Go Organic on a Budget
You don't need to change everything overnight. Start with the Dirty Dozen, swap your pantry staples, and watch your family's health transform — without breaking the bank.
The Real Cost of “Cheap” Food
It is actually not accurate to think organic food is too expensive when you factor in the health care costs from eating conventional, GMO toxic food. Conventional, GMO food and factory farming pollute our food, streams, air, and tap water supply, leading to the ingestion of toxins linked to dozens of costly illnesses.
Autism can cost a family $100,000 a year. Cancer can cost a family and insurance $10,000 a month. America will be bankrupted by our health care costs if we do not take immediate action.
Chips & Soda
$0.71 per serving
- 16g protein, 39g sugar (9.75 teaspoons)
- 185g sodium
- Contains GMOs and toxic pesticide residues
Organic Rice & Beans
$0.66 per serving
- 19.9g protein, 42g carbs, 0.7g sugar
- 358mcg Folate, 802mg Potassium, 93.9mg Magnesium
- Zero GMOs or toxic chemicals
“When I saw my son's allergies improve in just 4 months and my other son's autism symptoms disappear in 6 weeks, by eating organic and restoring the gut microbiome with fermented foods, I realized that we could not afford to NOT eat organic.”
— Zen Honeycutt, Founder
Five Steps to Affordable Organic Eating
Budget
What are your highest expenses? Do they match your values and priorities like health and shelter? Cut out needless spending on trendy items, electronics, coffee, fast food, and gifts. A 25-pound bag of organic rice on Amazon costs the same as 2 manicures.
Buy Less Processed, More Bulk Whole Foods
Buy organic rice, beans, vegetables and fruit instead of chips, cookies, soda and snacks. You can save $971 a year for a family of 5 by buying organic potatoes and baking french fries at home instead of eating fast food fries twice a week.
Prioritize
Prioritize organic dairy, bone broths, gelatin, lentils, and bread or wheat products, as these can contain the highest levels of glyphosate. Eat less meat; when you do, choose organic or cold-water wild seafood. Dried beans cost 5–7x less than meat and have plenty of protein.
Get Creative
Make gifts, go on inexpensive vacations, stop buying the latest technology, and create other sources of revenue to afford organic food. Allow the frustrating situation of having a low income be an opportunity to get inventive.
Grow Your Own
Even a small fire escape can fit enough pots to grow cilantro, parsley, basil, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, and peppers. Visit the local library for books on growing food in small spaces. Community gardens are another great option.
Whole Foods vs. Processed Foods
People often think they have to eat processed foods for convenience, but these are much more expensive per pound and by nutritional content. If we go back to eating whole foods — like a baked potato instead of a bag of chips — we consume much higher nutritional content, feel full and satisfied for much longer, and can buy more food by the pound.
When we eat whole organic foods with higher nutritional content, we are not as hungry and can eat less food, saving money, because we are not consuming empty calories.
Where to Find Affordable Organic Food
Online Bulk Ordering
Amazon, Thrive Market, and Azure Standard offer organic rice, cereals, baby food, and beans at competitive bulk prices.
Farmer’s Markets
Buy direct from local farmers. Many accept SNAP/EBT benefits and offer end-of-day discounts.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
Pay upfront for a season of weekly farm-fresh produce. Often cheaper per pound than retail.
Grow Your Own
Start with herbs and salad greens in containers. Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company offers the largest free seed catalog.
Proof It Works: Detroit's Organic Revolution
The first store in America to label food GMO was in Detroit — in the past one of the lowest income, most crime-ridden areas in the country. Recently, 20,000 volunteers a weekend are “greening” Detroit with over 1,200 organic urban farms and community solidarity is making a comeback.
Doctors report that 90% of the children in low-income areas have diabetes and/or obesity. Allergies, autism, and autoimmune disease are skyrocketing. Americans are seeing that genetically engineered and pesticide-sprayed food contributes to mental illness, acts of violence, depression, and poor school and job performance.
“It really is true that when moms say, ‘health comes first.’ Without health, we cannot function properly to do or enjoy other things in life like our career, schoolwork, family, and relationships.”
Start Your Organic Journey Today
You'll be pleasantly surprised at how much organic food you can buy and grow. Health benefits can appear in as little as 3 days to a few weeks.