I was reading some news articles on MSN yesterday and was not shocked to see headlines about our economic downslide, inflation up by 1.1% etc. etc.  We get it.  Times are tough!  But one article actually commented on Canada’s food costs increasing and how this was going to affect Canadian households in the upcoming year.  That one got my attention.

The rising cost of food is, in my opinion, a fairly universal one.  This doesn’t just manifest itself from a downturn in the economy, but also from an increase in population demand.  However, all things aside, I can appreciate that a slow economy means that many households cannot afford as much as they used to, let alone an organic diet.  Ultimately, this means that the average person will be looking for ways to cut-corners at the grocery store.

In an effort to keep everyone healthy, on a budget; I’ll offer up some tips for those of you who may not necessarily be able to afford a completely “organic’ grocery list.

1.  If you’re not a vegetarian, try cutting back on your weekly meat consumption.  It’s not really necessary to eat meat daily anyways, and some would argue it’s healthier to avoid it altogether.  There’s plenty of ways to get adequate protein at a lesser cost, such as combining vegetables with beans and legumes.

2.  Organic produce is ideal, but it can be costly.  If you cannot afford to buy everything organic, try to buy as much locally grown produce and products as possible.  Also, you can try buying only what’s coined as the “Dirty Dozen” organic.  These include: apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, raspberries, spinach and strawberries.

3.  Switch to Almond or Soy milk.  Often, these are less expensive to purchase than organic milk, and just as healthy.