Eating Organic On a Budget

This is one of the hardest things for me about focusing on eating more organic, less processed food - the cost. I get the necessity for higher prices and I intellectually know that I should pay more for more quality, but the penny-pincher inside me flinches every time I go to Whole Foods, or pick up a paraben-free soap that costs the same as the regular brand but is only 1/3 as much content.

No silver bullets I know, but here’s what we do:

- Costco - you wouldn’t think they’d have it but we get organic milk, soy milk, sugar, beef, eggs and frozen veggies there. In addition, they have a locally roasted organic coffee that we like (Mayorga - they’re based in Maryland). The prices are cheaper than at other stores and the added benefit of buying in bulk is huge. If I can avoid going shopping by buying more, I will.

- Trader Joe’s - great stores for prepared foods, lots of organic, mostly corn syrup and hydrogenated oil free. Doesn’t meet my requirement for less processed, but still better than Cocoa Puffs! :)

- Whole Foods - even though it overwhelms me every time, I still go about once per month to Whole Foods. So far, its the only place I can find organic flour in a 5 pound bag. Also, their produce is great, though you do have to read labels to make sure its actually organic.

- Yes! Organic - its my local organic grocery on Capitol Hill. Small and crowded, but close and convenient. Also has most of the stuff I need to get by.

- Corner grocery on 4th and East Capitol. Surprising number of organic foods and very convenient on the way home from work.

- And I almost forgot my favorite - Jug Bay CSA.  Its a local farm share.  We’re now getting eggs every two weeks from them too, year-round, not just in the summer.  You can read more about CSA’s here.

Dinner Ideas

We need something that can be made in 45 minutes or less when we get home from work. We have a crock pot and all the standard kitchen gadgets. All we lack is inspiration….Here’s what’s in our standard rotation - any other ideas?

  • Grilled cheese and tomato soup
  • Veggie omelet with biscuits
  • Pasta with red sauce
  • Pizza delivery
  • Thai food delivery
  • Indian food delivery

We definitely need help! :)

My cousin Maggie seems to have some ideas… yum!

Baby Colds Solution - Saline

From David B.- When our younger baby was about six months old, he had a persistent cold that intermittently developed into a plugged-up nose. A few times, it got bad enough that it was really hard for him to nurse. Sadness all around. Somewhere in our sleep-deprived stupor, we stumbled across Simply Saline. It’s basically just a squirt-bottle full of saltwater that used for squirting out the baby’s nose. Sounds terrible, doesn’t it?

Well, it is. The poor kid hated it with a vengeance. But. After “irrigating” his nose (it’s a messy job on a baby, too- keep a rag handy), Tommy nursed, then slept.

As a side note, I did this to myself before ever come near the baby with it, and it wasn’t that bad. Now when I have a cold, I use it pretty regularly, and I’m thinking of getting a Neti Pot, which can be found on Amazon.com (along with Simply Saline).

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