Tips for Eating Organic on a Budget

I often say that the purpose of my work is to dispel the myths that healthy, organic food is expensive and tastes bad. In fact, quite the opposite is true. It's easy to look at the price difference on two boxes of crackers, one made with cheap ingredients lacking any nutrients and full of artificial ingredients, the other made with organic quality ingredients that nourish the body and think that eating organic is unaffordable and impossible.

But in reality cutting out processed convenience foods is often much cheaper, and always more delicious. Imagine a steaming pot of fresh soup full of vegetables and herbs vs. a gloppy can of overcooked vegetables and artificial seasonings used to hide the complete lack of flavor! Not only does the fresh soup taste better, but you can make a huge pot for the price of a tiny single serving can.

Over the years I've become a master of eating well on a budget. Here are a few of the techniques I use to eat well within my budget.

Roast a chicken... At Trader Joe's I buy an organic chicken for under $10 that not only gives me more chicken meat than if I bought it separately, but also provides me with 4 quarts of broth, and chicken fat for sauteeing all week.

Eat more beans and whole grains.... These are the most affordable foods you can buy, and they are full of fiber, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients like antioxidants.

Cut back on meat... this doesn't mean depriving yourself at all. We've simply become accustomed to excessive portions. A serving of meat should only be 3 to 4 ounces. This means dinner for a family of four should only take 1 lb of meat, making organic very affordable.

Stick with meals like stir-frys, stews, fresh chili. Dishes with lots of plant foods, like vegetables, beans and whole grains, and complemented with meats, and healthy fats like avocado and coconut.