Child Development
Ten Tips for Eating Organic on a Budget

Ten Tips for Eating Organic on a Budget

January 4, 2023

By Megan Boyle, Editorial Director

Choosing organic food doesn’t have to mean a hefty grocery bill. Check out these tips from a recent Healthy Child Healthy World Educational Workshop on how to buy organic on a budget. Bonus: You’ll also save time. 

  1. Be flexible

Save money by trying new things. Let coupons and store deals introduce you to new foods, and buy non-perishable sale items in bulk. For canned foods, choose brands that use BPA-free liners.

  1. Stay in season

Consider skipping tomatoes in the winter. In-season fruits and vegetables taste better and cost less.

  1. Skip pre-portioned foods

Don’t drain your budget on convenience and packaging material. Buy a whole chicken and cut it up yourself (save the bones for stock), or divide that large box of crackers into nontoxic food storage containers at home.

  1. Add affordable ingredients

Beans, eggs and vegetables make nutrient-rich, cost-effective meals that can be prepared quickly or in advance.

  1. Hit the bulk section

Stock up on rice, beans, seeds and grains in your market’s bulk section. Some retailers offer discounts if you bring your own reusable jars or bags.

  1. Use what you buy

Choose ingredients that can be used in more than one meal, as well as ones your family will actually eat.

  1. Visit a Farmer’s Market or try a CSA

Find fresh foods through a community-supported agriculture project, which may deliver straight to your door. (Not all locally farmed food is organic. Be sure to ask farmers whether they use chemical pesticides or fertilizers.)

  1. Shop online

Scan online retailers to compare prices and find deals, all from the comfort of home.

  1. Plan for leftovers

Make large batches of soups, sauces, casseroles and other meals, then freeze leftovers. Defrost anytime for a fast, healthy (and already paid for) meal.

  1. Go slow and steady

Gradually add more organic foods to your shopping list and dinner table, then be consistent. Small changes add up to healthy habits for life. 

About the Workshop

These tips come from a conversation and Q&A with Gunnar Lovelace, co-founder of Thrive Market; Leah Segedie, founder of Mamavation; and Sara Snow, organic food advocate, on January 3, 2023, at Piper Preschool in Santa Monica, Calif. The workshop was presented by Healthy Child Healthy World in partnership with Thrive Market and Club MomMe.

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