The one concern I often hear about pursuing a local, truly organic diet is the high cost involved in consuming these foods. The truth is that eating pasture-raised meats and eggs and local produce doesn’t always have to cost an arm and a leg. With some creativity, innovation and thinking outside the box I’ve managed to keep our food budget down quite a lot.
Two years ago I would snicker at the suggestion of buying a cow. Why? How? It’s frozen! Where would I put all that meat? Then last year a few friends and I bought a quarter-cow from Dobson’s Grass Fed Beef. We received 152lbs of beef at a cost of $4.30/lb. The total cost of the order was $654.00. We each owed $218.00. The meat lasted us months.
A few weeks ago, a few of my friends and I purchased a whole cow which we split four ways. Our quarter order was $564.00. I then split the order with another friend, and my 1/8 share cost me $282.00. This is what I came home with:
There are about 20 packs of ground beef, and enough stewing beef, pot roasts, steaks and soup bones to last our family months.
Creativity and thinking outside the box has allowed us to keep our food budget to $800.00 a month for a family of four (and often six with family staying with us during the week). Some tricks I’ve found helpful:
Mealplanning: ever go shopping on an empty stomach or with no clue what to make for dinner that week? I’ve been guilty of this bad habit and walked out the grocery store with food that only ended up in the garbage because it was wasted. Every week I plan what we’re eating for lunch and dinner and make a list of all the ingredients needed. Meal planning takes a bit of time, but we end up consuming less (just what we need) and, therefore, spend less. It’s also helpful to write down our meal plan for the family to see. We painted a chalk board in the kitchen for the kids to scribble on. On top, I set out the weekly meal plan for everyone to read. That way, we’re all on the same page about what we’re eating for the week.
Growing our own food: what better way to save money than to grow your own food? Produce like tomatoes become very expensive in the winter (and taste pretty bland too) so growing my own tomatoes, green peppers and herbs in the summer has allowed us to save lots of money. I then freeze the tomatoes or make a huge pot of tomato sauce that I save for those cold January nights to make hearty beef stew. I have to admit that I haven’t had much luck this year with my yields so I’ve found a local farmer who supplies me with a bushel or two of very ripe tomatoes at a bargain cost. I’ve saved money this way.
Shop directly from the farmers: local markets are great. Not only do you have direct access to fresh fruits and vegetables, but you get to meet the people who grow them. Avoiding the middle man brings the cost of food down. Visiting the farm directly has saved us even more money. I spent a morning picking berries at Rideau Pines Farms and for only $15.00 we walked away with two pints of raspberries, black currants, snow peas, a head of broccoli and some other tasty vegetables.
Be creative in the kitchen: yes, I buy an expensive ($35.00) pork shoulder to make pulled pork. But I’ve made it last three meals. When I prepare an expensive cut of meat we eat it with other foods, like legumes and vegetables, that don’t cost a lot. That way our meals stretch over a few days. Thanks to the Internet and amazing food blogs, I’ve come up with recipes that are nourishing, delicious and easy on our budget. I remember the days of coming home after a long work week, not wanting to cook, and ordering take-out. It costs a fortune to feed a family, even once a week, on take-out. On those Fridays where we know we’ll be too tired to cook after work, it’s nice to just pull out a few steaks from the freezer and grill them when we get home. It’s still way cheaper than take-out, and also healthier.
Healthy and fresh food will always cost more. But the added benefits are priceless: health, balance, and longevity. I’m prepared to pay more to eat well because I truly appreciate that what we put into our bodies is more than just fuel. Food sustains us, it connects us, and it gives us life. With a little ingenuity and planning, eating good, wholesome local and organic food does not have to cost a fortune.
Crazy Organic Mama 