Can you afford to eat organic?

Many of you, I know, remain to be convinced about how practical it is to eat organic if you’re on a budget. There’s absolutely no doubt that the cost of your shopping will go up if you do. But against that there are significant health benefits none of us can afford to overlook.

Studies come up with different conclusions but there seems little doubt that the cumulative effect of antibiotics and and other medication that is routinely given to animals and the pesticide residues in the fruit and vegetables we eat is damaging to our health. And that fresh organic produce generally contains higher levels of valuable vitamins, minerals and antioxidants (though this also tends to be true of fresh, locally grown fruit and veg that may not be certified as organic)

So what to do if money is tight? The answer is to at least switch some of the food you buy to organic. Anything you can do to cut down on the amount of pesticides and other chemicals you inadvertently consume is going to be of benefit. Inexpensive, seasonal vegetables like onions, carrots apples and potatoes all tend to be affordable as are organic dairy products such as milk, yoghurt and cheese.

What tends to be expensive - just as they are with non-organic food - are ready made products such as organic pasta saucea and prime cuts of meat but if you go for cheaper cuts such as chicken thighs rather than breasts. belly pork, mince and leg of beef (fabulous for a rich, tasty stew) it shouldn’t break the bank. Combine that with eating rather less meat and more veggies (we all tend to eat too much animal-based protein) and you should be able to stay well in budget.

The important thing, I think, is to use a bit of common sense about it. To me it seems daft to buy organic veg if they’ve flown half way round the world or have been languishing in a shop for several days. And some shops have clearly taken advantage of the organic bandwagon to up their prices. You need to shop around just as you do with conventional produce.

Anyway the next two weeks, which have been designated Organic Food Fortnight, offer a great opportunity to try some organic products for yourself.  Most supermarkets will have special offers - Morrisons for example is knocking a third off 100 products in its organic range.

It’s also worth considering signing up to an organic vegetable box scheme (though it does require a fair degree of planning if you’re not to end up throwing half the contents away at the end of the week. More about this in due course) Most schemes have an introductory offer for first-timers which will give you a chance to see just how much better fresh, locally grown produce tastes.

For more information about the health benefits of organic food visit
The Soil Association
www.whyorganic.org
www.howtogoorganic.com