Switching to an organic diet is one of the healthiest decisions you can make in your life. But, one thing that may be stopping you from progressing is thinking that it might be more expensive. In some places, perhaps, if organic food isn’t yet the norm or there’s a lack of organic neighborhood farmers, you may be worried about the added cost it entails.
But, in reality, it doesn’t really have to be that costly. When you take a step toward clean eating one little bit at a time, you’ll find that letting go of a lot of processed and unhealthy food may even be better, both for your health and your budget.
And, once you’ve fully made that transition, your body and your health will also be grateful you’ve made that wise change in your life. Organic food is a lot fresher and has more of the vitamins and nutrients that your diet should have. Because it’s not as exposed to chemicals as other food sources are, it’s safer and cleaner for your body as well.
In this article, you’ll learn the best tips for transitioning into an organic diet.
1. Shop in Bulk
If you’re on a budget and your local supermarket has a bulk, organic section, don’t shy away from going bulk. It may cost you more, for the time being, but, in the long run, this choice will actually be cheaper. And, buying in bulk also ensures you have enough stock of healthier food at home, so when you do feel like snacking on chips, you can reach for the healthier, organic options instead.
If you’re worried about vegetables going bad, some vegetables work out fine if you freeze them. The same applies to bread, as well. Also, if you haven’t started with meal prepping, this is another good way to utilize what you’ve shopped for in bulk, so you always have healthy meals in your fridge.
When you do shop in bulk, however, do ensure as well that what you’re getting really is organic food. Otherwise, you may be fooled into believing something is organic, when in fact, it isn’t. A good tip is to look for the symbol of sustainable or Fair Trade on the packaging, as this serves as your seal of quality.
2. Let Go of Processed Food
One of the most obvious and doable changes you should make in your life as you transition to an organic diet is to let go of processed food, which contains only empty calories. This means you may be feeling full, but your body doesn’t have any of the essential nutrients it needs.
The more dependent you are on processed food, the more you’re depriving your body of important vitamins and minerals, which, in the long run, also means you’re cheating your body of good health.
If you don’t know where and how to begin with that swap, here are tips on how you can replace the processed food in your diet with other healthier options:
- Have oatmeal instead of sugar-filled and cold cereals.
- Have whole wheat or multi-grain bread and pasta, rather than white bread and pasta.
- Use fresh herbs and salt-free spice blends, not salt.
- Have air-popped, healthy popcorn instead of chips.
3. Buy Directly from The Farmers
If you have small-time farmers in your area and those farms regularly sell their crops, shop local and purchase from those sources. Not only will it cost cheaper, but it also guarantees freshness and fewer pesticides used. Small farmers aren’t really concerned about mass production, so many of them won’t be dependent on chemicals to speed up the growth of their crops.
This is one very easy way for you to take the guesswork out of your shopping trips as to whether or not the fresh produce you’re buying is really farmed in organic farms.
4. Say No to Sugary Drinks
An organic diet isn’t just one focused on your food itself but also your beverages. These go hand-in-hand, so once you’ve decided to focus on healthy food, it’s just right for you to also let go of sugary beverages. These include packaged juice, soda, and other sweetened beverages.
You can transition to letting of sugary drinks through the following options instead:
- Tea, whether iced or hot, for as long as it’s sugar-free.
- Sparkling water, if you want the fizz that soda brings, but not the caffeine and the sugar.
- Kombucha, for that added probiotic boost for a healthy gut.
- Freshly-squeezed juice.
5. Grow Your Own Crops
If you want the freshest produce, then you certainly can’t go wrong with having your own vegetable crops at home. After all, when you’re the one growing it, then certainly you’re also aware of what goes into growing your crops, and you’re guaranteed its freshness and quality. Doing so is also very cost-friendly, so you won’t have to worry about the expense that comes along with starting an organic garden.
Don’t worry if you don’t really have a green thumb! Starting your own vegetable garden doesn’t have to be so complicated. What matters the most is your decision to get started so that growing your crops then becomes a norm in your household. With that in mind, these are some of the tips to get you started:
- Choose the right location in your garden, which means the one with the most sun or ventilation, and is also closest to your water source.
- Prepare the soil by mixing compost and natural fertilizers.
- Keep the weeds out, as the weeds will only compete for soil space from the healthier plants.
6. Buy Store Brands
When shopping from your supermarket, and your local store brand also has its range of organic options, don’t shy away from those store brands. Their organic products are just as good as the branded ones.
Really, the only factor which sets those two apart is the brand. It can save you so much in the long run and enable you to stick to your organic diet more when you don’t have to be so concerned about the hefty bill that comes along with organic eating.
Conclusion
As you can now see, the transition into an organic diet isn’t something that completely happens overnight. It’s a slow change, just so you can be certain you’re able to make your body get used to it without crashing back to old habits of consuming junk.
While the transition may be slow, it’s worth it, if only in the name of good health. Although organic food produced in a cleaner environment may often have a bad rap for being pricier, rest assured this cost is justified, with the cleaner farming methods organic food also uses. Start with the tips above, and eventually, organic eating will become your chosen way of life.
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