Organic Plate: Organic Groceries on a Budget

The Basic Dish:  How to eat organic on a budget

My name is lee and when I made my first tentative steps into the world of organic grocery shopping my jaw dropped when I saw the cost, and if your family is like mine you’re starting to feel the crunch of our current economy. You want you family to eat healthy. So where can you get organic food for the lowest cost? That’s what I’m here for I’ll go through the weekly postings and bring the best comparisons to this blog. But that’s not all I’ll also be posting some of my favorite recipes for the Christmas parties, breakfasts, and of course the Holiday dinners. Now I know I know your thinking, “Ugh Lee we’re still hurting for thanksgiving and you’re trying to get us to think about menus?”
My answer, “Believe me I know how you feel thanksgiving didn’t do my stomach any favors either.” But we still have one to four more holidays to go through depending on how many you celebrate.

First let’s start with veggies:
Best deals found in this department go to… Sunflower Farmer’s Market!

Sunflower Farmer’s Market has great deals on fresh green beans for $0.88 a lb.
And there are Veggie trays with 22oz.dip for $5.99 each.
Let’s see what else we can find here… Ah! Here we are Cauliflower or broccoli 0.99 a lb.
Hello? What’s this here Large green bell peppers, super select cucumbers, green onions, __ yeesh this list is long__ Parsley, and carrots 2 for $1.
Sprout’s farmers market has red and gold bell peppers for $0.77 a lb.
Sprout’s also as Cilantro, green onions, and bunched radishes 3 for a dollar.
For those holiday salads there’s Mild red onions or Green, red, Bok Choy, and Napa cabbage 2lbs. for a $1.
And for those of you who don’t have the time to chop the greens and other things that go into salads there’s Fresh Express Brand Salad greens 2 for $5.00 at Sunflower Market.
Sunflower market also has eggplant at $0.99 each; fresh crisp celery at $0.99 each and Jewel or garnet yams $1.69 a lb.

Now for fruits:
Wow this time Sprout’s has some of the deals so let’s get started.

First there’s Blackberries for $0.69 a lb.
Granny Smith apples, Pink Lady Apples and Bartlett pears are $0.88 a lb. and make great stocking stuffers. What? Am I the only one in the world who grew up with that tradition?
Oh well let’s move on. Sprout’s also has Pineapples and red or black seedless grapes 2 for $3.
Sunflower market has Navel Oranges 4lbs. for a dollar, and granny smith apples or Fancy Comice pears for $0.88 a lb.

Now for the main dish, who has the best deal on meats?

Best deal on beef roasts Sunflower Market has all natural Beef Rib eye Bone in Roasts for $4.97 a lb. Beef Rib eye steak at $5.99 lb. and fresh Boneless leg of lamb $5.99 a lb.

Best deal on spiral sliced ham is Sprout’s farmers market at $1.77 a lb.
Sunflower’s market has large raw e-z peel shrimp $3.97 lb. Snow crab clusters $5.97 a lb. natural stuffed pork loin roasts for $3.99 a lb. And Natural Boneless Pork loin roasts $2.99 lb.

Best deal on chicken is sunflower market with all natural Boneless, Skinless Chicken breasts at $2.99 a lb.

Well that’s the basic Dish for this week hope to see you next week with a whole new set of deals and for more information on either Sprout’s or Sunflower farmer’s markets please visit their web sites at www.sprouts.com and www.sfmarkets.com