:
Fruits:
1. Peaches
2. Apples
3. Strawberries
4. Nectarines
5. Pears
6. Cherries
7. Red Raspberries
8. Imported Grapes
Vegetables:
1. Spinach
2. Bell Peppers
3. Celery
4. Potatoes
5. Hot Peppers
Animal products
*Always look for animal products (meats, poultry, and dairy) that have no added
antibiotics and growth hormones. Ingesting meats that have been injected with
these harmful substances is equivalent to eating the hormones and antibiotics
themselves. Very dangerous!
These foods tend to be lower in pesticide levels so can be purchased
conventional if necessary:
Fruits:
1. Pineapples
2. Plantains
3. Mangoes
4. Bananas
5. Watermelon
6. Plums
7. Kiwi Fruit
8. Blueberries
9. Papaya
10. Grapefruit
11. Avocado
Vegetables:
1. Cauliflower
2. Brussels Sprouts
3. Asparagus
4. Radishes
5. Broccoli
6. Onions
7. Okra
8. Cabbage
9. Eggplant
There’s no material item that comes close to matching “feeling good” about
yourself. Take a look at where you’re spending your money now and figure out
how to fit organic foods into your budget (even if it’s a slow transition). I promise
that if it was doable for me, it’s doable for you too!
Before you start any diet plan, make sure you know these 5 Essential Truths -
yours for Free Here. You can also learn much more about organic foods, living
healthy, and losing weight in The Diet Solution Program.
In health and happiness,
Isabel De Los Rios
Isabel De Los Rios
Certified Nutritionist
Certified Exercise Specialist
Author of The Diet Solution Program
Owner – New Body – Center for Fitness and Nutrition
Almost every weekend my parents hit the supermarket near my house and then
come by for a visit. Not one week goes by without my dad sharing his regular
joke: “Whole Foods should really be called Whole Paycheck.” (He’s referring to
the fact that his organic groceries are quite pricey).
Affordable Organic foodLet’s face it. Organic foods are great, but they can
sometimes run you more money than a new flashy Benz. (Not that both aren’t
worth the money, but you would look better in your Mercedes after you bought
the organic food).
Before you go and spend your own “whole paycheck”, you may be wondering if
these foods are really worth the money and all the hype. My answer is a
resounding YES!
Organic food is food grown or raised without the use of synthetic (chemically
formulated) pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or fertilizers. This method of
farming allows foods to grown in nature as they were intended. Consider that
conventional farmers in the United States spray 2 billion pounds of pesticides a
year on crops to compensate for poor farming practices. Do you know where
those pesticides end up? In our food supply!
Aside from pesticide contamination, conventional produce tends to have fewer
nutrients than organic produce. On average, conventional produce has only 83
percent of the nutrients of organic produce. Studies have found significantly
higher levels of nutrients such as vitamin C, iron, magnesium and phosphorus,
and significantly less nitrates (a toxin) in organic crops.
When I first discovered that organic foods might be the missing link to my weight
loss and health efforts (read my story here), I had just graduated from college
and was living in a miniature apartment in New York City for like a bizzillion
dollars that I could barely afford. In other words, I was broke with a capital "B".
How in the world was I going to spend the big bucks on organic food? Let alone
pay my rent on time?
Here is how I mastered the art of “going organic on a budget”:
1. I stopped buying crappy “non foods” (and, yes, crappy is a scientific term).
Most protein shakes, “health” bars, and processed foods are actually pretty
expensive and when you completely eliminate them from your grocery list, you
will save hundreds of dollars. Take a good look at the price of sugar cereals,
packaged cookies and cakes, and frozen TV dinners. You will see how the prices
of these foods quickly add up. That same amount of money can be better spent
on a week’s worth of organic produce.
2. When I started eating reasonable portions, the food was not that expensive.
When I really took a look at how much I was eating and how much I was
supposed to be eating, I clearly had mistaken myself for a 200 lb sumo wrestler. I
had portion distortion to say the least and eating less meant spending less!
3. I sought out the local farmer’s markets. The prices were so much better and I
always got fresh food in season. And, honestly, if the price of cherries was the
equivalent of diamond earrings, I would choose a different fruit. Go for the
apples, pears, or bananas. Variety is good anyway so choose the fruits and
veggies without the diamond prices.
4. I transitioned my kitchen and my whole house slowly. I probably did not have a
complete organic kitchen until 3 years later. Not the ideal, but I did the best I
could. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was my organic palace. Do the
best you can, start with a few items and then go from there.
5. Buy organic foods “selectively”. The following foods have been shown to have
the highest levels of pesticide residue, so they should really always be
purchased organic:
Fruits:
1. Peaches
2. Apples
3. Strawberries
4. Nectarines
5. Pears
6. Cherries
7. Red Raspberries
8. Imported Grapes
Vegetables:
1. Spinach
2. Bell Peppers
3. Celery
4. Potatoes
5. Hot Peppers
Animal products
*Always look for animal products (meats, poultry, and dairy) that have no added
antibiotics and growth hormones. Ingesting meats that have been injected with
these harmful substances is equivalent to eating the hormones and antibiotics
themselves. Very dangerous!
These foods tend to be lower in pesticide levels so can be purchased
conventional if necessary:
Fruits:
1. Pineapples
2. Plantains
3. Mangoes
4. Bananas
5. Watermelon
6. Plums
7. Kiwi Fruit
8. Blueberries
9. Papaya
10. Grapefruit
11. Avocado
Vegetables:
1. Cauliflower
2. Brussels Sprouts
3. Asparagus
4. Radishes
5. Broccoli
6. Onions
7. Okra
8. Cabbage
9. Eggplant
There’s no material item that comes close to matching “feeling good” about
yourself. Take a look at where you’re spending your money now and figure out
how to fit organic foods into your budget (even if it’s a slow transition). I promise
that if it was doable for me, it’s doable for you too!
Before you start any diet plan, make sure you know these 5 Essential Truths -
yours for Free Here. You can also learn much more about organic foods, living
healthy, and losing weight in The Diet Solution Program.
In health and happiness,
Isabel De Los Rios
Isabel De Los Rios
Certified Nutritionist
Certified Exercise Specialist
Author of The Diet Solution Program
Owner – New Body – Center for Fitness and Nutrition
| My Million Dollary Grocery Bill - Organic Can Be Affordable |
Custom Search
| Online Personal Training |
| Online Personal Training |
| BRAY FITNESS A TO Z |
| BRAY FITNESS A TO Z |
