Organic living
Home » Blog » Sarah Jefferies » Organic livingOrganic foods are produced without chemicals: the pesticides and fertilisers commonly used in cultivation; and the drugs, like antibiotics and hormones, often given to commercial livestock. Organic methods of production encourage environmental health.
Now while the idea of organic food sounds fabulously fresh and healthy; a big question I'm grappling with is “Just what is the cost?”
The truth is we all live in a penny-pinching time when one secretly wonders if eating an organic apple that’s twice the price of an organic one really makes a difference. I figure, if I am taking the philosophy of ‘I am what I eat’, then it’s true to say all that goes on and into making that apple goes into me!
That said, I am learning a few tricks to save the dollars for all those, like me, who are starting along the organic journey…
First of all, you don’t need to rush out in an organic frenzy after emptying the entire contents of your fridge into the bin because all your current food is now considered ‘evil’ and ‘nasty’. I’d advise simply replacing items as they run out.
Secondly, not every item needs to be organic! Think about an avocado; it has a thick skin and grows on a huge tree—so in affect the actual ‘meat’ of the avocado is highly unlikely to have sprays and pesticides on it. By comparison, green leaves like spinach, lettuce and silver beet have no protective layer and probably have had their leaves directly sprayed.
When purchasing my fresh produce each week I try to make considered decisions as to where to spend money. Anything that has no protective layer (salad greens, apples, berries, carrots etc) I buy organic. Other items, such as bananas and avocados, I don’t mind buying as cheap as I’m able.
But where do I go? Trust me, this is not a silly question—I wondered the same before I started organic shopping. I almost felt intimidated; ‘Do I look healthy enough or will they see me a mile off as an un-organic far from vegetarian person?’
After Googling ‘organic shops Auckland’ I found the Huckleberry Farms website. They have whole foods stores around Auckland; one is close to where I live, so I venture in cautiously. I don’t know what I expect … okay, I do actually: incense burning at the counter and long-haired hippies in unwashed clothes loading groceries into potato sack bags.
What I discover is something quite different.It actually seems like a very small, clean supermarket. I go through each section and buy a few new things to try. My newest favourite thing are LARA Bars. Totally delicious! And made from ingredients such as raw organic fruit, nuts, dates, coconut and cacao … all different flavours and for a gluten-/sugar-/dairy-free treat they’re well worth the $3.50.
All in all, my experience goes well, the staff seem well-trained and courteous when I ask in my ignorant fashion if they stock agave nectar (a great low GI substitute for sugar; I'll share some delicious recipes in the next blog).
There are definite advantages of shopping here—queues aren't as long as the supermarket and you get your groceries in brown paper bags. Feeling very 'American sitcom' right now with my brown-bagged groceries!
For those of you who’ve been tracking my weight, it's still dropping and I’m now officially in the 70s! If you need any help with reasons to do as I am (not only to lose weight but be a healthy vegan) read a great book I have just finished called Skinny Bitch, by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin (Buy@Fishpond).
All in all, I'm feeling and looking great, saving the environment a bag of groceries at a time!
Tue May 12, 2009 @ 03:55 PM
