non organic fruit and veggies

[cassidy]

I made a compramise with my husband. He believes I spend a rediculous amount of money on food. And I do. I love it more than any other kind of shopping. Anyway, in order to save more money, which we need to do, we each are only spending 50 on ourselves each week. With organic fruit and veggies, nuts and other food supplies... there is no way this will be enough for a week. So yestereday I went out and spent it on non organic fruits and veggies... so I would have enough. Now my fridge is packed but I feel like I am cheating myself by buying non organic. What to do? Eat less... less variety? Maybe I just need to eat less. I wish I could have a garden! Am I really cheating myself by buying non organic???

[MaddMelon]

I understand! Due to finances I haven't been able to buy more than a couple organic items for my raw challenge. (today is day 12)

I have avoided non-organic produce for about three years now, but there are better fruits then others. Fruits that have a tough, or thick peel will be better. Citrus, bananas, apples are good if you peel them first. Things that have a soft outer-skin, especially berries, should be avoided. Strawberries are the worst, they have the most pesticides pumped on them.

I would assume that root vegetables would be a good choice, but I'm not sure on the veggies.

I hope this helped some.

[juliebove]

$50 each week? There's no way you could buy enough food for a week here for that amount! Do you eat sprouts? If so, grow your own. They're a lot cheaper that way. Can you grow your own fruits and vegetables? Even if it's only small pots of herbs and a tomato plant or two that will help you save money.

I don't buy totally organic but for me, price isn't the issue. It's availablity. Yes, there is a huge store near me with a huge section of organic produce. But it isn't always fresh. Or what I'd call fresh. I've had people show me mushy bell peppers and tell me they're fresh. Sometimes I think people don't know how to tell fresh from about to go bad.

Can you get a shipment of organic produce weekly from a local farm? We have several farms in this area that do that. Some will deliver straight to your home. Others use a nearby pickup spot. This saves me a lot of money, and sometimes forces me to eat things I wouldn't normally buy. I do sometimes get something that I give away or throw away because I can't stand it. And I'm not getting the boxes right now because what is in them is the same stuff I'm growing in my garden. But they're great during the late fall, winter and spring before most of my stuff has come up.

[muse27]

Hello,

I am somewhat in the same position as you. There is no local Whole Foods inc. or Trader Joes around my home so buying alot of the organic foods are basically out of the question, but I still have to manage a grocery budget. What I have found to be the best solution is buying more foods that are nutrient dense and that I can digest easily. So what I have been getting more of are avocados, that can be easily used as a main course in a meal, and raw unheated honey. The honey is really my best friend right now. Not only is it cost friendly, but during the spring and summer months, it is wonderful to eat because it virtually eliminates all of my air born allergies. And also just completely satisfies my sweet tooth and nutrient cravings.

By getting the foods just mentioned and others that have a good protein and fat content, you can ever so slightly reduce the massive amount of fruit that we rawvegeians tend to ingest. Buy doing so you and me both can save that 10-15 dollars we would have spent of those extra peach's, pears, and apples, and use it to pay off that dam health insurance that none of use will ever need.

Cheers,

Dan the man...

[JEN]

Im not sure about your area but in my town there is a group of people that get a weekly shipment from a farm or co-op and divide it up between them so that they keep costs down. Check with your chamber of commerce, co-op, or local health food store

[Lay-Lay]

I hear ya. If you can put in a garden that would be great! My garden is coming in right now and I am sooooo excited and soooo is my wallet. I have been spending typically $400 a month on my organics and Im hoping to see that drop down to about $100 or less this month.

[juliebove]

We have a Trader Joe's in the area, but they are not my first choice for produce. Yes, most of the produce is cheap, but it's usually not fresh and sometimes you can't tell. I hate that they shrink wrap the peppers. The tight plastic over them makes it hard to tell if they are mushy or not. They usually are! Sometimes I'll get lucky and go in there as they are putting out the fresh stuff. But usually not.

[sport]

Sprouting is cheap and you do not need a garden.
I do not have a garden and I have lettuce, Kale, Spinach and Basil growing in window pots.

[ljannise]

I understand about finances but if it would ever be that bad with hubbs & I, we would definately go without OTHER things to cherish our health. It's far more worth it.

[sport]

There is a saying that goes something like this.
We spend the first half of our lives spending our health to gain wealth and the second half spending our wealth to regain our health.
I am known among my family as a mean shopper when it comes to everything except food. When I go in to any shop I go straight to the bargain rails but I will only buy the best food.
I am prepared to put rags on my body but only the best is good enough to go in my body.

[cassidy]

Thanks for all the info. I really appreciate the ideas.
This compramise is helping our relationship. Help in our relationship is MUCH needed. My husband and I have come to find out that we are VERY different people. He sees my juicing as a waste of money - I see beer drinking as a waste of money. Do you see our different views here? It is VERY difficult. In fact, it sucks. But I love him and want to do what I can to make life easier for us. So if he has a hard time watching me spend 150 every time I go grocery shopping then I will cut back (for us). I know he hates looking in the checkbook to see we barely have enough to put rent but yet the fridge and cupboards are stocked with food he doesn't even like. If he had it his way we would be eating mac'n'cheese and taco bell every night. I am hoping that eventually, if I lead by example, he will come around.
I am currently in search of a small house to rent with a little yard so I can have a garden. I will also see about getting some herbs and greens to grow in my kitchen. Great idea! Hopefully things will work out and we will get something with a yard soon!

[sport]

I understand your problem. It is tough when your priorities are different to your partner. Maybe you could use the pulp from the juicer to make other things and then he would not see it so much as waste.
There are other threads here about making your buck go as far as possible and you may be able to pick up some hints from them.

[threedogs]

What I have found to be the best solution is buying more foods that are nutrient dense and that I can digest easily. So what I have been getting more of are avocados, that can be easily used as a main course in a meal, and raw unheated honey. The honey is really my best friend right now. Not only is it cost friendly, but during the spring and summer months, it is wonderful to eat because it virtually eliminates all of my air born allergies. And also just completely satisfies my sweet tooth and nutrient cravings.

Dan - do you buy a local, raw honey, or do you get one online? I'm curious, because I read that eating honey grown locally can help with the allergies (after all the rain we've had, my allergies are bad this season.)

[Oceana]

I buy non organic; I HAVE to!
I only have 30$ a week for my fresh stuff!

[ArcticMist]

Eating the fruits and vegetables even if they are not organic is more important then organic in my opnion. That is what i have to do. I am careful do the best I can. If that is what works for you and your husband. Do it. Having a healthy marriage is just as important. So dont feel you are cheating yourself. Do what you need to do for your circumstances.

[codajess]

I feel you. I just bought 3 pints of organic santa sweets grape tomatoes for $2.99 a pint. The conventional ones were 5 for $5.

It all comes down to what you can afford. I hate paying a lot for organic, but if it wasn't organic food, i'd just blow it on something else.

There are a lot of fruits/veggies that I absolutely CANNOT find organic around here, and I do buy conventional. Until my mama's garden starts producing, I'm buying conventional cucumbers & jalapenos, among other things that she doesn't grow (pineapple, peaches, vidalias, etc.)

[mindelicious]

During the summer I hit up a farmer's market everyday (i travel to other towns to visit them). These people care about their produce and most of them do no use harm chemicals and they also care about their soil. I get tons of fruits & veggies for next to nothing. I walk away with a trunk load for 10-15 bucks.

[NoGMO!]

Cassidy, I agree with Sport's idea, organic sprouting is cheap as well as organic bananas and carrots...

also, here is a link of what's called the "TOP 12 Most & Least contaminated" produce, so you could buy organics more strategically. :)

http://www.drgreene.com/21_1941.html