Maybe you’ve been interested in testing the waters and making the switch to organic foods. If so, chances are you’ll start small and take baby steps since it’s clearly going to increase your budget’s bottom line, or is it? Now I’m not here to tell you it’s the same and you won’t noticed any difference at all, but it may not be as shocking as you once had thought. So far we’ve made a several changes to the food we eat here in the Frugal household and we’re still sticking to our $75/week budget. We’re not eating “clean” or “paleo” or anything like that, they’re great options but we’re being realistic for our family’s current budget, likes, and dislikes.
Here are the changes we have made so far (it’s been 4 weeks at this point)
- Organic Produce (when at all possible)
- Organic Milk – every week so far we’ve found organic milk on clearance, score!
- Natural Snacks – we shoot for 5 ingredients or less
Now I’d love to be able to move towards organic and grass fed meat but at this point it’s easily double the cost unless of course you go in and buy a large portion of a cow. We are considering that at some point.
Today however I want to focus on organic veggies. We’ve been solely eating organic produce for 1 month now and my budget hasn’t been affected at all yet. I thought for sure I would cringe everytime at the prices, but I’ve found very little difference. I do know that these prices could vary greatly based on your location in the US, so this won’t apply to everyone but it’s definitely worth checking out. We knew at some point the prices would come down, it’s a simple supply and demand issue. I’m just to see it’s finally starting to happen!
Last week I was at Safeway and I decided to really compare the prices, side by side you’ll see what I found below…
This is just a small starting point to get you thinking. Now there are often sales and we can get regular produce for less than the retail prices above – but organic produce also goes on sale!
Here’s another gem I discovered, when I pay a wee bit more for something I’m that much more determined to use it. I’ve noticed a whole lot less waster this month as well.
I’d love to hear what you think about all of this. I was shocked myself to find the prices so close, did it surprise you?
Kalaia'kea' Villa via Facebook May 21, 2012 at 2:03 pm
false
Mandy Halverson via Facebook May 21, 2012 at 2:04 pm
Depends if you buy either of them ON SALE. Organic can be cheaper and other times the regular stuff is cheaper.
Sarah Kim via Facebook May 21, 2012 at 2:05 pm
Short term – true. Long term – false.
Janel Armstrong via Facebook May 21, 2012 at 2:05 pm
depends on where you are…. it is a little more where I am would love to run in to the same prices…..
Kathy Gros Myers via Facebook May 21, 2012 at 2:08 pm
if you grow them yourself much much cheaper….and the best way to know where your food has been and what is on it. Even without using sales and gardening eating the best food you can will cost you much less in the long run in weight, health, and energy.
Kathy Gros Myers via Facebook May 21, 2012 at 2:09 pm
but you can eat well and keep in budget
Barbara Lyon via Facebook May 21, 2012 at 2:45 pm
yes
Barbara Lyon via Facebook May 21, 2012 at 2:45 pm
yes
stephanie w. May 21, 2012 at 3:09 pm
I use almost all organic produce that I find either at the 99 cents store (3 pack of organic romaine hearts!!) or on clearance at Fresh & Easy. I think the cost of organic produce has gone down a bit because I remember a couple years ago it was like double the price for anything organic.
Melinda King Brecheisen via Facebook May 21, 2012 at 3:11 pm
Sometimes I can buy organic on sale that is cheaper or the same exact price as conventional. But the sale price of conventional can beat the sale price of organic 9 times out of 10. Organic is expensive. Trader Joe’s always has 2 lb bags of organic apples for $2.49, which isn’t bad. And Costco has the 10 lb bag of organic carrots for only $4.49. $0.45 a lb is pretty hard to beat. This last week organic zuchini was the exact same price as conventional zuchini at Safeway. You got to shop around, but it’s there. And once you stop buying all the crappy processed foods you realize there is a whole lot of money left over to use on organic!
Jean May 22, 2012 at 10:24 am
I agree Melinda – we do not buy many processed/prepackaged foods and so buying organic produce is not a huge stretch on the budget.
Samantha Miller Doerfler via Facebook May 21, 2012 at 3:39 pm
sometimes….you can get it cheaper seasonally or on sale!
Jolene May 21, 2012 at 3:51 pm
Timely Catalina Deal coming soon to Safeway to match your post:
Purchase O Organics Products (excluding dairy) between 5/23/12 and 6/5/12 and Save up to $2 pn a future order of O Organics products:
Spend $5-$7.99 & get $1
Spend $8-$9.99 & get $1.50
Spend $10+ & get $2
Expires 6/5/12
My Announcement pictures produce, fresh chicken, and various boxed and canned O Organic items.
I’m with Stephanie w. in finding Organics at the 99 Cents Only Store;)
Creative2xmom May 21, 2012 at 3:55 pm
I depends on where you shop though. We shop nearly exclusively at Winco where the prices are considerably lower than Safeway. But they don’t carry Organics. So for me to go to Safeway, my budget is going to take a big hit.
Amelia May 21, 2012 at 4:32 pm
One thing you can do if eating organic is a priority is look into a CSA. We used to get two large boxes of organic produce a month and it was a ton of food for about $36 each time. I think it would have easily fed a family of four. It was more than my husband and I could eat! All organic and all local. You can Google CSA’s in your area.
Danae H May 21, 2012 at 6:33 pm
Safeway has a catalina going on to for their O organics line – 5/23 thru 6/5
Spend $5-$7.99 get back $1
Spend $8-$9.99 get back $1.50
Spend $10 or more and get back $2
Your local farmers market is also a great place to get cheaper organic produce…if you wait until right before closing time you can get discounts most of the time!
We do the dirty dozen for sure organic only now and if I find something like what you showed above I will always chose the organic.
Erin May 21, 2012 at 7:48 pm
We buy organic when it is comparably priced. Since we almost exclusively buy sale produce, most of our foods are conventional to stick within our tight grocery budget. But, we occasionally score awesome deals on clearance (5 pounds of organic bananas for $1.50!!!) or with a coupon (such as Organic Girl and Earthbound Organics). My favorite regular deal is organic carrots at Walmart for free or money maker with Earthbound Organic coupons.
Kim Dauer via Facebook May 21, 2012 at 10:14 pm
Both! Sometimes it’s very high but I prefer it. Apples, grapes, and potatoes should be organic!
Cheryl Woods via Facebook May 21, 2012 at 10:22 pm
I’m starting to go more organic and so far I haven’t seen a HUGE difference.
The Frugal Find via Facebook May 21, 2012 at 10:24 pm
Kim I’ve found it really depends on where you shop, for example tonight Whole Foods broccoli was $2.49/lb regularly and Safeway was $1.69/lb regularly. Quite the difference!
Kim Dauer via Facebook May 21, 2012 at 10:43 pm
Safeway has very good sale prices on organic but is it really organic? The apples appear organic. I buy most if mine there or farmers market.
Angelica Fernandez via Facebook May 21, 2012 at 10:45 pm
Just like everything, every store will have their sales and things will go up and down. Farmers market is usually cheaper for me, and if you look within a store that carries organic and non organic produce, many times things are the same price or the organic is on sale for cheaper.
Kathy Gros Myers via Facebook May 22, 2012 at 4:52 am
farmers market does not necessarily mean organic
Erin May 22, 2012 at 7:26 am
I agree. I’m not sure that I trust a person telling me their produce is organic if they have not received certification. It is a great selling point but is there accountability? Farmers markets are great for produce, but I don’t think I would pay extra if there were no guarantees or certifications.
Erin May 22, 2012 at 7:27 am
I might add that I do trust my neighbor who grows organically and we trade my coupon deals for her just picked, usually organic produce. It is an amazing deal all around!
Kim Dauer via Facebook May 22, 2012 at 7:46 am
Kathy, I live in CA so about half of the vendors at mine are “certified organic”.
Julia, I should have said when I took a class on organic food given by my local watershed group they told us dairy and meat stays in the body longer so they said milk, butter, meat should be first switched to organic then fruits/veggies.
Danae H May 22, 2012 at 10:13 pm
Kim where have you found the best prices on organic milk and butter (i’m in the bay area CA)???
Really thinking about getting a Costco membership again just for the organic milk
I have really, really been trying to make a switch over to as many organic produce items as possible, but the dairy and meat staying in your system longer (fat and protein!) makes a lot of sense!
The Frugal Find via Facebook May 22, 2012 at 7:52 am
Kim, great tips thanks. Have you made the switch to organic meat? If so, have you found any ways to make it more affordable?
Kathy Gros Myers via Facebook May 22, 2012 at 8:19 am
Kim i agree much easier to find farms in the west that are organic. Hoping to find some around here.
Kathy Gros Myers via Facebook May 22, 2012 at 8:20 am
and interesting about the meat etc never thought about it.
Robin Lawson via Facebook May 22, 2012 at 10:24 am
We went in with some friends and bought a whole grass-fed, organic cow here NorCal from Prather Ranch. We got all the different cuts including steaks, burger, and soup bones. After butchering, our cost was about $3.45/lb. It was delicious! It was a little higher than I’m used to spending, but the yummy steaks and knowing it was healthier helped a bit.
Robin Lawson via Facebook May 22, 2012 at 10:27 am
http://www.localharvest.org/ is a good website. Click on ‘shop’ and find farms by your zip code.
Pam@behealthybehappywellness May 22, 2012 at 10:54 am
We usually just buy whatever organic produce is on sale and I make our menu from that selection. Also, if you aren’t buying junk processed food, you’ll spend less overall even if you do buy more organic. Now that the garden veggies are starting to come in (hello Kale, Spinach and Swiss Chard!), we’ll spend even less.
When I work with my health coaching clients, we try to find a way to work organic foods into their diet affordably. Nine times out of ten they save money every month on groceries by the time the program is complete!
Krystal Rae via Facebook May 22, 2012 at 11:18 am
I would have to say true on that note. I was at the store yesterday looking at the produce I went to grab some celery and looked at the price and was like whoa! Then noticed it said organic. It’s deff more $$ for organic
Tessa Marie via Facebook May 22, 2012 at 11:35 am
Thats an easy one. True. Unless you go to a store that marks down almost outdated produce then might be cheaper but not fresh
Shannyn Moore via Facebook May 22, 2012 at 11:39 am
At first glance it may seem like organic is more expensive, however you would have to eat 3 times as much non- organic fruits and veggies to receive the same nutritional value as organic, but you would also get the unwanted pesticides and herbicides that are associated with non organic. Not to mention what all those things do to your body over time. Look at the rate of cancers and other diseases that have become an epidemic in this country, all the genetically modified food. Just think about what all those chemicals are doing to our environment, to the air we breathe, the water we drink. we are a contaminiated society. You truly are what you eat! and what is worse…you are changing your get back to basics folks! Grow your own fruits and veggies, raise your own chickens for eggs and whenever possible BUY AND EAT ORGANIC!!!!
Erin May 22, 2012 at 1:29 pm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/organic-food/NU00255/NSECTIONGROUP=2
Mayo Clinic says that 50 years of research has not concluded nutritional benefit.
http://articles.cnn.com/2008-08-19/tech/organic.cooking.pv_1_organic-food-organic-trade-association-organic-products?_s=PM:TECH
Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture reveals, “No systematic differences between cultivation systems representing organic and conventional production methods were found across the five crops so the study does not support the belief that organically grown foodstuffs generally contain more major and trace elements than conventionally grown foodstuffs.”
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/358238-nutrition-of-organic-vegetables-fruits-vs-non-organic/#ixzz1vdEMiE8h
“Organic fruits and vegetables contain no more vitamins and minerals than conventionally grown produce. A review of 12 studies comparing the nutritional benefits of organic versus non-organic foods, reported in 2010 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition supported the findings that organic and non-organic foods don’t differ significantly on the nutrition they contain.”
You said, “you would have to eat 3 times as much non- organic fruits and veggies to receive the same nutritional value as organic.” The evidence does not support this argument. In fact, the studies conclude no difference in nutritional/vitamin content.
I have no doubt that organic is healthier (consuming fewer pesticides, better growing/reaping practices) and I support your desire to eat as healthy as possible, but please do not propagate misinformation. Thanks.
Kim Dauer via Facebook May 22, 2012 at 5:34 pm
No Julia. We just eat much less meat. I try to buy organic milk and butter. Still working on cheese and meat.
Brian Furgison June 18, 2012 at 10:50 am
You’re right, organic and grass fed meat is pretty expensive unless you buy in bulk. If you have the freezer space, though, it’s a good choice. I’ve seen some bigger price spreads in produce than what you listed, but in general it’s not that bad.
lucy June 20, 2012 at 3:06 pm
I love not having the guilt of buying and feeding my fam antibiotics and pesticides, so its a pretty easy choice, for the long term even if I do spend a couple extra bucks. It’s totally worth it. We do waste less and are not eating ridiculous amounts of meat like we used to. When we eat out its not organic so its nice to at least do it at home for the most part.
I hadn’t been to Costco in a while but I just went a few days ago, and saved a few bucks on organically there, it was great!
lucy June 20, 2012 at 3:07 pm
*organics