Invest in your wellness
Some people will try and convince me that choosing to buy organically grown, chemical free food is more expensive than living off mass farming methods. I don't agree! Maybe the physical price that you see is slightly dearer, but the long term costs of not eating organic unprocessed foods are far greater economically, environmentally and for our health than perceived short term savings. The price of organic food represents the price of real food the way nature intends us to eat it and how our ancestors ate before the prevalence of man-made dis-ease. The price of mass farming methods doesn't show us the hidden costs that show up in so many other ways.
The cost of sickness: Nothing is healthy about putting a load of chemicals, including pesticides into your body through your food. We are already subjected to a wide range of environmental pollutants and we can control at least some of them through making smart food choices now. The price to pay for pesticides, herbicides and fungicides accumulating in the body is proven to cause a host of degenerative disease which is an expense to treat, if you don't spend on your wellbeing now, you are guaranteed to spend it on sickness later which costs a lot more than your health. The health and nutrition present in the soil will reflect the quality of food you're eating and be an accurate indication of your wellbeing. So consuming chemical-free food is significantly cheaper, more nutritious and enjoyable than curing dis-ease, trips to doctors, medication to mask the symptoms of poor nutrition and sick days off work.
The cost of environmental pollution: Conventional farming methods result in infertile soil. land degradation, enhances soil erosion and destroys the ability to use it for crops after a short period of time. Soil in conventional farming contains a wide range of chemicals which ends up in the produce and is devoid of nutrients so you're going to have to eat and buy a lot more to gain the same amount of nutrition as organic foods. (organic foods have so much more flavour too, try it if you don't believe me)
The chemical run-off from conventional farming methods, destroys the quality of our water, air and soil and affects the health of all animal and plant life. The amount of tax payers money spent on treating the effects of conventional farming on our health and environment is far greater than prevention and earth friendly farming practices.
Healthy, nutritious soils without chemicals provide us with strong healthy plants and animals which are more resistant to illness and therefore when we eat from this living cycle so are we!
Affecting the community and your children: Your choices at the checkout, affect everyone else from your family to the community. Starting from the food and medication choices we make transferring pollutants to the water supply which we and all animals consume. All these choices affect the health of the entire food cycle. Consumption of unhealthy plants and animals, equals unhealthy humans and increased expenditure on antibiotics and other medications... and the cycle continues!
Give your children a healthy start - they are more vulnerable to the toxins from pesticides than adults due to their lower body mass and large intake of food per kilogram. It is crucial to nourish our kids with healthy and chemical-free wholefoods for vitality and strong immunity. Mothers will pass on the chemicals accumulated in the body from conventionally farmed food to their babies before birth and through breast milk. The toxins from poor food choices build up and concentrate in our bodies. Human breast milk has been shown to contain some of the highest levels of many toxic contaminants. This is why it is so essential for expectant mums to eat organically because breast milk is said to be the most highly nutritious, purest food source for babies.
How can we reduce the spending on food and stay true to ethical eating and living?
- Avoid processed foods, this will instantly slash your spending. Opt for organic fresh fruit, vegetables, unprocessed grains (like quinoa, millet, buckwheat) instead of breads, pastas, juices and other refined foods.
- Buy fresh, seasonal produce, it will last longer, avoiding waste. Make sure the produce you put your dollar to is the freshest possible and hasn't been sitting on shelves for days or even weeks before it gets to you.
- Cut out animal products, it's better for your health, the environment, the animals and your budget too. You can stack up on healthy raw foods and feel full, satisfied and vibrant without the need for meat.
- Shop online! Order a seasonal box providing you with local, organic foods that are plentiful at the time for a good price. It also saves the numerous trips to the shops to impulse buy and you can cook delicious produce that you usually wouldn't try.... You are also guaranteed fresh, it doesn't sit on the shelves for days or out of refrigeration like produce in supermarkets or organic retailers and you have the benefit of not having 100 people touch and squeeze your produce before it gets to your door.
- Prepare from scratch - use easy to follow recipes, try some of ours and prepare a number of meals at the same time if you have limited time on your hands. Ensure your fridge is packed with fresh ingredients and ready to eat pre-prepared snacks that you've made.
- If cost is a real factor in avoiding organic food and you see the obvious benefits in eating food the way nature intended, the best way to start is by introducing a few foods each week that are organic, particularly for your children. Every little change makes a difference.
If you'd like to read more about how our lifestyle decisions can contribute to a healthier future and some really great stuff about organic food, check out our Library
