I often hear people say that they can’t afford to buy organic whole food because they simply can’t afford it. This is a misconception.

I agree that fresh organic food does cost a little bit more, but there are ways to still buy fresh organic foods and I’m going to share some of these ways with you. 

Shop locally at your farmers market- The Farmers market offers fresh produce and by supporting local farmers in your area you tend to save money.  Now don’t confuse fresh food to be organic. Your labeling needs to say “ORGANIC” which is free from synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. 

If it doesn’t say USDA Organic then it may contain synthetic pesticides and fertilizers that may be harmful to your health as well as your environment.

Now this does not meet you can’t buy fresh organic produce. Your local community gardens is a great way to have the best of both worlds so to speak! You are able to get quality food at a much discounted price because you are not making a purchase from a major supermarket that marks up the price. 

Your community garden serves the need where you may be unable to find quality food and less expensive. Even religious communities are now making community gardens where there tend to be food deserts in the lower income neighborhoods. 

Join your grocery perks rewards to get additional discounts on food. Supermarkets tend to offer savings for the frequent customers and offer savings rewards such as points and added discount credits that you can use to save on groceries or gas. I actually saved over $100 last year on perks!

If you buy frozen vegetables does that count? Well frozen vegetables are not bad and it may or may not be organic. The key to remember is that you want to go organic as possible. 

Buy fresh fruits and veggies that are in season and that you will be preparing for the week. Buying fruits when out of season cost more because they must be obtained where those fruits and veggies can grow in the right climate all year round which may come from another country. 

You will find yourself wasting money if you buy too many fresh fruits and veggies that you will not consume in a timely matter, before they go bad! 

Buy non-perishable items such as dry beans rather than canned beans as you will get more for you dollar. Yes, dry beans will take longer to cook but it’s worth it. They do sell organic dry legumes as well. You just need to read the label. 

Canned organic goods without the BPA lining is another option again, take the time to read your labels. If your canned goods does not contain the BPA labeling you should rinse your beans. 

Another option for saving is to buy dried fruits, nuts and seeds which makes a healthy snack.

Buying in bulk may be a better option for large families and prepping your food ahead of time is usually beneficial. 

Who likes leftovers? Freeze your leftovers or make an entire new dish with it. Depending on what you make you can make a casserole, soup or salad. What I love about food is that you can be creative with it and explore! 

Nowadays you can even have fresh food delivered to you which you will still need to cook or course. Sites such as green chef will offer discount meals at a huge savings for new users which I have personally tried and it gave me new ideas for creative meals. Done for you items may be something you may want to try as well. 

Grow your own food! Now depending how patient you are, how much space you have and how much time you want to invest you can start a homestead. Do your research before starting your own homestead or simply grow some small items such as herbs or cherry tomatoes in our apartment.

So there you have it! You can eat quality food without breaking the bank. You just need to know all of your options and think outside the box!