It is important for me that my family eat as healthfully as possible and, by that I mean organic whenever possible, preservative-free, additive-free, no high fructose corn syrup, etc. The problem is that these foods can be more expensive than their commercial counterparts and they usually don't offer coupons for them in the Sunday paper. I'd like to hear from you on how you are able to keep your grocery costs down without going to Whole Foods Market an giving up your whole paycheck as the jokes goes.
L., I have found many organic products at both Trader Joes and Costco at discount prices. Sometime my local Food-4-Less will offer a few organic products too, but not often. For me shopping healthy without breaking the bank means driving to all the different stores.
Good luck
My husband does the shopping now and saves us tons of money. He also uses coupons like I did, but he only buys what's on the list, unlike me, and if the kids want certain treats or snacks, he only buys one thing they want, instead of a bunch of things they want, like I did. They may have to wait a few weeks to get something they really want. They don't even go shopping with him - they just ask for certain things at home. Now they don't ask for as many things as before.
Try checking out www.afullcup.com It's a couponing website (totally free) and they'll help you find the best sales and coupons (even for organic food!) There's even a database of every single coupon currently available. A great way to get coupons is to email the company and ask directly. There are TONS of organic food coupons out there, you just have to know where to look for them.
We signed up with a local CSA farm - community supported agriculture - and get all our fruit and vegetables weekly.
It is all organic, seasonal and locally grown. And much cheaper than buying in the store.
The different farms offer different options in sizes, delivery options and price. You can find a CSA near your location at the Local Harvest website: http://www.localharvest.org/csa/
We use Trader Joe's for organic milk, yogurt and eggs. Trader Joe's also has a large selection of other organic products at great prices. We also support the local farmers market, but try to only get the organic and/or pesticide-free produce there.
Another resource for safe, healthy, natural and nutritious grass-fed beef, lamb, goats, bison, poultry, pork, dairy is the Eat Wild website : http://www.eatwild.com/index.html
We eat less meat, so we don't mind paying more for organic, grassfed, hormone-free. We incorporate more whole grains into our meals, so buy grains in bulk to save. We cook and bake everything from scratch, and make extra to freeze for quick meals on other days. Baking is now a fun activity for the kids weekly. We always finish our weekly supply of fresh fruit, vegetables that are left over gets frozen or made into soup to freeze for future use, or get canned.
I "play" the grocery game, and do use coupons. I use the list at Vons, and I have noticed that they sometimes have organics on the list of things on sale.
There is a bi-weekly list available for Whole Foods. I don't have a whole Foods close to me, but it would definitely be worth looking into. You can do a 4 week trial for $1, and after that it is $10/8 weeks. During your trial time, you may utilize all of the different lists for stores in your area, after that it's $10/8wks for the first store, $5 for any addt'l. I have found that while I've always been a bargain shopper, this makes it so much easier. "The List" has also saved me a ton of money on toothpaste, soap, shampoo, etc (in fact, I won't buy toothpaste anymore unless I can get it for under $0.75, and that's for name brand!), and that frees up money to use for your higher cost grocery items.
Hope that helps!
I love Fresh and Easy. If you sign up on-line they'll send you coupons (i.e. - save $10 when you purchase $50). They have a great meat selection (hormone free) and organic juices, etc.
Trader Joes is great for eggs, milk and staples. Von's organic line is really good and priced well. You can also find organic food at ethnic markets. The few items that I just can't compromise on are milk and juice. No hormones and only 100% juice. It is more expensive, but I cut costs elsewhere. I am sick every Sunday when I do the shopping at how the prices have risen. Go to the store only once a week and go with a list and coupons. Good luck!
Eating healthy makes a positive difference in my family's life. We shop at the Farmers' market every week, and we have cut down the produce bill in half. Go to http://www.cafarmersmarkets.com/ to find one nearest you. Also, making a food menu for the week is key. When you plan ahead, you can waste less because you know your needs. One more tip- try to make the things you love. I love pizza, and ordering out every week was like throwing money away. I decided to make it and LOVE IT. Good Luck!
Fresh & Easy has great deals on foods (fresh, frozen and prepared). Buying what's in season is a great saver, but remember that frozen fruits and veggies often have the same vitamins and nutrients because they are picked at their peak and flash frozen (just watch out for any added sodium or sugars). Eating healthy often means eating outside the box - the less packaging, the better for you. You can easily buy in bulk, say Costco, Smart & Final or just taking advantage of a great sale and then create your own prepared foods.
One idea I didn't see, for vegetables anyway, was a local gardening group. Several of the local organic gardeners and a nearby university have a set up where you pay a monthly fee and get a box full of fresh (usually picked that day) vegetables every week. Many of the families involved get so many veggies they end up sharing with other families. A lot of families also end up trying vegetables they'd pass by at the grocery store... and their kids LIKE them!
Also, I've found that buying organic means my fruits and veggies will last LONGER than the 'sprayed' kind, but unfortunately can't afford organic for everything (there are 6 of us to fee). However, I can buy Romaine lettuce at Trader Joe's for a few cents more than Food 4 Less and it will last twice as long (as long as we don't eat it!LOL!). As for staples (cereals, etc.) TJ's can't be beat! And no coupons needed!
Hi L.,
I first shop at Fresh and Easy and go for the $50 coupon online. I pick up whatever I can there. If you go through the end isles they now have their .99 sale items there. Then I check their discount rack and grab whatever I can use right away, as it is usually about to expire. Their meets don't look so good, so I leave them there.
Costco has organic chicken and ground beef on a regular basis. The rest seems to be a hit or miss.
And, Trader Joe's does seem to be less expensive than Whole Foods. But, no matter where you shop, if you just go more often and just get what you need, you throw away less food. For instance, I used to keep celery, onion, bell peppers, garlic, lettuce, & tomato in my fridge at all times and may not ever touch the bell peppers and celery and just throw it away in about a week and a half. As well, I have had cans off soup in my cupboard to eat someday and I just pulled one to feed my husband and that thing was expired long ago. For years, my cupboards have been filled with items we didn't need, but could eat when we feel like it and we don't. They get pushed to the back and forgotten about and now they are no good. I used to have a full pantry and 3 cupboards dedicated to dry or canned foods and we just can't possibly eat that much. We are a family of 4. As well, my Costco bill was on average $200 a week and now my bill is about $80 -$100 a week.
Best of luck.
C.
Hi L.,
We've been finding more and more organic foods at Costco. We've been buying organic brown eggs (18 ct), organic milk (3 - 1 gallon containers), organic free range chicken broth (6 1-quart containers), organic instant oatmeal (5 flavors, 45 ct), organic baby greens (big container under $4), organic crackers, organic chicken. They used to have organic ground beef, but we haven't seen that in a couple of months. I haven't paid attention to see if they have organic bread, cheese, yogurt, soups, etc, just because we don't buy that stuff in bulk. Some of the above mentioned are the Kirkland brand and it is SO much cheaper than buying at a grocery store. Good quality products.
If you don't have a membership, do any of your friends have one? Maybe go shopping with them one day and price compare
Buy when the food you want is in season, as it's usually cheaper then and tastes better too. Try shopping at a farmer's market if you have one nearby, their produce is local, fresh, and usually cheaper than in the grocery store. There are 2 other stores that I'd recommend that you try, again if they are near where you live, Trader Joes and Easy Fresh. I shop Trader Joes all the time and they have great products and I've heard good things about Easy Fresh (or is it Fresh Easy). Also, try buying for the whole week, with a list. It's sounds like such a simple thing, but it can really make a difference in the amount of money I spend at the store.
Happy Shopping,
Linda
I struggle with this, too, and I never even got into the habit of buying a lot of organic items -- my budget didn't allow it even when the economy was good. You can offset some expense if you have a decent local farmstand. The produce there won't necessarily be organic but at least it's local and so you know it's fresh and hasn't been trucked all over the state (increasing its carbon footprint). I use Plowboys, which has stands in Wildomar and Murrieta. Don't know where you live but if it's close to me, try Plowboys. Their prices are very good and a lot (not all) of what they offer is local. Otherwise I don't know how to solve the problem. Good luck.
I second the Trader Joe's suggestion. Lots of healthy foods at great prices. Henry's also runs good ads so check them for weekly specials and stock up.
We don't buy any pre-packaged food other than from Trader Joe's. They use no preservatives in their flaxseed/soychips and they are terrific. As a matter of fact, they use no preservatives or additives in any of their food, and their prices on cereal, bread, pretzels, snack foods etc. are comparable to, and often less, than the supermarkets. For vegetables,go to a local small market and buy fresh. It's more work to cook, but the flavor and sureness that you are getting only what you are putting into your food (and not something that someone has added to increase shelf life or use up the corn surplus)make up for it. Increase the variety of your vegetable choices too; that spreads the cost and keeps flavors interesting. We only use the supermarkets now for meat deals under $2 a pound (actually, we try to keep it in the under $1.60 range) and stock up when there's a really good deal like under $1 per pound: we eat a lot of chicken!
I shop at Trader Joes. It is much less expensive than Whole Foods. Also, most of the grocery stores now have an organic line and Ralphs has an organic section. Ralphs also does double coupons. There are some new organic grocery stores popping up that are much less expensive than Whole Foods. One of the is Sprouts, there is one in Torrance but I'm not sure about other areas.
Hi L.! It is definitely tempting to eat fast food when they offer value menues, all you can drink sodas and when the combo meals are cheaper to "go big". I dont know where you live, but we have a local produce market here in Murrieta, and love to shop there. You have to go in the morning to get the freshest items. I can get a whole weeks' worth of fruits and veggies for about $12-$16. It isnt always organic, but it is locally grown. Farmers markets are also a great way to eat healthy and help your community at the same time. Costco does have some healthier meats in the freezer section, and when you want to eat out - Chipotle uses fresh organic meats. Good luck!
We cal Wholefoods "whole pay check" in our home. We buy 80% of our food at the Hollywood Farmers Market, 15% at Trader Joes and 5% at other stores. The farmers market is a great way to buy organic produce and purchase only the amount you really need. Once you develop a relationship with the farmers, they tend to give you discounts and free items for kids. -www.weelicious.com
Costco has some great healthful products including organic meat. Buying in bulk saves time and money. I feel the same way about the quality of the food we consume. We eat mostly organic and locally grown food. See if any of your friends have fruit trees in their backyards and are willing to share. You could also grow your own. Every little bit helps and it's a lot of fun for the kids. Farmers markets are a good place to get a deal on fresh produce. I've noticed that the 365 brand at whole foods isn't a bad deal. Health food stores often have a bulk section where you can get a good deal on grains, beans, and nuts. Eating less meat is a good way to cut costs. If anyone in your family likes fishing, you could spend a day at the lake and come home with fresh wild trout or bass. I know these are totally random ideas- hope some of them help!
I second the advice to shop at Trader Joe's & the organic section of Vons/Pavillion's & Ralph's (paricularly their sales, but I also wanted to add two tips I did see. First, Big Lots (the discount overstock chain) is getting more & more organic boxed foods. I picked up Hunt's organic diced canned tomatoes for 70 cents a can & organic oatmeal for $2 for a big box. In addition, check out www.abundantharvestorganics.com, which sells organic food in a reusable box that you pick up each week. The box is fruits & veggies, but they have add-ons for meats, cheeses & more that are cheaper than Whole Foods or TJ's.
For you, or anyone else in the Inland Empire interested in organic produce at wholesale prices, there is a club called the Inland Empire Organic Produce Buyers Club (I think that's the name) Anyway, we all pool our money once a week, then go and buy in bulk from the farmers, then distribute the produce at the end of the week. IF you're interested this is the link: http://www.meetup.com/organicproduce/
We get a laundry-basket full of free organic produce (fruits and veggies) and it's always different, depending on what's in season, what's a good deal, etc. But it's always enough for me and my family of 4! Some people buy double shares, but a single share is $22 (or $23 if you pay via paypal).
I don't know if other areas have this, but we're in Riverside and drive into Redlands every Saturday morning for this. DEFINITELY worth it for us. :-)
Is there a farmer's market in your area? If you start a relationship with those folks, you can usually bargain with them a little bit and sometimes they give me free stuff if I buy alot from their stand. It is not always convenient, and usually requires cash, but it is cheaper, and local, and often "less sprayed" than regular produce, but it may not be organic, because smaller farms don't have the ability to go through the certifying process to be truly organic. Ask each vendor about their pesticide/fertilizer use.
HI L.,
My husband has severe food allergies and needs to eat all natural all the time so I definately know where you are coming from, I don't know where you are from but check to see if you have a Trader Joe's in your area, most of their food is addative and perservative free and they have many organic choices. I find that they are MUCH less expensive on almost all of their food, much more than the grocery store and especially whole foods. Good Luck
L.
Hello, L.,
Farmers' Markets, farmers' markets, FARMERS' MARKETS!
We have about 83 over the week in Southern California.
Enjoy them!
T.
Shop at Traders Joe's and keep your eyes open. Item to item can have different prices. Still you will be ahead of the super market. Also funny things for dinner party treats. Never HFCS.
B. van Oosterom
Hi L.
I understand exactly what you mean! Getting vegetables that are organic is not so difficult between the farmers markets and even Ralphs who offer them at extremely competitive prices. Avoiding the preservatives- corn syrup, palm oil and most difficult the soy bean oil that is in everything these days is much harder..
In total desperation at the state of most breads out there we actually bought a bread machine. It has paid for itself 10 times over in terms of cheapness of loaf and quality of bread. We also make amazing pizza dough in it for "friday night pizza & movie night".
In terms of milk and butter etc - I have to say Ralphs have been amazing. If you get the Ralph customer loyalty card they almost always have some special offer on to card holders. I have saved so much there and it seems the more organics you buy the more they stock. Last week I got cartons of organic chicken broth for $1 each!
Meat is harder. Ralphs do organic chicken and beef but the price is still higher. For fish try the Santa Monica farmers market (Cathy is great and her three brothers in Alska - Hawaii and somewhere I can't remember are the fishermen who supply her with the fish) Also the Co-opportunity store on Broadway and 16th in Santa Monica is great for organic meat and all the bulk stuff (much cheaper and friendlier than whole foods!) I buy rice - flour- oats all from their bulk section. And most of my meat from them too.
As someone else mentioned Cost Co is getting better and better at stocking organics. They actually do packs of organic chicken (though sadly often not Free RAnge) and great Organic peanut butter and fruit twists both of which my kids love. It does mean driving around a bit more because no one store has it all but I do think it is worth it. If we keep "voting with our wallets" for long enough eventually we will be heard!
Best of luck
N.
L., Farmer's markets are great and found in almost every city, growing your own herbs and foods is possible too. Making your food, like our grandmothers and moms is one way of cutting down. Premade foods are ususally more expensive. oatmeal instead of cereal, make your own snacks, and desserts instead of buying them, etc.
back to basics takes alot more time! prepackaged food is so convenient and eating foods that are out of season is too. Good luck D.
Hi L., I totally understand where you are coming from. I may not have any other suggestions to you other than what others had responded. Being that you are concerned about what your family eats you may want to check out my website www.Nolayoffs.MyWildTree.com we have all Natural, Preservative Free, No Food Dyes and NO MSG in any of our products. Also, our culinary herbs are highly concentrated so you will use less therefore it will go a long way for your $$$ spent. We use grapeseed oil which is high in antioxidants and more health benefits.
Wildtree has had record breaking sales each month for the past 19 mos. People like you are looking for alternatives to eating healthy at the same time very tasty.
Please feel free to visit my website and learn more about Wildtree and feel free to give me some feedback on what you think. www.Nolayoffs.MyWildtree.com
Naturally yours,
D.
I'm older and my kids are all grown, but when they were younger, we too were on a limited budget. What I did then, and still do, is to shop the weekly grocery ads. Whatever is on sale that week is what is on the menu. I go to one store for most things, and another one very close by only for their specials.
Also,it takes more time, but if you avoid most processed and all pre-prepared foods, you will avoid the preservatives and additives. Buy things that are as near to their natural state as possible. They are usually found on the outer edges of the store--fresh fruit and vegetables, milk, cheese, meats,yogurt, eggs, milk, etc. On the inner shelves are dry beans, rice, pasta, canned vegetables, & cereals such as oatmeal and cream of wheat.All this is available in any regular supermarket.
It's true that there are almost never coupons for these items, but it's really cheaper in the long run than buying already prepared foods.
However, you have to spend some time cooking. The only way to make sure of what is in your food is to make it yourself. I always made nearly everything from scratch, including breads, desserts, cookies, spaghetti sauce,casseroles & other main dishes.
The other thing to do is read the labels on everything. They sneak high fructose corn syrup into a surprising number of things that you would never suspect. But, you also have to consider how much is in the food, and how often/how much you consume. For example, ketchup has high fructose corn syrup. Now I'm not going to make my own ketchup! But I seldom use it, so I don't worry about the little bit that I might take in. If it's listed as the first or second ingredient, then it becomes a problem.
I personally don't believe that organic is necessarily better tasting or even better for you, but if you can afford to pay extra for it, that's your decision. I even read somewhere that organic chicken is even more likely to have salmonella than regular supermarket chicken because of the organic ones not receiving the antibiotics.
You might also want to check around for local farmer's markets, farm stands that sell directly to the public, or even the classifieds for people selling produce.
Or you could start a garden and grow your own! The kids will enjoy watching it grow and picking their own vegetables, and there's nothing better than garden tomatoes. It's also a good family activity.
