ORGANIC AND/OR LOW-PESTICIDE MOSTLY RAW FOODS ON A BUDGET

[Guest guest]

Seems that many of us have to watch our budgets during these economic times. I

no longer shop blightly without checking prices. I shop around. Fortunately, in

Portland, Oregon we have tons of health food stores and organic co-cops and

farmer's markets. But some of these places charge a lot for organics. I know

that buying locally is a mantra for those in the get and stay healthy movement,

but when you are fighting a serious illness and perhaps on a strict budget, out

of work, etc. then you have to do what you can.

Here are some amazing finds I have found at some unexpected places:

Costco: organic carrots 10# for $5.00 (Jim told me this tonight)

Trader Joe's - Organic avocados a bag of 4 for $4.69 or non-organic for $3.79.

Wild Candian blueberries in the frozen section - the wild version

is supposed to be the highest in Vitamin B17.

Raw Almond butter (though it's no longer considered raw it sure

tastes better then the roasted version. I buy the raw chunky unsalted. The only

problem is I have been known to go thru a whole jar in two days) $4.99 a jar

Almond milk, vanilla - Pacific Foods $1.99 a quart. Since almond

milk is no longer raw, why bother making it from scratch when you are in a

hurry. I love this milk and it is low in fat and sugar-free. Great for

smoothies

Winco: 3# bag of organic Granny apples for $3.48 (10 to a bag usually)

Earthbound Organics mixed baby green salad mix: (Huge 1# bag for $4.99)

Hot house tomatoes $1.48# (hot house tomatoes are not organic but they do

not use pesticides on hydroponic green house tomatoes)

Organic quinoa in the bulk section $3.00 or so a pound #

(I sprout this to use on a salad)

Asparagus, non-organic: $2.18# (non -organic asparagus for some reason

have low pesticide residue)

Carrots, organic - 1# bag for 88 cents

Almonds and walnuts, non-organic $2.88# (I don't buy organic nuts because

they are too expensive. I soak them overnight, dehydrate them to munch on or put

in water to make almond mylk). I used to buy these at Trader Joe's for $4.99#

until I discovered Winco Foods. I used to turn up my nose at Winco until I met a

lady in a parking lot of a very swanky grocery store where I shop for a client

in an exclusive suburb of Portland. She told me she usually shops at Winco.

Organic herbs - they have a wonderful section of fresh organic packaged

herbs (i.e. dill, oregano, basil, thyme, sage) though I found that Trader Joe's

is even less expensive. $1.99 a package for the herbs. Try them in salads or in

prepared raw food entrees.

Sprouts - they have a variety of organic and non-organic sprouts. I love

their little $1.99 mixed sprouts with peas, chickpeas, cow peas and lentils. I

put them in my salads.

Fred Meyer's - I find deals on organic cucumbers, celery and red peppers all the

time. I watch the sales. They had organic strawberries 1# box 2/$3 a few weeks

ago. I ate a whole 2# box of organic strawberries in one sitting.

New Seasonings - I watch their sales all the time. Every week they will

highlight an organic fruit or vegetable on sale.

Other stores: Safeway will sometimes have good sales. Just watch their ads as

well as Thriftway Markets. Sometimes they have great buys on organics.

Since I am going to an electric bike for transportation, as well as mass

transit, I have to now consider what stores are closest to me and will not be

able to get as good of deals, but I will make up for this by not having to pay

for car insurance, tires, repairs, and $3.00+ a gallon gasoline.

My weekly budget for food can run anywhere from $50 - $75, but sometimes higher.

For instance, tomorrow my daughter and her partner are driving up to see me. I

am buying them Thai take-out, but preparing a raw Pad Thai and Tom Kau coconut

soup for myself (Knowing my daughter, she will pig out on this as well). We will

have raw fudge for desert and raw zucchini hummus with dehydrated raw crackers.

We are going to have a picnic in Forest Park and go for a hike.

Hope this helps folks. You can cut down on your grocery bill if you shop around

and watch the ads. My el-cheapo juice recipe courtesy of Winco organics is:

Tangy Carrot Juice

1# bag of organic carrots (about 6-7 carrots)

1 organic Granny apple

1 " piece of ginger (I peel it if it is not organic)

Makes about 12 ounces of juice. Costs about $1.20

Enjoy!

Raw Zucchini Hummus

Peel 4 - 6 organic zucchini and cut up into food processor

1 T olive oil

2 T lemon juice

1/4 - 1/2 Cumin and 1/2 sea salt to taste

Add enough raw tahani to make mixture with a hummus-like texture (approx. 1/4

cup or so)

Serve with raw crackers

Enjoy everyone!!