Organic…Is It Worth Spending the Money?

Do you realize that there’s a term called “The Dirty Dozen” listed by the EWG?  This is a list of the most heavily sprayed fruits and vegetables that exposes you to about 14 pesticides a day.  I don’t know about you but I WILL NOT expose my children to these pesticides and other GMO  products  – that’s another topic that we moms need to dive into.   Solution? Organic. Organic. Organic.

Listen, I understand the word organic food means big $$$ to a lot of people, but if you stick with me I will show you where to shop so you don’t have to dig deep to stay healthy.  Let me share with you where we shop for the best organic bargains.  Let’s face it, when it comes to staying healthy, eating organically is a worthwhile investment in the long run (less office/ER visits), and you cannot beat the taste.

I search high and low to locate the least costly but the most important organic produce for our diet.  Here are some tips.  We always buy organic produce in season because they are not as expensive.  Here’s a chart that I use that shows a list of fruits and vegetables by season.

We buy bulk and always on sale whenever that’s possible. .  Here’s a rundown of where we normally shop.

1. Costco. We purchase 60% of our organic shopping items from this warehouse.  To save money, buy bulk!  You will be surprised at how many organic foods they do carry.   They carry items like organic chicken, organic pasta, organic agave (sugar alternative), organic chicken broth, organic eggs, organic milk, organic bread, organic carrots, organic mixed green salads, organic kale salads, organic seasonal fruits and vegetables.  We recently discovered that Costco also carries frozen organic fruits and vegetables that are not in season.
2. Trader Joes.  We purchase 20% of our grocery items from TJ.  We love this place!  They carry items like natural pork, beef, and lamb, organic tofu, organic pasta sauces, organic dark chocolate, organic fruits and vegetables (we buy from here if they are not available at Costco).  We love dark chocolates and TJ (beats Amazon & Whole Foods prices) has really good prices when it comes to dark chocolate.  The average price for a 3.5 oz is $1.99 as opposed to $3.29 at Whole Foods.
3. Amazon. We purchase 10% or our organic products from Amazon.  I was elated when I found out that I could purchase some organic products that are way too expensive at Whole Foods or not available at Costco or TJ.  You can buy organic products like pasta and beans in bulk (with the subscription option to save additional 5%) and save a lot of money.  I was able to purchase the organic einkorn pasta for $2.64 a box as opposed to $3.79 at Whole Foods.  That’s a whopping savings of $1.14 per box with free delivery (savings in gas and time!).  I was also able to locate Cascadian organic cereal for my boys.  They cost $3.28 per box but $4.99 at Whole Foods.  Yes, I can purchase other organic cereals at TJ, but I particularly prefer Cascadian organic cereal because they are low in sodium and low in sugar.  Trust me, there are a lot of organic produce for kids that are way too high in sodium and sugar.  The last thing you want is a mood swinging, wired bouncy kid who suddenly throws tantrums and gets depressed.
4. Local Chinese Super Markets :  We purchase 7% of our organic produce from this store.  We buy brown rice, wild fish, bitter melons, and other Chinese vegetables that Costco, TJ or Whole Foods don’t carry.  We shop here once or twice a month.  I understand that not every city has a Chinese supermarket even though almost every city has a Chinese restaurant.
5. Whole Foods: We shop the remaining 3% at Whole Foods…who’s counting?  Well, I do!  We only shop here if we absolutely have to.  Don’t get bought into the whole Whole Foods commercialism. In this mom’s humble opinion, you are paying a Whole lot of $$$ for fancy lighting, free ice, and cheese samples.
6. Local Farmer’s Market: If you live in an area that has access to your local farmers’ markets, shop there.  They usually carry an abundance of seasonal fruits and vegetables and are a lot cheaper than the grocery stores.  Besides, it’s good to support your local farmers.

Is buying organic food worth spending the money?  It is to our family because we are investing in our health, which will save us money in the long run.  According to The Environmental Health Perspective, or EHP, children that consume organic diets showed health benefits related to weight control, fewer vitamin or mineral deficiencies, or decreased development of chronic disease.  The study also showed that these children have a decreased probability of developing neurological diseases because they are not exposed to as much pesticide residue.  Moms, can you even put a price on that?