Anyone here eat all organic?

I would love some tips on how you do it!!! I have to feed a family of 3, me, my hubby and daughter, the baby already eats organic. I know a lot about cooking and I have my own herb garden, so mostly just wondering if it can be done on a budget of $450 or so a month?

I don't think it's really necessary. I would worry more about eating local foods, preferably from ones where there is more consumer oversight and fewer degrees of separation between you and the food. "Organic" is little more than a marketing scam. It can be helpful if you evaluate organic foods critically, like anything else. But it can give you a false sense of security, while emptying your pocketbook if you mindlessly reach for anything plastered with that label.

My boyfriend and I really try to eat all organic. It's tough sometimes because it can be so expensive, but well worth it. We do our shopping at Whole Foods for the most part. There are a few things we can pick up at local markets and some of the other grocery stores around us.
check your local famers markets too!

I try to eat almost all organic if possible..and next step down would be non-certified organic, but still spray free (a lot of this is at farmer's markets). Its quite expensive to get certified, so some farmers are "spray-free" but not certified organic.

organic is costly but I think there is also a list of the "dirty dozen" which if you are going to eat organic...you SHOULD eat these ones.

-peppers
-blueberries
-nectarines
-cherries
-celery
-potatoes
-strawberries
-peaches
-spinach
-kale
-grapes
-apples

You will find when you eat organic - the food goes bad much faster as well...which is probably the way food should be.

it's expensive but it is your health...and I am a big believer (after a 2 day seminar on cancer/food) in the summer.

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I don't think it's really necessary. I would worry more about eating local foods, preferably from ones where there is more consumer oversight and fewer degrees of separation between you and the food. "Organic" is little more than a marketing scam. It can be helpful if you evaluate organic foods critically, like anything else. But it can give you a false sense of security, while emptying your pocketbook if you mindlessly reach for anything plastered with that label.
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I agree with this; organic doesn't necessarily mean healthier, and often isn't very good from an environmental standpoint. Much better to go to local farmers markets or farm shops; many of them will be able to tell you exactly where your stuff is coming from.

LocalHarvest - http://www.localharvest.org/

I agree with lots of other posters that are advocating things like the "dirty dozen" list. I find that very helpful, although I've heard that there are pesticides used in organic farming, and they aren't necessarily better for you. The point is, you probably won't know WHAT they're using if you're buying from a huge chain like Whole Foods. That's why local farms tend to be a better source.

Here's some info from UC Berkeley

http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~lhom/organictext.html


Also, Whole Foods buys from local distributors at a markup. Back in Boston, we found out that Whole Foods was buying their stuff from A Russo & Sons, then just marking it up for retail. Well, instead, we just started shopping at Russo's (which is fantastic, FYI). So, since this is their MO, you might be able to find a similar setup near you.

I buy organic processed food, (canned food, frozen food, bulk food) just so I know what's in it, and what's NOT in it. It also means the food doesn't have a bunch of food enhancers and the ingredient list is understandable. I try to buy in bulk and freeze what I can't use immediately. I also buy organic dairy products and eggs. Keep in mind, free range does not mean organic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free-range_eggs.

I selectively choose organic produce. Anything thin skinned, or that I eat the skins, I pick organic. Berries, potatoes, apples, greens. If I remove the skin before eating, I'll decide based on price and the condition of the produce. Sometimes organic is actually cheaper.

During summer months, I sometimes purchase a subscription from a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) I can't grow a successful garden in my yard, so a CSA is a good alternative for me. I like to think of it as a vegetable of the week club. Check out http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/csa/csa.shtml to find a CSA close to you.

I love eating organic and local foods, so here's my take on organics.

1) It's not necessary to eat entirely organic. People are right, it increases the price of most foods. And the official USDA labels on the produce is just a marketing gimmick. EAT LOCAL, BUY LOCAL!!! Hit up your farmers markets -- they have the best foods around!

2) Keep in mind that even at Whole Foods (which I LOVE), they have organic produce there that is not seasonal. If you want to get really organic, go local and eat IN SEASON. The reasons fruits and veggies are "in season" all year is because of pesticides and chemicals used to ripen the product during transport.

3) As a simple rule of thumb, I eat organic foods that do not have a thick skin. For instance, I do not eat organic oranges, grapefruits, coconuts, bananas, etc. If the fruit has a thin skin and I **eat** the skin, I go organic.

4) I eat organic, grass fed beef, and organic chicken. Keep in mind, its a lot more expensive, BUT better for you.

If you want an eye-opening experience, please watch Food, Inc. It's a documentary that focuses on the way our foods are processed and reach our market shelves. It's available on Netflix (instant view, too!). So please, please, please watch it. I have never looked at foods the same way.

I have a pretty tight budget, but I find spending the money on foods that are GOOD for you are worth it. My boyfriend and I spend approx 300 a month on food. About 2/3 of that is spent on organic foods (strictly because we eat a lot of chicken and I juice almost every day).

Happy eating!

I try to eat almost all organic if possible..and next step down would be non-certified organic, but still spray free (a lot of this is at farmer's markets). Its quite expensive to get certified, so some farmers are "spray-free" but not certified organic.

organic is costly but I think there is also a list of the "dirty dozen" which if you are going to eat organic...you SHOULD eat these ones.

-peppers
-blueberries
-nectarines
-cherries
-celery
-potatoes
-strawberries
-peaches
-spinach
-kale
-grapes
-apples

You will find when you eat organic - the food goes bad much faster as well...which is probably the way food should be.

it's expensive but it is your health...and I am a big believer (after a 2 day seminar on cancer/food) in the summer.

I would love some tips on how you do it!!! I have to feed a family of 3, me, my hubby and daughter, the baby already eats organic. I know a lot about cooking and I have my own herb garden, so mostly just wondering if it can be done on a budget of $450 or so a month?

Not in the bloody U.K it cant be done for that amount of money............Organic food is expensive here lol

I haven't read all of the responses and I can't say that I eat ALL organic, but here's what I do:

1) I shop the farmer's markets for veggies and eggs. I opt for the certified organic stands for foods that are known to be high in pesticides (the "dirty dozen") and I don't worry so much about the rest. Besides, a lot of the time farmers at those markets practice organic farming but have just not gone through the process and expense of being certified. I am lucky in that I live in the Bay Area of CA so there are year-round, abundant farmer's markets.

2) I don't insist on having foods that aren't in season or local. For example, pineapple doesn't grow in California, as far as I know, so I don't buy pineapples (besides, those aren't really at the farmer's market anyway). (Or maybe it does in Southern California? I don't know. I haven't seen it in Northern CA.)

3) I order grass-fed/pastured meat in bulk from a local source. I would like to be able to go in on half a cow or something, but I don't have a chest freezer, so right now about 30 lbs at a time will have to do. Yes, it IS expensive (~$6-7/lb for a mix that includes lower and higher-end cuts -- but not really filet mignon :happy: ) but, quite frankly, seeing meat on sale for $1/lb at Safeway kinda creeps me out. Call me a snob, but I don't think meat should be that cheap and I'd rather just eat less.

That's about it. It helps I suppose that I don't really eat grains so I don't have to buy those. I have some coconut oil and wild-caught canned tuna and tea that I tend to order in bulk from Amazon. I mostly use fat that I've rendered from suet (or bacon grease) oh, and I also buy grass-fed butter from the store.