Eating Organic Foods…Without Going Broke

11:31 PM in Foods, Health, Vegetables

Becoming a mom may have made you more conscious than ever of what you feed your baby, yourself, and the rest of your family, as well as how you treat the earth. So while you’d love to do the right thing by both the planet and your baby, stocking the fridge and pantry with organic foods can be a pretty expensive proposition. But with a bit of know-how about what to choose and where to buy it, you don’t have to shell out a ton of green for a greener diet. Follow these tips for eating organic: 

• Choose wisely.
In a dream world, every item in your grocery cart would be free of harmful hormones, chemicals, or antibiotics. But let’s face it: Going totally organic overnight can leave you with some serious sticker shock. Instead, start small. Shopping for produce? Avoid conventionally grown when it comes to the “dirty dozen,” the fruits and veggies known to contain the most pesticides: 
• apples
• nectarines
• pears
• peaches
• celery
• cherries
• strawberries
• grapes
• spinach
• potatoes
• bell peppers
• red raspberries

Buying jarred foods for your little one instead of making your own baby food? Opt for organic when you’re serving up the pureed versions of the dirty dozen. But it’s okay to go conventional when fruits have thick peels (like bananas, melons, mangoes, and oranges). Going organic also makes sense for dairy products and meat and poultry — cows, pigs, and chickens raised on conventional factory farms are given lots of antibiotics and hormones to keep them healthy or to produce more milk (and you may not want your family members getting secondhand doses of either). 

• Shop smart. High-end markets have made big bucks by going organic, but lots of lower-end stores offer the same green brands for less. Check out your local supermarket, which may offer both conventional and organic options for some popular items. Or find out if there’s an organic cooperative in your area that you might pay (or volunteer your time) to join. Some co-ops provide weekly or biweekly delivery of organic produce and meats to their members. More options: Even Wal-Mart is in on the organic act, or seek out Trader Joe’s, a chain that’s both health- and budget-conscious (find locations at TraderJoes.com). Wherever you shop, make sure you’re getting what you really want (and are paying more for): Look for the USDA organic seal, which is a sign that the foodstuff has been certified organic after rigorous testing.
• Think local. Want to take your “eating organic” enthusiasm to the next level? Find food that’s locally grown. For one thing, you’ll be savoring what’s in season, so it’s at its best in terms of flavor and nutrition. Plus, local foods don’t travel far from the field to the store to your table — and that saves both money and fossil fuel. An added bonus may be the chance to speak face-to-face with the grower — talk about knowing where your food came from! Want to go hyper-local? Try growing your own. Plant tomatoes, herbs, lettuce, and other greens in a deck-side container and let nature take its course. No packaging, pesticides, or plastic bags necessary — plus, a DIY garden is easy on the wallet.
• Eat simply. Even if they’re organic, store-bought snacks and precooked foods can be heavily processed and full of calories. To stretch your dollars, cut back on excess calories,and help your little one establish healthy eating habits, make grains and veggies the main event and turn meat and poultry into the side dishes (think stir-fries instead of a big cut of steak or a whole chicken). That way, eating organic can be a cash-savvy and heart-healthy choice for your family meals.