Can’t Afford Organics? You Might Be Surprised!
Living clean is a big part of our "Clean and Keto" philosophy. Along with a healthy Ketogenic lifestyle we advocate CLEAN eating, that is, minimizing the additives, preservatives, pesticides, artificial colors, artificial sweeteners, inhumane treatment of animals, etc. in the foods you choose to eat.
Often we hear from people that eating organic foods and grass-fed meats is just too expensive.
While we recognize that the cost of organic and grass-fed meats can be more expensive than their less healthy counterparts, we still argue that these products, in the long run, are affordable, not to mention they are so much healthier for your body. We just must stop putting all these toxins in our bodies!
Since a ketogenic diet emphasizes healthy fats, moderate proteins and low carbohydrates, you will be eating healthier, more filling food. Fats, moderate proteins and fibrous vegetables are more filling than the empty calories from carbohydrates and convenience foods. Meat with a higher fat percentage is more filling, and, therefore, you should be eating less of it! If, however, you continue eating high carb and high calorie junk food while adding more healthy fats, you could be setting yourself up for weight gain. Sorry, but you can't have it all!
Your grass-fed steak, or burger, with a higher fat percentage is more filling, and feeds you more meals on a ketogenic diet, since your daily protein quantity is probably significantly less than you're use to eating. A portion of meat the size of a deck of cards is appropriate on a ketogenic diet... a 12 oz. T-bone steak, not so much! So, while you may pay more per ounce for the grass-fed meat, you are eating way less of it per serving. It feeds you more meals! When you balance that out, it's not as costly to feed yourself the grass-fed meats as you might think!
In addition, if you really are seeking a healthier lifestyle, the high carb convenience foods shouldn't even be in your shopping cart in the first place! Neither should soda pop, orange juice, cereals, crackers, chips, etc. These are the items that are expensive at the store, and they aren't even REAL food! They are “chemistry in a box or bag!” They have no business in your body or your kitchen!
Take a look at this common grocery receipt:
Notice that:
The organic eggs and spring mix of greens was a total of $11.46.
The other non-organic veggies and cheese was a total of $31.38.
The unhealthy, high carb, beer, salad dressing, and candy bars were a total of $43.72!!
Imagine if the unhealthy food was not on the list, how much budget would be left for quality real food! The real food was slightly less than HALF the bill!
If you are trying to buy organic greens, grass fed meat AND a cart full of your regular junk food, then, YES! You WILL notice an increase in your grocery bill! We agree!
The idea is to substitute unhealthy foods for healthy foods. Pay a little more for the healthy food, knowing you are eating safe, tasty, beneficial, filling, nutritious foods that will benefit your body and lend to good health. In addition, these healthy foods will fill you up, and you will eat less of them!
Leave behind the high carb, high sugar, convenience food and snacks that work against your health, your weight, and your longevity. If you truly do this, you will find that there is all kinds of room in your budget to choose healthier, cleaner foods.
In an ideal world, you would eat only organic, grass-fed, free-range, wild caught, food, but sometimes the cost can be prohibitive, especially with some of the meat. Of course you need to work within your budget. Just be educated and choose the best you can. Eat as clean as you are able, and know that every healthy choice you make IS a healthier choice than you might have made before. It doesn't have to be "all or nothing."
If you find healthier, organic foods to be price prohibitive, try scratching the junk food and non-essential food and drink off your grocery list for a couple of weeks. Not only will you save money in the grocery budget, but you just might loose some of those unwanted pounds along the way!
In addition, try what Laura Korman, DC., DACBN., calls "Opportunistic Shopping." Rather than purchasing food items from your week's "menu list," approach the grocery store a little differently. Gravitate to healthy foods that are on sale and are good buys. Invest your budget into what is priced well and/or fresh and "in season," rather than focusing on purchasing only what is on your preplanned list. If grass-fed hamburger or organic lettuce is on sale, but you were planning to make pork chops and coleslaw, CHANGE YOUR MIND! Even if you still purchase the fixings for the chops and slaw, try to take advantage of the sale prices on the other items. Another example of this is butter and cheese. Those products have a very long shelf life in the refrigerator, as does meat in the freezer! You can also purchase meat near it's "sell by" date, take advantage of the "must sell" price, and then have the option at home to either freeze it right away, eat it right away, or cook it right away and freeze it as cooked meat for meals down the road!
One more idea from Dr. Korman is to pay close attention to the grocery stores' ads mailed to you or found online. Even if you are not normally a "coupon shopper," advertised specials from grocery stores can be GREAT. Visit a store you don't normally shop at if they have a sale on products you can use.
Be opportunistic in the grocery store, save money and focus on good health!
Remain mindful, and make the healthiest choices you can for your budget. Try hard to make even a few changes toward a healthier diet, "for a better brain, a better body, and a better YOU," says Dr.Korman,.
