Organic Eating Can Help Autistic Children
Going Organic!! (Not just GFCF!)
Having your child eat Gluten Free / Casein Free (GFCF) is the first step in the process. Considering and going organic is another important step in this process for better eating, health, and digestion.
Organic options that have not been sprayed with chemicals or preservatives (and other issues) are easier for many to digest and absorb. More importantly these foods do not contain nasty chemicals added during the growing process. For the area of meats organic options are the healthier route because they do not include hormones, preservatives or fillers that are also not good for the digestion process. There is also the debate of genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) foods that are widely available. It is recommended to avoid GMO fruits and vegetables.
Organic, But Expensive
I’ve come up with an interesting problem and would like your help and the help of those reading our wonderful Dollar Stretcher. Recently, I’ve decided that my family needs to eat organically, using foods that don’t contain the pesticides, antibiotics, additives, preservatives, and food colorings you buy in the store. Buying organically, however, often flies in the face of frugality. At the grocery store, I was able to get a dozen free eggs because of a price war with other stores, but in that same store, I had to buy organic eggs at $2.99 a dozen. I’ve started to explore other options (buying meat from a local farm that advertises antibiotic free beef, chicken, etc.) and food co-ops, but the prices will definitely be higher than I’m used to paying. Unfortunately there are rarely any coupon opportunities for these products.
Another option is to use your own back yard or patio to grow your own organic choices. You can try to grow as many fresh vegetables as you can eat, can, and freeze.
Organic, but Uncertified
One of the ways to avoid expensive organic food sources is to hunt for local uncertified organic fresh produce at local Farmers Markets. It will also be worthwhile to check out road side stands and farmers’ markets (the latter they even have in large cities). It is suggested to get to know the vendors and ask them if they raise it themselves and if the products produced are organic. Many vendors at open markets are selling the same agribusiness produce you find in the stores, but some will be small farm, local growers, who are raising their produce organically simply because they are so small.
These shopping alternatives also can yield nice results by offering a wider selection of fruits and vegetables and eggs as well. The only drawback is it is hard to find foods out of season, so you will need to have a lot of storage to eat at these savings year round. For savings on grains, dried fruit, herbs & spices, and other items, I joined a food co-op. Some co-ops sell organic fresh produce, too. To find one near you do a local web search for your area for food co-ops.
Loves Trader Joe’s!
Trader Joe’s is a wonderful option for cheaper, organic foods. They are a specialty grocery store which only carries items which they can get at a good bulk rate. In addition to regular foods, they also carry a lot of organic and preservative-free choices. Because they only carry what they can get a good deal on, the prices are usually substantially better than other stores, but you may not be able to find everything on your list either. They also don’t always stock the same items week to week.
Trader Joes does have a good selection of fresh produce, meats, as well as prepared foods. You can check out their website at http://www.traderjoes.com/ to see if you have one in your area. Special note: they have a special GLUTEN FREE DIRECTORY brochure available at the front of every store. NOTE: these are only GLUTEN FREE be sure to check for CASEIN!
Saving Money on Organic Products
If your local supermarket carries organic produce it is a good idea to watch for sales. It is common to see organic products for the same price as the stuff with the pesticides on it. Also, you can find that prices vary widely from store to store. Since not everyone has caught on to the organic movement some grocery chains will move packaged organic options for a low price if they are taking up valuable shelf space and are not moving as fast as they could.
Some health food chains will offer better prices than some of the local supermarkets, especially when items are on sale. Co-ops will also greatly cut your costs for buying the healthy organic options.
Save Elsewhere
It is widely understood that organic options can costs 10-30% more than the non organic options. Rather than skimp on the organic options it is strongly suggested that you are frugal in all other aspects of your life. Such as money can be saved by purchasing items which don’t need to be organic, for example, toilet paper, vinegar, baking soda to clean with, etc., at the chain stores and reap their price benefits. The go the local natural foods store or Farmers Market to purchase organic veggies and fruits and other organic items.
For many families organic foods choices are the way to go. Everyone can do a lot to ensure farm worker health and the health of your family as well as the health of the environment. It is well considered that in the U.S. consumer have gotten so accustomed to too-cheap food that it takes some rethinking to change patterns and do what is best for health, even if it costs more.
Try Kosher
Kosher foods especially around Jewish holidays are also great options for finding organic and non organic choices. A good tip is that if you can’t afford completely organic food then look for foods marked “Kosher.” You can usually tell kosher foods by a “U” in a circle, or perhaps just simply a “K” on the front of the label. The standards are much higher than the government allows on residues. Typically these great choices are not genetically engineered foods.
In Closing
To better understand organic certifications and enable your decision process do a http://www.google.com/ search on organic certifications. These certifications can be confusing and vary based on each product labeling.
©2000-2006 Talk About Curing Autism
Having your child eat Gluten Free / Casein Free (GFCF) is the first step in the process. Considering and going organic is another important step in this process for better eating, health, and digestion.
Organic options that have not been sprayed with chemicals or preservatives (and other issues) are easier for many to digest and absorb. More importantly these foods do not contain nasty chemicals added during the growing process. For the area of meats organic options are the healthier route because they do not include hormones, preservatives or fillers that are also not good for the digestion process. There is also the debate of genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) foods that are widely available. It is recommended to avoid GMO fruits and vegetables.
Organic, But Expensive
I’ve come up with an interesting problem and would like your help and the help of those reading our wonderful Dollar Stretcher. Recently, I’ve decided that my family needs to eat organically, using foods that don’t contain the pesticides, antibiotics, additives, preservatives, and food colorings you buy in the store. Buying organically, however, often flies in the face of frugality. At the grocery store, I was able to get a dozen free eggs because of a price war with other stores, but in that same store, I had to buy organic eggs at $2.99 a dozen. I’ve started to explore other options (buying meat from a local farm that advertises antibiotic free beef, chicken, etc.) and food co-ops, but the prices will definitely be higher than I’m used to paying. Unfortunately there are rarely any coupon opportunities for these products.
Another option is to use your own back yard or patio to grow your own organic choices. You can try to grow as many fresh vegetables as you can eat, can, and freeze.
Organic, but Uncertified
One of the ways to avoid expensive organic food sources is to hunt for local uncertified organic fresh produce at local Farmers Markets. It will also be worthwhile to check out road side stands and farmers’ markets (the latter they even have in large cities). It is suggested to get to know the vendors and ask them if they raise it themselves and if the products produced are organic. Many vendors at open markets are selling the same agribusiness produce you find in the stores, but some will be small farm, local growers, who are raising their produce organically simply because they are so small.
These shopping alternatives also can yield nice results by offering a wider selection of fruits and vegetables and eggs as well. The only drawback is it is hard to find foods out of season, so you will need to have a lot of storage to eat at these savings year round. For savings on grains, dried fruit, herbs & spices, and other items, I joined a food co-op. Some co-ops sell organic fresh produce, too. To find one near you do a local web search for your area for food co-ops.
Loves Trader Joe’s!
Trader Joe’s is a wonderful option for cheaper, organic foods. They are a specialty grocery store which only carries items which they can get at a good bulk rate. In addition to regular foods, they also carry a lot of organic and preservative-free choices. Because they only carry what they can get a good deal on, the prices are usually substantially better than other stores, but you may not be able to find everything on your list either. They also don’t always stock the same items week to week.
Trader Joes does have a good selection of fresh produce, meats, as well as prepared foods. You can check out their website at http://www.traderjoes.com/ to see if you have one in your area. Special note: they have a special GLUTEN FREE DIRECTORY brochure available at the front of every store. NOTE: these are only GLUTEN FREE be sure to check for CASEIN!
Saving Money on Organic Products
If your local supermarket carries organic produce it is a good idea to watch for sales. It is common to see organic products for the same price as the stuff with the pesticides on it. Also, you can find that prices vary widely from store to store. Since not everyone has caught on to the organic movement some grocery chains will move packaged organic options for a low price if they are taking up valuable shelf space and are not moving as fast as they could.
Some health food chains will offer better prices than some of the local supermarkets, especially when items are on sale. Co-ops will also greatly cut your costs for buying the healthy organic options.
Save Elsewhere
It is widely understood that organic options can costs 10-30% more than the non organic options. Rather than skimp on the organic options it is strongly suggested that you are frugal in all other aspects of your life. Such as money can be saved by purchasing items which don’t need to be organic, for example, toilet paper, vinegar, baking soda to clean with, etc., at the chain stores and reap their price benefits. The go the local natural foods store or Farmers Market to purchase organic veggies and fruits and other organic items.
For many families organic foods choices are the way to go. Everyone can do a lot to ensure farm worker health and the health of your family as well as the health of the environment. It is well considered that in the U.S. consumer have gotten so accustomed to too-cheap food that it takes some rethinking to change patterns and do what is best for health, even if it costs more.
Try Kosher
Kosher foods especially around Jewish holidays are also great options for finding organic and non organic choices. A good tip is that if you can’t afford completely organic food then look for foods marked “Kosher.” You can usually tell kosher foods by a “U” in a circle, or perhaps just simply a “K” on the front of the label. The standards are much higher than the government allows on residues. Typically these great choices are not genetically engineered foods.
In Closing
To better understand organic certifications and enable your decision process do a http://www.google.com/ search on organic certifications. These certifications can be confusing and vary based on each product labeling.
©2000-2006 Talk About Curing Autism
posted by Gibraltariana at 10:14 AM
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