Organic only?

efarrar13
efarrar13 Posts: 78
edited October 7 in Social Groups
So I have been trolling everyone's post and getting help from a MFP friend. I have been trying to follow the primal philosophy but don't think I can afford all organic foods. I think it would have to be a mix of all natural and organic. Does this mess everything up? Do some of you do something similar?

Replies

  • cgavin77
    cgavin77 Posts: 219
    I was wondering as well... I cant afford everything to be 100% Organic 100% of the time. Curious to see what others do.
    (sorry I was NO helP! haha)
  • kkarrolle
    kkarrolle Posts: 120 Member
    If you can't afford organic, free range or pasture/grass fed products...buy lean as possible and trim the fat as much as possible, make sure you supplement with other primal fats eg coconut oil, lard, tallow.

    There is a quote I've seen often on the marksdailyapple forums: Don't let the perfect be the enemy of good, I think it would apply in this instance.
  • If you can't afford organic, free range or pasture/grass fed products...buy lean as possible and trim the fat as much as possible, make sure you supplement with other primal fats eg coconut oil, lard, tallow.

    There is a quote I've seen often on the marksdailyapple forums: Don't let the perfect be the enemy of good, I think it would apply in this instance.


    Thank you, that is how I felt. I know some are more purists but I have to do the best I can with the budget I have. I am going to try and start incorporating some of the foods into my families meal plans. My kids might riot but I have handled worse : )
  • monkeydharma
    monkeydharma Posts: 599 Member
    The salient quote is "strive for perfection, and realize that you WILL fall short".

    Eating 100% organic can be difficult - both financially, as well as finding truly organic products. That being said, the more organically you eat (and the wider the spectrum of whole foods), the less you have to rely on vitamin supplements. All you can do is "the best you can with what you have, where you are at".

    - buying free range/pastured meat and dairy provides additional nutrition as well as a much more healthy omega3/omega6 balance. If you can't find (or afford) grass-fed meats, buy the leanest cuts of regular meat, then cook it in an omega3-rich oil. Most of the negative properties in 'factory farmed' meat is gathered in the fat.

    - Some foods are more adulterated than others; some are grown virtually the same as organic. Google "which foods don't have to be organic" and you will find all sorts of sites that can help you spend your organic dollar most effectively.

    - Re-prioritize your budget (yeah, I know). The price of organic foods is the TRUE cost of foods. Like everything else, factory food is cheaper because they either mass produce it, use sub-standard ingredients, or package it so that it has 'more sizzle than steak'. If whole, clean food is important to you, it's worth making it a priority.

    - In conjunction with the last point, realize that the more you cook from scratch, the cheaper it gets. That is one way to offset the additional cost of organics. Organic junk food is STILL junk food; using organic ingredients in manufactured products (frozen dinners, etc) pretty much negates any benefit you'd get from the organics. Cook fresh and cook simply.

    Hopefully this will help spark some ideas. You don't HAVE to be totally organic to follow a primal/paleo lifestyle - but the more you can, the better it will be.

    Good luck!

    namaste,
    Norm
  • rebeccap13
    rebeccap13 Posts: 754 Member
    Check out this article and the produce list provided in it: http://whole9life.com/2011/01/paleo-poor-your-guide-to-the-grocery-store/

    There is some produce where it really doesn't matter if it's organic or not, you're getting the same thing.

    I buy free range eggs and meat usually. If the cost for organic is ridiculously high, I just go with the regular product. You will notice a huge difference just by following the basics of paleo and not even being extremely strict on the organic side of things.
  • Check out this article and the produce list provided in it: http://whole9life.com/2011/01/paleo-poor-your-guide-to-the-grocery-store/

    There is some produce where it really doesn't matter if it's organic or not, you're getting the same thing.

    I buy free range eggs and meat usually. If the cost for organic is ridiculously high, I just go with the regular product. You will notice a huge difference just by following the basics of paleo and not even being extremely strict on the organic side of things.

    THank you so much for this link!
  • TheGlen
    TheGlen Posts: 242 Member
    Here's a site that talks about which fruits and vegetables are highest/lowest in pesticides - http://goo.gl/W8tPk
  • cgavin77
    cgavin77 Posts: 219
    GREAT info thank you guys!!
  • Yes, thanks to everyone in this group and hypothryoid. I have done primal/no carb for two days and I am down 7lbs. I know this is mostly water weight but with my hypothyroid that is just as good as fat right now. It has been frustrating the past year training and running a marathon and losing little weight. I am hoping this continues and is the answer.
This discussion has been closed.