During tough economic times, it can be hard to stay on track and stick to a healthy lifestyle while our bank accounts get squeezed. Choosing to go Organic can become increasingly difficult because of this, as the temptation for super cheap processed food becomes all the more attractive. People always ask how in the world is it possible to eat healthy without breaking the bank. Indeed, it’s a great question and one I hope to answer in this post. Here are some healthy pointers that will empower you to stay healthy on a low budget.

While transitioning to organic, the food products that contain the most pesticides and toxins are the ones that you want to focus on avoiding first. Beyond vegetable and fruit produce, the foods that have the most toxins are conventionally raised meats. Conventionally raised livestock are force-fed feed that contains pesticides, and they are also supplemented with antibiotics. This is to stave off disease in CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) or to make them gain weight faster. In addition to this, most conventionally raised livestock are fed GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, which studies are conclusively showing to be linked to certain health problems.

I recommend… buying conventional produces that don’t require many pesticides and other toxins to grow, seeking organic produces, which if conventionally grown, would otherwise contain comparatively many more toxins.

The main issue with pesticides and antibiotics is that after the animals consume these pathogens, they get stored in the animal’s fat and tissues. And when you consume the meat or produce you’re also consuming chemical residue. It’s doubly shameful because so much of meat’s flavor is in the fat! On the other hand, eating organic/grass-fed meats is extra pleasurable because you do not have to worry about the toxic load in the fat. And good thing; there are tons of valuable nutrients in it.

Grass-fed, organically raised meats, milk, and pastured eggs would be my top initial recommendations. In New Jersey where I live, organic chicken is least expensive meat available, so I tend to stick with that. Grass-fed beef is extremely nutritious, containing high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and even more antioxidants vitamin E than conventionally-raise cattle.  Also, it just tastes better and is leaner than most other options, so every once in a while some good clean beef is what the chef (me) will be serving!

Grass-fed beef, pastured chickens, and pastured chicken eggs contain significantly higher amounts of animal-based omega 3 fatty acids, as well as vitamin D. If you’re going to buy conventionally grown eggs, try to avoid buying the omega-3 fortified eggs. Most of the time, these chickens are fed omega-3s that have gone rancid, therefore, their true benefit for you is not exactly the same as advertised. Go for grass-fed, pastured chicken eggs. You’ll notice, they also taste better and are the more nutritious option.

When you are on a limited budget you have to get the biggest bang for your buck. Even though buying organic may cost more right now, in the long run these preventative measures are likely to save you a lot in healthcare costs down the road. Eating organic and eating clean as much as possible is akin to taking medicine to me, the preventative kind; not the kinds that mask symptoms after you’re already sick…

To deal with rising food costs that make organic food even more expensive, I recommend allocating your money towards only buying conventional produces that don’t require many pesticides and other toxins to grow, seeking organic produces, which if conventionally grown, would contain otherwise comparatively many more toxins.

Even though organic produce may or may not potentially have higher levels of nutrients, the biggest benefit is that organic produce will not expose to you potentially dangerous toxins. A simple vinegar rinse can help remove significant amounts of toxic residue, which should be used on both organic and conventional produce.

It is particularly important to take effective measures if you are consuming most of your vegetables and fruits through juicing. This is because you are only consuming the juice and not much of the fiber and the juice itself could end up being a concoction of toxins if you haven’t taken steps to limit the amount of exposure you have to these pesticides and other poisons. Not doing so would negate many of the benefits of juicing.

To Organic, Or Not To Organic?