How Real People on Real Budgets Can Afford Organic

I found this article in my inbox and thought I would share.  This goes along with what seems like a multitude of blogger posts recently on the subject of buying Organic on a budget.  One item I left off my list of 10 Tips to Buying Organic on a Budget that they mention in this article is a term coined "Orgo-Generic" which is buying store brand Organics.  Every week we purchase from Kroger Private Selection Organic 2% milk among other items. 

How Real People on Real Budgets Can Afford Organic

Guest Blogger for Healthy Child Healthy World - Robyn O'Brien:  

In a world in which we are constantly worried about the health of our families, the stability of our jobs, paying the mortgage and all of life's responsibilities, the simple act of trying to eat healthy often becomes a challenge.

Not to mention that if your family is anything like mine, then you've most likely got some picky eaters, limited time and a limited budget with which to pull all of this off in a world of soaring food prices.

So here are a few tips for those who want to start buying organic food but don't want to pay the high price:

• Go Orgo-Generic. Major grocery store chains like Safeway and Kroger, and big box food retailers like Costco and even Wal-Mart, now carry their own organic foods. And all foods labeled "USDA organic" are created equal, no matter where you find them. No need to upscale your grocery store when Wal-Mart gets it done.

• Buy Frozen. Frozen foods (like strawberries and fish) are cheaper than those that are delivered fresh. So if the prices on fresh produce are eye-popping, cruise on over to the frozen food aisle for a discount.

• Eat with the Season. Retrain your taste buds to think like your grandmother did. She didn't eat strawberries in the middle of winter. Locally grown foods are usually cheaper than those flown in from another hemisphere so if you eat with the season, you'll be eating more affordably.

Read the entire How Real People on Real Budgets Can Afford Organic article here.

Healthy Child Healthy World 

Some of the latest initiatives under development include:

• Creating mobile versions of our printable Pocket Shopping Guides,
• Building a program to educate healthcare professionals, and
• Working on an Eat Healthy campaign to build the movement towards a Food Revolution.

Sustainable Saturday - Organic Food Labels

There are multiple labels for natural and organic foods and it can be difficult to decipher.  If you're like me, you may want to make sure you are getting the most for your money without compromising quality.  Shopping at a Farmer's Market or directly from a farm are a really good way to ensure that you are getting a better product for your money.

There are many great resources out there to aid in this quest to find out more about the food you eat.  Much of this information comes from the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) website.
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USDA Organic - General Background Information

Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) of 1990. The OFPA required the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop national standards for organically produced agricultural products to assure consumers that agricultural products marketed as organic meet consistent, uniform standards. 

Does natural mean organic?

No. Natural and organic are not interchangeable. Other truthful claims, such as free-range, hormone-free, and natural, can still appear on food labels. However, don't confuse these terms with "organic.“

Understanding the Organic Label

Look for the USDA organic seal on raw, fresh products and processed products that contain organic agricultural ingredients. Or it may appear on a sign above an organic produce display. On multi-ingredient products, the seal is usually placed on the front of the package (principal display panel); however, it may be placed anywhere on the package. When you see this seal, you know the product is at least 95 percent organic. The seal may be printed in green and brown (as shown), in black and white, or outlined in black on a transparent background. Where to find the USDA Organic Seal Any agricultural product that meets third-party or state certification requirements may be considered organic. A wide variety of organic foods are available, including: pasta, prepared sauces, juices, frozen meals, milk, ice cream and frozen novelties, cereals, meat, poultry, breads, soups, chocolate, cookies, alcoholic beverages and more. These foods, in order to be certified organic, have all been grown and processed according to USDA NOP organic standards. Organic fiber products include clothing, bed and bath linens, tablecloths, napkins, etc. _____________________________________________________ One of my favorite resources is National Geographic's Green Guide.  In the beginning it was a magazine publication, however now the Green Guide is only available online.  You can sign up here for their FREE monthly e-newsletter.

National Geographic's Green Guide - Beef Label Decoder which outlines the differences between USDA Organic, American Grassfed, USDA Process Verified, CERTIFIED HUMANE Raised and Handled, Food Alliance Certified and Animal Welfare Approved.

National Geographic's Green Guide - Coffee Label Decoder
which outlines the differences between Rainforest Alliance Certified, Bird Friendly, USDA Organic and Fair Trade Certified.

National Geographic's Green Guide - Meaningful Labels which outlines the qualifications for labels such as USDA Organic, Local and Regional Labels, Bird Friendly, Certified Humane Raised and Handled, Grass-fed, Green Seal, Forest Stewardship Council and Fair Trade.

I strongly recommend checking out resources such as The New Dirty Dozen:  12 Foods to Eat Organic for 2010 with the vegetables and fruits which contain the most pesticide residue.

Wholly Guacamole - Money Saving Coupons & Rebate Offer!

Wholly Guacamole is a favorite around our house! Many times at our local Kroger store, I get their guacamole for FREE or nearly FREE due to mark downs, sales and coupons. It's a great value, tastes great and freezes well past the expiration date posted on the package.

Sign up here to receive Wholly Guacamole special offers, learn about new products and promotions.

Get a $1.50/1 Labor Day Coupon available here (hurry, expires 9/7/10)!

	Wholly Guacamole and ABC invite you to Stay IN, Tune IN and Dip IN. Who: Friends who want to have fun and watch great TV When & Where: Tonight in your living room How: Open a box of Wholly Guac, add chips, veggies, your best friends and a DVD from ABC Why: Life is about fun and spending time with friends RSVP: Buy 1 Wholly product +1 of your favorite ABC shows.  Then enter your information here to download your mail-in $10 rebate!

Thanks! Organic Deals & Coupons

LOZO: Learn the right amount to use and create less waste

I subscribe to LOZO for their daily money saving tips.  When I find something that applies to my readers, I feel compelled to share.  It may sound silly, but this is something I have been attempting to do with a lot of personal care products for a long time, reduce the amount that you use when it comes to shampoo, conditioner, face cleanser, toothpaste, etc.  At our house, we use some personal care products that are Organic or Natural and some that our not.  My theory is if we get used to reducing the amount of product we use, when we finally switch over to all Organic or Natural products, we will use less and therefore it will have less of an impact on our overall budget.
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LOZO:  Learn the right amount to use and create less waste

Learn the right amount to use and create less waste TV ads often give us the impression that we need to use a ton of product, especially when it comes to toothpaste, shampoo and soap. After all... the more you use, the more you'll buy (that's good for them, but not so hot for us). The truth is, however, that it's the cleaning action itself--not the product--that does most of the actual cleaning (aka brushing your teeth, massaging your scalp, scrubbing your body).

With that in mind, rest easy knowing that a peanut-size amount of toothpaste will do the job just as well as three times that amount. If you really want clean teeth, you're better off brushing an extra 30 seconds than you are using more toothpaste.

Click through to LOZO to get some simple guidelines for shampoo, soap and shaving cream too.

Burt's Bees Natural Toothpaste Coupon & More!

You can get a $1/1 Coupon available here!

Find in-store and online retailers here.

Smile more brightly with our natural Multicare Toothpaste!

•	Free tube with $35 order
•	Free tube of Multicare with fluoride: PROMO1
•	Free tube of Multicare without fluoride: PROMO2

Only one promo per order.  Offer valid from 8/30/10 to 9/15/10.

Whole Foods Market® - This Week's Hot Deals (Ohio)

You can check out all of Whole Foods Market® Hot Deals here.  These prices are valid from September 1st thru September 7th.

You can read all about the current coupon deals available in both the whole deal and available to print online here.

Sales appear to be regional or even by State.  Please confirm with your store their coupon policy as some stores will allow you to use one manufacturer coupon + one Whole Foods coupon per item.

Don't forget the one day sale on Friday, September 3rd featuring grass-fed ground beef for $3.99 / lb.

Whole Foods Market Beef Burgers
Seasoned to perfection and ready to grill!
Sale! $4.99lb
Reg. $5.99 lb

85% Lean Ground Beef
Perfect for Labor Day cookouts!
Sale! $2.99lb
Reg. $3.99 lb

Pennsylvania Organic Tomatoes
Wonderful for salads or topping burgers!
Sale! $1.49 lb
Reg. $2.99 lb

Washington State Organic Peaches
Sweet and juicy! Great grilled and served with ice cream.
Sale! $1.99lb
Reg. $2.99 lb

Nature’s Rancher Meat Marinades (8 oz)
Great grill companion! Stock up and save!
Sale! BOGO
Reg. $2.99 ea

Wild Caught in Alaska Fresh Coho Salmon Fillet
Great pan seared or grilled! MSC-Certified.
Sale! $13.49lb
Reg. $16.99 lb

Southern Fried Chicken
Picnic ready! Made from all-natural Bell & Evans chicken.
Sale! $4.99lb
Reg. $6.99 lb

Herdez Salsa Verde or Salsa Casera (16 oz)
Perfect for Labor Day gatherings. Don’t forget the chips!
Sale! 2 for $5
Reg. $3.39 ea

Garden of Eatin’ Chips (9 oz)
Pair with Herdez salsa! Selected varieties.
Sale! 2 for $5
Reg. $3.39 ea
$2/3 Whole Foods Coupon available here
$1/1 Manuf. Coupon available here
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Deal Idea:

Buy 3 Garden of Eatin' Chips
Use $2/3 Whole Foods Coupon available here 
Use 3 - $1/1 Manufacturer Coupon available here 

Total:  $2.50 for 3 bag of Garden of Eatin' Chips!
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Back to Nature Crackers
Assorted Varieties (5-9 oz.)
Sale!  2 for $5

Guayaki Organic Mate Beverages
Assorted Varieties (16 oz.)
Sale! 3 for $5

Three Sisters Cereal
Assorted Varieties (12-16 oz.)
Sale! 2 for $5

Kettle Baked Potato Chips
Assorted Varieties (4 oz.)
Sale! 2 for $4
$1/2 Manuf. Coupon available here

Wallaby Organic Lowfat Yogurts
Assorted Varieties (6 oz.)
Sale! 4 for $3

FREE Snack from Kashi

You can register here to either trade-in a snack or just simply try one of Kashi's wholesome snacks for FREE!