Any other organic/clean eaters out there? :)

I am a clean eater that tries to go for local produce (which can be hard if not impossible during winter here in Canada) but we now have a decent sized veggie garden and farmers markets are opening up soon (I'm jealous of those of you who can get local produce most of the year)... I don't however do organic. First, our budget doesn't allow for it considering how much produce we consume in a week and second I'm not super fond of organic as they still do use "natural" pesticides and herbacides which aren't always good for us... and depending on where you are anyone can slap an organic label on their product.

Well that is music to my ears that you are getting produce locally! In my opinion, local is almost better than organic because you can talk directly to the people at the farmer market's and such and know exactly where you're getting your food from!! My boyfriend and his brother have an urban farm here in AZ and they go to the farmer market's and sell their veggies and produce and seedlings. They also are now starting up a juicing business on top of it all. I love to hear when people are supporting their local community because I know how hard it can be for the local small business farmers. Keep up with the buying locally! And hopefully you can someday try to buy a more organic diet. I completely understand where you are coming from. I am a broke college student just trying to make ends meet and I do all I can to buy organically and locally! :happy:

It drives me nuts when people say organic is crap and it's no different than regular food. Organic does not mean that it's 100% chemicals free food - it is simply a better quality food. If you do your research you will know how it's produced. Most supermarket, small or large, carry Organic foods/brands. If you go to a store, pick up two processed foods for example serio, and read the ingridients, you will be very suprised to find a list of crap ingredients that are being used in a regular serio and how unhealthy that is for you. Some of those ingredients we can't even pronouce. Organic is a little bit more expensive but I think it really depends on what store you go to. I shop around and a lot of Organic foods are on sale. You would be suprised of sales at Mariano's, Garden Fresh, or Dominck's/Safeway. I don't shop at Walmart so I can't say if they carry organic foods, but Target has them, however, at much higher prices then elsewhere. Also, everything is about choices. If you don't want to spend $5 extra on organic food but you dine at McDonal'ds or you buy chips and soda everytime you go to a store then it defits the purpose of one "eating clean" doesn't it?

I completely agree. I've heard people say things like "everything on earth is organic" and I just want to shake them!! Organic is the best option other than buying locally at farmer market's or gardening/farming the foods yourself! I actually shop at Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Sprouts, and sometimes (on occasion) Fry's because they have a organic section (but I try to stay away from those big chain grocery stores). Eating an organic diet can be expensive but what's more important than your health, ya know? And most of the time there are plenty of coupons and sales that definitely help out! Sometimes the organic option can be cheaper than the non-organic, GMO, and pesticide ridden foods!! Couldn't agree with you more about the fast foods. Some of the documentaries are seriously disturbing about the quality of the foods being served!! Glad someone else out there thinks like me!

I am on a "mostly" organic diet. I weigh the cost with every thing I purchase. I have found HUGE difference in the price of organic items depending on where I shop. For instance, the grocery store in the city I live in has some organic but it is over priced and typically wilted and nasty. Target definitely has some good options at reasonable prices. I typically drive about 45 minutes to get to the good grocery store that not only carries a TON of organic FRESH produce but the prices on these items is over half what I would pay at my local store. Costco is also a great option. The items that I don't buy organic (either because they are too expensive or on the CLEAN list) I get more locally. You have to shop around a bit but if you ask me it is worth it for the quality and selection!
I try to think of eating healthy as my #1. priority and organic/non processed is second.
To the original poster, I will be your friend! smile

Hey, "mostly" organic is better than NO organic!!! In my eyes, you're on the right track! I would agree and say that organic food is more expensive, but right-fully so. It is a better quality food, and if it's from a local farm or family I see it as money well spent! You know exactly where your money is going and you know exactly what you are putting into your body! Hat's off to you my new friend :flowerforyou:

I'm an organic/clean eater. I eat a mainly plant-based diet with the addition of whey protein and minimal whole grains. When I started out on my weight loss journey, I was eating weight watchers 2 out of 3 meals a day and was able to drop about 10-15 pounds, however, I began to get extremely lethargic and tired. After researching and reading some blogs, I decided to go organic and plant based.

I do a lot of my bulk shopping at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's but my produce I get locally. I'm lucky that Chicago has plenty of organic farmers market and home delivery services of organic produce. Amazon is also a great resource for grains and nuts, I always have a pack of Kind bars in my order. Also, I swear by juicing. Whenever I fall off the wagon, I spend a whole day just cleansing with green juice, no solid foods. It refreshing and cleans the palette of any cravings; I think investing in a Breville was my biggest and most important weight loss purchase. In terms of budget, I just graduated college so I'm not exactly well-off. Its all about choices and compromises, I decided to trade in the partying and going out so that I can afford an organic lifestyle.

Marvelous!! I also do most of my shopping at Whole Foods!! I just LOVE that place! && Just like I've said before, music to my ears that you also shop locally!! :bigsmile: Since my boyfriend and his brother both farm locally and sell at farmer's markets it's great to hear things like that! && OMG JUICING IS THE BEST!!!! My boyfriend is addicted to it. He has the Norwalk Juice Press and that thing is fricken awesomeeee! It cold-presses the juice so you get the juice in the best possible form without killing any of the enzymes. They are actually going to start up a small juicing business as well! So keep up the juicing girlie! :drinker: I also am a college student, and freshly 21 as of January so I know EXACTLY where you are coming from!! Broke college student, barely making ends meet, but somehow things seem to fall into place! Glad to have found you on here as a friend!

I started to eat organic after watching "Food, Inc."

Oh my gosh, I watched that too! There's so many others too! You should watch "Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead" and "Forks Over Knives", also the book The China Study by T. Collin Campbell is a great book you might be interested in!