Healthy and organic food gets a bad wrap for being expensive. Many people immediately dismiss it because of cost.
How many memes have you seen with a 99 cent burger and a 7 dollar salad that says this is why I’m fat? And I get it.
As someone who was raised to agonize over every single penny and never spend a dime, I struggled when I first transitioned from GMO and junk to healthy and organic.
I knew all the reasons I should buy the good for you stuff. Had it set in my head that the next time I went grocery shopping, I was going to buy all the organic stuff instead.
Then, I’d get there, pick up the $3 bell pepper and have a panic attack. I’d stand there starring at it for what seemed like ages, battling with myself in my head over whether I should buy it or not. And for a long time, I put it back.
Only to pick it up again next time and have the same battle over again.
It took me at least 2 years (possibly longer) to stop stressing over it and trust me, the improved health, energy and peace of mind is so worth the price difference.
Also, let me point out that our meme up there is talking about eating out, which is always going to be more expensive and unhealthier for you than making your own meals at home.
Tune Into the Schedule of Nature
Buy things when they’re in season and naturally growing. When you’re buying things in season, they’re a whole lot cheaper because they’re not having to be shipped or produced through extra efforts (and resources).
Buying food at the time of year it naturally grows makes things easier on farmers, making it more plentiful and cheaper.
For example, oranges are going to be more expensive in the middle of winter.
Buying locally also cuts down on shipping and handling and often lowers the prices as well (not to mention, the carbon foot print of processing and shipping).
Eat as Nature Intended
A lot of the price of food goes into processing and packaging. When you cut those things out and you’re simply left with food, cost goes down.
Look for grocery stores that allow you to bring your own containers for things like beans, rice, sugar, flour, etc.
Opt out of things that come in a box or a can. You can find some organic and healthy stuff in the frozen aisles but be mindful. Don’t be fooled by misleading labels.
Non-GMO doesn’t mean organic, “gluten free” doesn’t equal healthy. And ALWAYS buy in bulk when it’s an option!
Phase out all the extra stuff from your diet that shouldn’t be there anyway like soda, energy drinks and junk food. As a rule of thumb, if it goes bad, it’s good for you and if it doesn’t, avoid it.
You really don’t want all of those preservatives and chemicals.
Don’t Eat Your Fellow Beings
The biggest chunk of change in your grocery shopping bill is meat. And I’m not going to go into it here, but there are a million reasons to not buy or consume it.
Of course, it’s your decision and eliminating meat is a transition, but I would advise at least minimizing it. On top of saving tons of money, you’ll also save your own health and millions of lives (psst, dairy’s also bad).
I still eat some but I’ve been continuously cutting back for a while now and I’ve almost got it phased out of my diet. Try some alternatives like tofu or tempeh. Experiment with plant based or vegan/vegetarian recipes.
Explore Your Realm
Look around at what your community has to offer. Some grocery stores give discounts for using reusable shopping bags or bringing your own containers.
If you have the option and it seems like something you’d like to try, start gardening and grow your own food.
My town is fairly close to the Amish, and they have great deals and make their living off of folks like us wanting some homegrown, healthy food without breaking the bank.
Check with local farmers, strike deals with them and/or join a CSA.
Check to see if there are any farmer’s market Facebook groups in your area, normal people like you and I who garden always have an excess and are more interested in getting rid of it than turning a profit.
If there isn’t one, start one (I did).
Create a Map
Plan out your meals so you know exactly what you need. This cuts out any excess plus makes life easier on you because you don’t have to come up with dinner plans 3 hours before dinner.
If you already know what you’re having, you can buy just those things. Nothing extra and nothing gets wasted.
Pinterest it! There are unlimited amounts of healthy recipes on there and you can even key word the word “cheap” which will help you out even further. Remember, it’s only hard because it’s a learning curve.
Always save leftovers and even freeze them to make them last longer!
Embrace Change but Don’t Rush It
You don’t have to make all the changes over night. In fact, you shouldn’t. Sudden, drastic changes are hard to sustain and you’ll be more likely to get overwhelmed and give up all together.
Instead, start small with one or two things at a time. There’s no rush, any positive change is a step in the right direction.
If diving deep into the organic world scares your wallet, learn about the dirty dozen and clean fifteen. Start with those and if you find you’d like to expand to the rest of everything else, go for it.
Make your lifestyle your own and do what works for you and your family.
If you have any tips for us you’d like to add, drop them in the comments below!
Best Vibes Always, S.S.Blake
You can also check out food to heal your chakras.
Other Articles You May Enjoy:
- How to Make Food Easier ; Neurodivergent Meal Prep & Planning
- How to Use Alchemy for Self Healing & Creating the New Earth
- Top 5 Superfoods for a Healthy Body & Mind
- How to Make Sweet Protein Packed Energy Balls
- How I Stopped Stressing Over How My Kids Eat
Author
S.S.Blake; Spiritual Life Coach, Yoga + Meditation Teacher and Founder of Earth and Water
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