Organic Foods Can Be More Expensive

Statesman Journal, Shannon Simmons
Published January 24, 2008

Question: I do not have a lot of money to spend on "health" or organic food. What are some ideas for having healthy food on hand without breaking the bank? Answer: The common belief is that the more healthful the food, the more expensive it is. In many cases you are correct. There is a lot of research that shows that lower-income children and families have a higher incidence of obesity. It has been previously thought that the increased risk is due to a lack of healthy foods. The opinion is changing on this and being determined that although children of lower-income families have a 40 percent increase risk for obesity, there is not direct reason for this. Fast food and unhealthy options are often less expensive and more convenient. However, the purchase of unhealthy foods is increasing their market to all levels of income. Organic food is usually priced higher and you will see a considerable increase in your grocery bills if you try to stick to all organic foods. Organic food is expensive to produce. As no pesticides, hormones or genetically modified seedlings are used, the organic substitutes are much more expensive for the producer/farmer. Weeding by hand is more expensive and time consuming than spraying pesticides. Using natural compost instead of hormones or additives takes more time and money. If organic foods are not grown in your area, it can cost most money to ensure their safe travel without the use of pesticides to increase shelf life. If you are buying milk, beef or poultry, you can see the high price increase in comparison to traditional foods. Organic livestock has to be raised on land that has been pesticide free for at least three years. They can also not be fed grain that has been genetically modified or grown with pesticides. They are also slaughtered in organic friendly plants so the cost continues to build. Organic milk is also free of growth hormone, which can cost more money for the producer and therefore the consumer. If you are looking for buying organic to stay away from pesticides and hormones, buy the ones that really count. Check out the official list from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) that researches pesticides and organic foods. They create a list of the foods with the highest and lowest amounts of pesticides. Check out the entire list of www.ewg.com. Some of the items on the list that are important to buy organic are apples, bananas, rice, spinach, milk, baby food and berries. There are many others. If you are looking for increasing the healthy options in your cupboard, then start reading the labels. Many large grocery stores offer generic brands of many organic and health foods. They are usually considerably cheaper than name brand items. Remember that you can buy in bulk and freeze. If you are looking to buy poultry, beef or vegetables, many of the items can be purchased in bulk at a reduced rate and frozen in portion sizes that work for your family. This should also help you cut back on the costs. Protein options can increase your grocery bill. Some great protein sources that cost very little are legumes (black, garbanzo, kidney, pinto soybeans and lentils). Buy them dry in bulk and you can create many soups and entrees that are high in protein and taste good. Instead of adding salt and high fat cheese, use inexpensive herbs and spices that add to the flavor. Other inexpensive protein options are store-brand protein powders. Look at the label and see that it is mostly whey protein and does not have a lot of additives. You can create simple protein shakes with the powder. Another great tip is that frozen vegetables are actually pretty close to the nutritional value in fresh vegetables. In fact, they are superior to canned vegetables because they are often picked at their peak and flash frozen immediately to maintain the nutrient value. Canned vegetables are often stored with high salt liquid to lengthen their shelf life and canned fruits are usually covered in high sugar syrups. While dairy products are often expensive, they offer a lot of protein and calcium. If buying dairy items in bulk makes it hard to eat it all before it goes sour, then divide the cost and amount with a friend or family. That is a great tip for any food item. Another trap is buying a lot of convenience health foods. Packaged and processed bars and shakes can often add up to quite a bit of money on a day-to-day basis. They can be great when you are in a pinch and you need something healthy and quick. Try to stick to food that is in its most natural state, because it is better for your body and can save you money. By planning ahead your weekly menus you save money. You can go to the store just once a week and I guarantee that you will spend less money. Shannon Simmons has a masters degree in exercise science and health promotion and is a certified personal trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine since 2000. E-mail her at shannon.simmons@yahoo.com.