By now, you’ve probably noticed that the label “organic” also means “more expensive.” Recent news also indicates that food costs will only continue to rise so I’ve thought about some ways that eating organic can be done more cost-effectively:

• Buy in bulk! Food costs also incorporate the cost of packaging. If you go to the store and bring your own containers to fill up, not only are you doing your part to save the environment, but you can also get a cheaper deal on legumes, oils, nuts, rice, and other nourishing foods from the bulk bins.
• Buy what is in season, on sale, or local. When you think about the large distances your kiwi has traveled to get to the market, you wonder if the energy expended to get it there will even equal the energy it will give you. I have nothing against kiwi, or any other tropical fruits, but buying more locally can be cheaper and have less of an impact on the environment. Eating seasonally also has a way of attuning your body to nature, which is never a bad thing.
• Go to farmer’s markets. Not only will the food tend to be cheaper, but it will be fresher.
• Avoid expensive processed foods like crackers, cookies, and chips. The cost of the packaging and processing add up. For the foods that I can’t live without (like Mary’s Gone Crackers rice crisps) I just stock-up when the item is on sale.

There are many reasons to buy organic food but it really boils down to one issue: your health and the health of the rest of the people on this planet. Nearly everyone has a certain percentage of pesticides in their bodies and there’s a positive correlation with the increase in environmental pollution to the incidence of chronic disease, allergies, and chemical sensitivity illness in this country. Now, I’m no expert, but I would say that the two just might be connected. Let’s do our part to support the planet and support a healthier body with organics! Yeah!