People buy organic foods for a number of reasons. These reasons may include reducing the ingestion of pesticides and chemicals, avoidance of genetically modified foods (GMOs), or simply supporting local farming which does not pollute the environment with chemicals or expose farm workers to toxic materials. Or perhaps, simply for superior taste or the expectation of a higher quality of the food. But do we have to pay more money for these organic choices?

The good news is that there are ways to reduce costs and still eat an organic diet. With the economy in the sad shape that it has been for the past year or more, many people feel that they must make choices to eliminate certain more costly lifestyle expenses. Although in general going organic will likely always require more expense for the equivalent non-organic products, there are some modifications you can make to lessen the cost of this more healthy and eco-friendly lifestyle choice.

One of the most common organic products purchased is dairy items. Organic followers want to avoid consuming byproducts from cows that are treated with hormones and antibiotics, but organic products can cost twice as much or more. One less costly alternative is becoming more prevalent, as some dairies are providing products labeled “hormone-free” or “rBST-free” which are non-organic but at least do not contain these undesirable byproducts.

Another tip to tweak your food budget in favor of fresh foods is to pay closer attention to the quantities of perishable items you purchase. If the EPA is correct in its data that indicates Americans actually throw away over 25% of their food without using it, better planning can almost offset part of the increased cost we may spend for fresher, healthier pesticide-free foods from the local farmer’s market. And the local selections will most likely stay fresh longer, as they have not sat in trucks and processing plants for weeks before reaching your dinner table.

If you want to be selective and choose to go organic for just the items that give you “the most bang for your buck”, there are websites available that list all types of  produce and which selections typically contain the worst amounts (and “best”) of pesticide residue. One such website is available at FoodNews.org. Armed with this information, you can tailor your shopping lists to choose to pay the extra cost for organic produce that only has high levels, or eliminate these altogether if desired.

Finally, if you are still entertaining fast foods and highly processed foods in your culinary choices, consider cutting these out. Although they may seem like a less expensive alternative (not to mention easy), they offer little nutritional value. In the long run, take the extra time to prepare a fresh meal (even if it costs a few pennies more) and you will reap savings in other areas of your life in your health and energy levels.

Although there has been recent press that suggest that organic foods do not provide a higher level of nutrition than non-organic foods (see this study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition), there are significant other benefits that support the choice of eating organic as a superior way of life. Organic eaters out there, how do your feel about the subject? Any ideas for reducing the expense that you can share with us via a comment?

Cindy Green Living genetically modified food, GMOs, organic diet, organic food, reduce pesticides and chemicals