BUY IN SEASON. If you want the cheapest deal on fruits and veggies, you have to buy the fruits and veggies that are in season. These are always going to be the best bang for your buck. Are grapes in season now? No. That's why you can't find organic ones, and the conventionally grown ones are grown in another country, picked, shipped here, and sold for more money than you'd pay for even organic ones while they are in season. On the other hand, I bought a bag of organic valencia oranges for $2.99 at Meijer today.
FIND COUPONS. It's true that store/paper insert coupons are rarely for organic items. But that doesn't mean you can't find them. Many manufacturers have coupons on their site if you join their newsletters or email clubs (Horizon Organic, Organic Valley, Newman's Own, Stoneyfield.... lots of coupons out there if you do a lot of research online). Or, try some organic coupon blogs and sites that people have out there:
PLAN YOUR MEALS. I'm not kidding when I say I have saved $25-$75 every week in the past month by planning better. Typically, I'll make something Sunday night or Monday morning that my fiance and I can eat Monday and Tuesday nights, and then freeze whatever portions might be left for quick meals later. Casseroles and crock-pot creations are the easiest. Wednesday night I usually have a break from work to make dinner, so I plan ahead for that, too. I try to have something quick like pasta or chicken I can throw in the oven for Thursday. The key is to pick easy things that won't take forever to make; under an hour is best. Before I shop on Monday mornings, I take a good inventory of what we have, what we need, and I don't get distracted by "good deals" and "ooh, that looks good" when I shop. I plan my meals, I stick to my list. Here's a really excellent site for easy, healthy recipes for any meal of the day:
Don't waste your money on fast food and boxed meals.... it really doesn't take too much to make good meals. I'm not even home for dinner most nights and I can manage it. Print coupons, look for seasonal foods, plan ahead. Make tummies happy!
until later...
"Failing to plan is planning to fail." ~ Alan Lakein
Although I have eaten and loved quinoa before tonight was the first time that I made. Even with sauteing (in just enough olive oil) the fresh garlic, mushrooms, and diced onions, the prep time for one cup dry was 30 minutes and gave me a week's worth of side dish! I was shocked to read about how very much for dietary fiber it packs than rice.
ReplyDeleteTruly, it is easy to steam a whole bunch of frozen veggies (like broccoli or cauliflower or brussels sprouts), cook up a fillet of fish or several breasts of chicken, make up a week's worth of grains, and be set. It just takes getting over the hump of trying it and getting a rhythm and some favorite recipes down.
I recommend giving farro a try sometime, too... It's great warm or on salads!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I will look for it.
ReplyDelete