Eating Well for Less

We all know that in times of financial and personal stress our eating habits can run a bit rampant. The convenience and low-cost factor of fast food can seem like the best solution on a Wednesday night at 6:00. However, the cost is much higher than initially perceived when one considers the rising rates of obesity and heart-related conditions.

Here are five ways to be good stewards of our time and money while also being good stewards of our bodies! I'm paraphrasing an article on msnbc.com by Anne Kadet, "Eat Better - For Less Money".

1. Buy direct. Consider farmers markets, co-ops, and local meat farmers as good sources of fresh product for lower costs.

2. Go automatic. If money isn't of concern consider grocery websites that offer delivery. For non-perishables look to amazon.com for percentage savings in bulk.

3. Don't rule out large warehouses. Clubs like Costco can actually save you quite a bit of money on health foods. Brown rice, olive oil, diapers, and formula are all staples that can save you money. But be careful, not everything is a deal. (Costco also has solid business practices for those of you also concerned about fair wages and work.)

4. Frozen over fresh. Especially for a colder climate like Wisconsin, frozen foods are not only about 50% cheaper, but they are also available year-round. In fact, many frozen foods are frozen within hours of leaving the farm and retain many more nutrients than fresh produce that is shipped thousands of miles and then sold.

5. Organic can be done, but doesn't have to be. Milk and eggs have been shown to be good options to go organic. Just be sure they also note omega-3s. Fruits and veggies with thin skins and very exposed surfaces are good to buy organic. Peaches, apples, peppers, pears, strawberries, lettuce, and grapes are good examples. Things with thicker skins and less sugar content tend to need less pesticide and allow less to permeate if it is used. Think bananas, asparagus, onions. If you've saved money by the ideas above, organic is definitely possible and affordable!