...health conscious free range organic people?

I decided about a month ago that I really wanted to phase out junk food and introduce healthy whole grains, organic fruits and vegs. and other health conscious items to my family. I knew the expense for weekly groceries would increase some and decided the best way to watch my budget was buy when items were on sale and buy items I could stockpile at the sale price.

Of course the farmers market has helped and I feel really good about where and who I am buying my fruit & vegs from. I usually spend about $20 a Saturday at the farmers market and we will have one or two fresh items each day through-out the week.

So far we are doing pretty good. Of course you can hear me say, "WOW that is really high" as I walk through Whole Foods and Fresh Market each week. It is amazing to me, some of the healthy/organic items these two stores sale can be found at a big retail grocery store chains for about half, so really check you prices and compare shop. Just because it didn't come from a "health food store" doesn't make it any less healthy.

I will be the first to admit that I LOVE, LOVE walking into Whole Foods and Fresh Market because frankly they smell so good, so clean so NOT the stinky old feet smell you get when walking into most regular grocery stores. But money is tight and we have to budget our food expense weekly. So go get a cute notebook out of the $1.00 bins at Micheal's Craft Store and start taking notes. What stores have the best variety of the items you buy on a regular basis. Take note of price differences, find out who takes coupons and look for store coupons.

An great example of comparing prices is the 3 pack Horizon Organic Singles Milk: at Whole Foods they are $4.68 and at Kroger right now they are $1.99 if you buy 10 participating items in their Summer of Saving deal. If you bought 10 at Whole Foods you would pay $46.80 but if you bought them at Kroger 10 would only cost you $19.99!!

That is a $26.81 difference.

Regular old grocery stores have really come a long way with their healthy food/organic/gluten free/free range/soy base/vegetarian/non dairy aisle.

Sacrifices have to be made to benefit our families and eating healthier and cutting out the beloved white bread, regular cows milk or soda is one I am certainly willing to make. Will we ever be 100% organic, health conscious free range people? No, I seriously doubt it, if you deprive yourself from you favorite foods then you most likely will binge on them when you can't stand the cravings anymore.

Remember the BIGGEST expense is always wasted food. When you forget to use an item and it spoils and has to go into the garbage, you are literally throwing your money away. Plan you weekly meals ahead of time or sit down after your weekly run to the farmers market or store and plan out meals.