Hey Chicks!!

Wow, 2 weeks goes by super fast. I’m doing ok – I would be doing fabulous if it wasn’t for my evening snacks that make up for probably half of my daily calories 🙁

I love going to the Farmer's Market!

This weekend I took the girls to the Farmer’s Market. I have been gradually buying more organic produce over the past few months. I’ve been wanting to go organic with eggs and meat, cuz who knows what type of hormones grocery store meat is filled with! Anyway, I made a decision that I am going to stop complaining about the high costs of organics, and just buy them. I know a lot of you say you can’t afford organics – well given that I am work as a server, have two kids and help support a bf who is still in school and I can do it – I think anyone can. Here are some tips I have for keeping the costs down:

1. Buy what’s in season – you’ll know because it’s usually what is cheapest anyway. I don’t buy organic raspberries in the winter because I refuse to pay 6 bucks for that teeny tiny little tub!
2. Know your prices – Some organic things I have to get at the health food store, but most times I am appalled that they sell the same items as the regular grocery store for double the price!
3. Look for marked down items – big bags of discounted brown bananas are fab for freezing and tossing in a smoothie. Certain veggies you can chop up and freeze too. And I love finding marked down eggs and meat (doesn’t happen to often, but I get super excited when I spot a good deal!)
4. Eat correct portion sizes – the small package of organic meat may cost 10 bucks, but if you actually divide it into proper 4 – 6 oz servings, you may get 4 servings for 2.50 each which could be a pretty good deal. I like to cook meat and then portion in out – even for stir-fry’s I will cook the strips of meat separately and top the stirfry with it so each person gets the correct portion.
5. Try different things – since the old stand by chicken breast is just ridiculously expensive to buy organic, I try other things like bison and elk.
6. Eat greens – a huge bunch of organic kale, chard or collards costs a lot less than other veggies and are the best nutritional value.
7. Prioritize! – Make your health a priority! Most people could afford organic food, they just choose not too. People don’t mind spending 50 bucks a week to go out to eat, a couple bucks each day at Timmy’s, or 15 dollars on a bottle of wine – I think if you choose to do that, that’s fine – but don’t say you can’t afford to eat healthier – it’s just an excuse.
8. Really look at your grocery spending – Now that I am eating all natural foods – I find we spend the same (about 200 or so dollars a week) as we did when we bought crap. Boxes of crackers and cookies and cereal – expensive (and don’t fill you up or last a long time!) 100 calorie snack packs – expensive (and I have been known to eat all six in the box at once!) cheese – very expensive! – pop and juice and milk(you save so much money drinking water!)

I keep reminding myself of this stuff too – as sometimes I do get serious sticker shock! But hopefully if we all start voting with our wallets and buying organics, the prices will have to come down.

I dumped out whatever milk I had left today and haven’t had tea since. Yay me! This caffeine habit is a tough one to ditch.

I can’t remember all that I ate today – but I had a small organic pork chop with some crispy kale for dinner – yum!

goodnight, Chicks!