When To Buy Organic

Many think of “organic” as sophisticated and expensive. While it is true that some organic products can be expensive, the best all natural products are actually quite inexpensive and very good for your health. But how to wade through all the marketing mumbo jumbo?

A good first start is to understand what fruits and vegetables contain pesticides. The site www.foodnews.org lists fruits and vegetables from most to least contaminated with chemicals.
Second, understand how items are merchandises. Some other ideas for getting to organic inexpensively:

• Shop on Mondays when produce goes on sale as groceries try to get rid of unsold inventory from the weekend.
• Buy chicken thighs instead of breasts. They are much cheaper than breasts, and you can slice them open to cook them like breasts. Grill them or bread them and serve them like breasts (they are even juicier and tastier this way!).
• Shop store brands. At Whole Foods, the “365” organic brand costs the same as non-organic products.
• Shop early and compare prices. Organic red peppers are very expensive, but organic green peppers can be a third of the price.
• Find a farmers market. Products are fresh and less contaminated.
• Reduce your red meat intake by combining it with vegetables, legumes, and tortillas. Try mixing onions, peppers, and refried beans with beef for hamburgers.

And as always, read and stay informed: your mind and creativity are your best allies when it comes to finding ways to save and live well.