How To Eat Organic On A Budget:

 Eating organic is expensive right?

Wrong!

We try and avoid saying stereotypical things like 'you are what you eat', but to say they don't hold any truth would be an outright lie. When you're buying your food, you are essentially buying your body's building blocks which, when they're combined together, make up your overall health. To be 'healthy', you must eat healthy and nutritious foods to fuel your body and so, for the sake of paying a few extra bucks, why wouldn't you want to help your body do it's thing and make you feel the best you possibly can? It's certainly cheaper than the hospital bills you may have to pay later on in life. 

Understandably though, in this day and age, it all comes down to money and being able to actually afford what you eat. It's a foodies world out there and so it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of the latest 'cronut' craze, thereby, forgetting about what foods actually matter to your body and your overall health.

In our minds, food is a necessity that shouldn't be skimped on. If it's going to do good for you and your body (and the environment around) then it leapfrogs straight to the top of our priority list. We're certainly no millionaires and are well aware of how hard it is to source organic products without breaking the bank, but we still manage to eat an almost entirely organic diet and we still manage to fit a few 'cronuts' in on the side.

SO... in order to help you out, we've put together a short list of 5 resources that will help you eat an organic heavy diet when you simply can't go the full whack because the ol' bank account is holding you back. 

But first... Why buy organic anyway? Find out some more information we've put together on organics so that you can have a better understanding of why you should buy organic and why we support it. 

Now then, back to the point, and the list of useful resources! 

1)  Sign up to an organic veg box delivery. 

Fresh, delicious, nutrient packed foods delivered to your door? Sounds too good to be true!

Not only is this a convenient way to get fueled on organics, but it also helps you manage your food budgeting. You know exactly what you'll be getting a week ahead, you know exactly how much you'll be receiving and you know how much it's going to set you back by.

This way, you can plan your weekly meals ahead of time and it also gets you in the kitchen more, using fresher and more nutritious foods. In no time, people will be coming over for your taste-bud tantalizing home cooked meals.

Who doesn't like receiving deliveries!

2) Know the 'Dirty Dozen'.

This is a great guide from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) determining which fruits and vegetables are best to buy organic. In other words, this is a guide which shows the 12 fruits and vegetables requiring the highest amount of chemicals to grow and that contain the most pesticide residues, and are therefore, best to avoid purchasing non-organic. If you're wanting to buy organic foods but have a rather tight budget, then keep this guide handy on your next shopping trip so you can reduce your exposure to these chemicals. Check out the guide here.

See ya later conventional strawberries - you can take your chemicals with you!

3) Understand the 'Clean Fifteen'.

Another great guide from EWG to aid you with budget buying organics on your next shopping trip. This guide brings us some brighter news by showcasing the 15 fruits and vegetables requiring the least amount of artificial chemicals to grow and that also contain the least amount of pesticide residue. Essentially, if you are to buy non-organic foods, then these are the 15 best items for you to put in your basket. Check out the guide here.

Avos are back on the menu!

4) Grow Your Own Garden. 

In our opinion, and our experience, there's nothing better than eating the food you have grown yourself. You know exactly what 'extras' you've put into it, where it's come from and it's also going to be fresher than anything you've bought before! 

We're not suggesting everyone goes out and starts their own farm, (although that would be awesome), but we're strongly suggesting to at least start your own grow box or plot. These don't take up much space or time and you can be as frugal as you like with what you grow. Understandably, this does take some effort on your part to research the growing process and to nurture your earth babies to fruition. You'll be several months down the line before you start seeing your green thumbs effect your budget but once you have the ball rolling, it's hard to stop the savings sprouting up!

Green thumbs to the rescue!

5) Visit Your Local Farmers Market. 

If you're lucky enough to have a local farmers market, then we strongly recommend you checking it out. Not only will you get to see the vast amount of food being grown in your region, you'll also get to meet the faces behind the food you eat. This connection is something we have lost in the past years and it's certainly something we aim to encourage people to resolve. 

As with your weekly shop in the supermarket, you will need to investigate a bit to see where you can get the best deals and the most organic produce for your budget. We urge you to always look for the organic certification logo to ensure that you are definitely purchasing organic produce. This seems a bit obvious to say, but some countries have no regulation on companies using the word 'organic' when it comes to food - so keep your eyes peeled. 

At the end of the day, we feel that farmers markets are a great place to feel reconnected to your food and an even better place to pick up some delicious organic produce. 

Maximize your farmers market fun with a reusable shopping bag and coffee cup!