Organic Food Deals and Steals

According to Whole Foods, “Nearly one-third of the U.S. population has recently purchased an organically grown food product, and sales are expected to more than double in the next four years — making organic one of the hottest growth trends in the food industry today.”


If you are willing to do some creative shopping and cooking, you can enjoy the freshness and goodness of organic foods without breaking your food budget.


When you are looking for fresh, organic foods, look no further than a local farmers market.  Spending your money locally at local farms also means you're helping to keep working farms viable, and that means keeping the scenery of your town or region intact.
Find one nearest you:
http://www.localharvest.org/


Shop in season. Much like starting small, shopping in season for organic products can also help offset the expenses of eating organic. Visit the Dr. Oz “what’s in season” guide to find what products you should buy and when, in order to not pay out the behind for your organic goodies.


Consider your grocery store's private label organic brand.

Here is a price comparison:

• Name brand 32 oz. organic yogurt $2.99 vs. store brand 32 oz organic yogurt $2.53.
• Name brand half gallon of organic milk $4.05 vs. store brand half gallon organic milk $3.49

The Environmental Working Group, a non-profit research organization, looked at USDA and FDA data and came up with a list of fruits and vegetables that contain the highest number and concentration of pesticide residues, taking into account eating and peeling habits. From this, they compiled a “dirty dozen.” These are the top offenders; in other words, fruits you should try to buy organic:

• Peaches
• Apples
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Imported Grapes
• Pears

Start your own garden.  Besides the benefits of gardening that go beyond food -- time outdoors, quiet opportunities for contemplation, and the satisfaction of having made something with your hands.  Growing your own food means complete control over the quality of your diet.

18 Helpful Tips for a Natural Diet

http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/organic-food-tips-47-040801

Benefits of Naturally Raised Livestock

Purchasing and consuming naturally raised livestock can benefit yourself and the environment in many ways.  There are numerous benefits for the environment when livestock is fed by grazing on pastures. Grass fed cattle are instrumental in maintaining landscape. Their grazing has been found to prevent soil erosion. As a result, naturally raised livestock promote a most sustainable agriculture and therefore end up with an abundance of healthier animals in addition to cattle.  

Eating naturally raised livestock is an incredibly healthy choice.  Naturally raised livestock does not contain the additional chemicals and hormones that usually accompany store-bought beef.  By consuming it, you will be missing out on the unhealthy side effects of those chemicals and hormones. Naturally raised livestock is easier to digest and will not clog up the system like livestock that is filled with foreign chemical substances. (Go Green Street)

Natural beef has been shown to have less than half of the percentage of fat of livestock that has been raised unnaturally. Natural beef is leaner and can save thousands and thousands of calories from being consumed. It’s also been suggested that pasture fed cattle provides quadruple the amount of Vitamin E than from feedlot cattle. In addition to containing far more Vitamin E than feedlot cattle, naturally raised livestock also increases Omega-3 fatty acid intake and reduces the risk of E. coli. (Go Green Street)

Check the labels on your meat before you purchase it, and it could help you sustain the environment and live a healthier life.  Naturally raided livestock is a great way to cut back on fat intake and increase in nutrition without even noticing a change in the diet.