If there is any truth to the saying that a way to a mans heart is through his stomach, I am the embodiment of that statement! Cook me an organic black bean stew with wild rice, and I’ll follow you anywhere. And although certainly one of my favorites, it really isn’t essential eating, if you know what I mean.
So, what are the essential organic foods out there? Realistically, anything organic could be considered essential, but to have a complete and full organic menu on tap at your house, although healthy and good for you, may not quite fit your budget.
Breaking this down a bit, organic essentials should parallel the official FDA food pyramid. Better still, the Mayo clinic puts out its own variation which is a bit healthier and is actually geared towards vegetarians. That said, you can mix and match your own preferences in whatever choice you want, but every food pyramid by anyone qualified always recommends fruits/vegetables and legumes/beans as the base building blocks for the healthiest lifestyle, with whole grains next on the list.
That means that if you can only budget for a couple of organic foods, you can pick two out of the three.
Obviously, during the summer months when fruit and veggies are in season, it is going to be far easier to pick up some of those on the fly for the best prices. Fruit is the variable here, because fresh fruit like berries and tomatoes only keep so long. But during the harvest times, organic fresh fruit is competitively priced with non-organic fruit, so the choice between which to buy becomes a non-issue. And if you are going to buy fruit anyway, the choice is obvious.
Organic beans and whole grains can be had at almost any time of the year, and there are even organic breads that I enjoy all year round.
Veggies can also be gotten pretty much all year, but in the summer, if you can find them at local organic farmer stands, you can really get some outstanding deals. A lot of vegetables can be frozen, or blanched and then frozen, and can be stocked up in your freezer for the winter months.
Nutritionally, beans are a great source of protein and are a staple for vegetarians. They are incredibly versatile and can be cooked and eaten, mashed or mixed in dishes for extra body. They keep well with no refrigeration needed and can be kept any place that it is cool and dark. Basements and pantry shelves work great.
Grains are also easy keepers. They can be bought in bulk to save a little extra money, and on a cold winter morning there are few things better to warm the soul in the early morning than organic oatmeal with a touch of organic molasses.
Rice also falls into this category, and I am not so sure I have ever tasted anything better than organic wild rice. (I know, it’s not a true rice. It’s a grass that is related to rice, but it’s the best tasting grass I ever ate!) This is another food that can be bought in bulk to save money and stretch your organic budget.
So there you have it. If your budget is tight but you still want to eat organic, stick with the essentials for the most bang and nutrition for the buck. And Because Action speaks louder than words, and so does my stomach, I shall be cooking up some organic black bean stew with wild rice for dinner this evening.
Source: BecauseAction.com
