Shopping for Real Food

In order to make real food an affordable option for your family, you’ve got to
know where to shop.  Whole Foods and other health food stores are convenient
for quick stops and sometimes have the best price on a specific item (or great
sales), but for the most part, if you’re on a budget, you’ll probably have to find some more affordable
sources.  The following is a list of some of our favorite spots to find great deals.

 

Costco

Costco has made some great strides in recent years toward providing quality,
organic items!  Just don’t be fooled into thinking that ALL the “Natural” snacks
are actually healthy, life-giving foods.  Still, our membership pays for
itself just from the savings in organic coconut oil, baby carrots, and frozen
fruits and veggies!  You’re the best Costco!
I knew you’d come around!

 

Amazon

My Dear Amazon, how I do love you..  Our Amazon Prime Membership pays for
itself over and over again every year.  Being 20 minutes out from the city, free 2
day shipping and monthly Subscribe & Save items basically keep our world from
spinning out of control.  I always check Amazon for the few packaged food and
personal care items we still purchase, as well as pretty much all household
goods.  If you are prepared to read reviews and ingredients carefully, it’s also a
great place to get herbs and supplements.

 

**Trader Joe’s & Aldi

I’m giving these guys an asterisks, because though you CAN find some awesome
deals on good quality food, you have got to read ingredient labels very carefully.
I’m super disappointed in the amount of genetically modified ingredients lurking
in their Joe’s brand items and there are very few Certified Organic products
available.
Come on Joe, I thought we were friends…

 

Local Natural Food Co-op

I love our local co-op!!! We are able to get LOTS of bulk items here that we can’t
get anywhere else (tea, spices, beans, grains, unprocessed sugars, dried fruits).  I
can even get refills of honey, maple syrup, castile soap, and vinegar!  But as
always, watch your prices.  It isn’t always the cheaper option.  For us, it’s a longer
drive too, so we tend to save up a list and stop by once a month or so.

 

Earth Fare

Our local health food grocery chain.  This is where we buy our weekly produce
(above and beyond what we are able to grow ourselves) and a few bulk items
when we’re running low.  They also have weekly rebates for filling out a survey
on your receipt and awesome sales on some of our favorite products and grassfed
ground beef.

 

Farmer’s Market

I don’t know about your neighborhood, but for us this is hardly ever a reasonable
option.  I can almost always find a better price somewhere else.  However, if you
happen to have a few extra dollars to spend, definitely support your local
farmers!  And on a lucky day you might find a farmer who has an overabundance
and great bulk prices.  That’s your day to make some jam, sister!

 

Local Farmers

You can also find local farmers to purchase from directly.  This is my FAVORITE
way to buy real food!  Usually, you will avoid extra cost because the farmer hasn’t
had to pay for marketing, shelf or booth space, special packaging, etc…  And
often times these farmers have chosen not to suffer through having their farms
organically certified, but their farming practices may be even better than organic
standards.

Sustainable farmers love to show off their farms! So go check them out.
Ask questions. Make a new friend. Don’t know any farmers?  Try these helpful resources:  Eat Wild, Local Harvest, Real Milk Finder, or ask your local WAPF chapter leader.

 

Craigslist

Never underestimate the power of our good old friend Craig.  This is another
great way to find local farmers/ backyard farmers/ homesteaders/ neighbors
selling fresh eggs, broiler chickens, or even raw honey.  There is – hands down –
no better way to get a good deal on pastured eggs than to find a neighbor with a
fridge overflowing with extras, especially in the spring.  Just make sure to ask
what they’re feeding those chickens…

 

Local Holistic-Living Facebook Page

I don’t know about your town, but here in NE Indiana, we’ve got a fantastic group
of like-minded people who love to help each other find great, healthy products
for their families.  We ask and answer questions, advertise for extra eggs,
kombucha, kefir grains, anything.  It’s a great place to ask, “Where do ya’ll get the
best price for ____ ?”  It’s pretty much like pooling the holistic wisdom of an
entire city!!!  And a great way to make new friends.  If your area doesn’t have one,
consider starting it up yourself!  You won’t be sorry!

 

CSA

If you’re a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants-adventure-seeker, then a CSA might be
a great option for you.  Each CSA is structured a little differently, but usually
you’ll get a box of fresh, seasonal produce dropped off at your house each week.
The box will be full of whatever the farmer happens to be harvesting at that moment.
Rutabagas and leeks anyone???  You may or may not have any idea what you’re going to get until
you open that box.  For the right type of person, CSAs can be a great way to get affordable produce and
support a local farmer at the same time.

 

Pin it for Later