Buying Organic

Thanks, Lavendar Lily, for your feedback! Here’s some info on organic.

Why organic?

• Various pesticides are used on produce to keep bugs from eating them. The use of these pesticides is understandable, but I just hate the thought of these same pesticides being put into my body. Furthermore, there are antibiotics and hormones added to meat to enhance growth. For example, many chickens are injected with hormones to plump up fuller and faster. I don’t want those same hormones in my body.

• Knowing all of this, I feel it is important to honor the body God gave me. It’s really a personal decision that I have felt convicted towards. …I do understand that there is conflicting research in regards to organic food being better for you than non-organic food, but I want my food the way God created it to be. I understand not everyone feels the same way as I do about organic, and I respect that. I really do. However, this is where my convictions have led me.

• For more thorough info, check out this organic blogger’s site.

What to buy organic?

I have seen several articles on this, and honestly not all agree. If I could, I would buy all organic. But I don’t and I’m thrify-natured, so I think that would kill me on the inside.

• My general rule of thumb with produce is if the skin is thin or soft, such as with berries and tomatoes, I buy organic. With a thick skin, such as that on a banana, I buy non-organic. Like I said, studies differ, so if you have more info and exceptions, let me know!

• As far as meats, organic is best because hormones are NEVER used on these animals. Organic meat is expensive though, so I shop at Whole Foods, where all of their meat is raised the same – “organic” or not. (Read this posting for more info on that.) So many times I buy “natural” chicken at Whole Foods, without the “organic” label. Sure it’s more expensive than the “natural” at Target or elsewhere, but I know Whole Foods meat policy. And it’s still not as expensive as the chicken, whose farmer paid for the “organic” label.

Where to buy organic?

• Whole Foods. They have a great selection of organic items. If there’s an organic item I can’t find elsewhere, I always go there. Also, I know Whole Foods gets a bad rep for being over-priced, but as far as organic goes, I am not sure their organic is always overpriced. Sometimes I find it to be priced better than Target even! Maybe because they specialize in organic? Check your local ad.

• Super Target. Target sells tons of organic produce! And lately, I have had several produce coupons from Target – some from booklets sent by mail and some printed out with receipts. Unless they specify that you can’t use them on produce (which some actually do), you can. View your local ad.

• Sprouts. They often have organic milk and dairy on sale. I have never found organic produce there, but they do sometimes have organic meat. And they always have organic breads and snacks. If you shop there on Double Ad Wednesdays, you can shop the deals from the previous week and the upcoming week. Check your local weekly and monthly ad.

• CostCo. Surprisingly, CostCo does sell some organic. True, you have to buy it in bulk, but if you are trying to feed several mouths, this may not be a bad thing.

Where to find organic coupons?

• In the Whole Foods publications that sit at the front of the store and at check out, they have tons of coupons. And Whole Foods will allow you to stack coupons – one Whole Foods coupon and one manufacturer’s coupon.

• Here are a few organic coupons at Delicious Living.

• Stonyfield also have printable organic coupons.

• Coupons.com, SmartSource, and the Briefing often have coupons for Borden’s milk. Borden sells organic milk, and since the coupon doesn’t specify organic or not, I use it on their organic milk. These sources sometimes have other organic coupons as well. For example, last week they had an Oikos coupon in the paper. Stack this with the Whole Foods coupon to get a free cup of yogurt.

• Produce coupons come out rarely anyway, so many times organic or not, I don’t have coupons for the produce I buy. But when you find produce coupons, check to see if it specifies organic vs. non-organic. If it doesn’t say, you can use it on organic!

Other ways to save on organic.

• As you can tell, organic coupons are becoming more popular, but there are still not nearly enough of them. I save a lot of money simply by making mental (or sometimes written) notes about the prices at different stores on organic items. Then I shop at those stores and especially sales.

• Also buying produce that is in season saves a lot too.

As a side note, if the organic produce is ever just unaffordable, I do buy non-organic. Some nutrition is better than none at all.

I hope you have found this helpful! I have to say, I am still learning a lot about eating organic and how to shop organic. These are the tips I have picked up. It is still much cheaper to buy non-organic items, so sometimes the temptation or the budget entices me to not buy organic. So probably like many of you, I am definitely still learning too! I would love to hear any tips you have learned.