Going Organic - Expensive or Not?

This weekend I hung out with some friends that I haven't seen in a while and we had some interesting conversations. Besides catching up we spoke about the food industry. The main issue I found that my friends had with eating organic foods was it is too expensive. My friend Steven in particular was concerned with the parents and single parents who cannot afford to eat organic foods especially with the present state of the economy. Well, I have heard this many times before. I can understand that issue and considering I was raised by a single mother and have a best friend who is one I know it can be hard. However, there is much more to it than money.

I think the real issue is not that organic foods are too expensive but that families are not prioritizing their lives in a way that allows them to live healthier. Although there are a lot of people out there who don't make a lot of money, I don't either, and I choose to make better decisions with the money I do have so that my family and I are healthy and happy. Learning to budget properly is a huge component of the equation. If you are not good at this than get some help. Look within your community to see if there are free classes or seminars you can take. You can also purchase books to help you or check out Suze Orman's website, she's good! You might even know someone that is much better at budgeting than you, ask them to help you out. In order to run a successful family and keep funds flowing in the right direction you must know how to budget. It's something you cannot escape!

So once you have that down than figure out what you and your family really needs. I am not talking about a $200 pair of shoes here people! That is not a necessity. Make a list of the things that you all can't live without and add them up. Now food is definitely one of those things. Not junk food, not fast food, not going out to dinner every night. Real food. It is time that you all realize that it is not that much more expensive to buy organic. We can all do it. But it also takes work. What I mean by work is cooking at home, sitting down with your family for meals and communicating. Not just shoving processed nasty food down their throats. Its time to stop being lazy. Get up off your ass and show you care! Everyone loves a home cooked meal. Why doesn't your family deserve to have that?

Right about now I can hear some of you saying, "I am just too busy to cook everyday. I have work and the kids and......", but sorry, its not an excuse. I don't want to hear it anymore. First of all, women are smart and tactical. We get things done! We were built that way and thats why we run the household. Men might not want to agree but its true. So its the women that have to step up and start the changes. Then the rest of the family can move along smoothly. Marriage is a team and if you don't work together the relationship and everything around it crumbles. It happens all the time. Single parents have it easier in a sense because they are in charge and what they say goes. Be strong, make better choices and live to see the positive results!

You also need watch your portion control. This is another major factor. Americans eat way too much! Just take a look around. Everyone is fat as hell. It's disgusting and its killing a lot of people. Once you get your portions corrected you won't need to buy as much food. Then you will have the room to spend a little more on organic items when its needed. It's really as simple as that!

So, to prove that going organic and natural is possible for everyone I have put a small comparison list together so you can see the difference. I hope that this allows you to be more open, creative and change for a better future. I am always here for any questions or advice as well. I happen to be great at budgeting money and will offer my services to anyone who asks, for sure. In order for people to change they need support, help and inspiration. That is what I am here for.

I do most of my shopping at Whole Foods so the organic prices are theirs. To compare them with conventional prices I looked around at other markets and took the general price of what I found. There are many other alternative markets out there that I encourage you to explore. I personally like Whole Foods because of its environment, the workers are cool and they have a wide range of options. They also list where the food comes from! Trader Joe's is another favorite of mine. Stop N Shop also has a very good organic/natural section in their market that is worth visiting. Don't forget about Wild By Nature.

Produce
Vegetables and fruit are important to a healthy diet. It's been proven that vegetarians are healthier than meat eaters and are less obese. Makes sense! Whether you are vegetarian or not it is wise to eat at least 3 meatless dishes a week. Not only are you benefiting you and your family but you are helping the planet as well. Whole Foods has a lot of good information about produce on their website in case you were looking to read up.

Organic Carrots - $1.29 lb. / C - $.89 lb.
Organic Peppers - $4.49 lb. / C - $1.34 each
Organic Scallions - $.99 / C - $.69
Organic Parsley - $1.29 lb / C - $99
Organic Onions - $1.99 lb OR 3 lb Bag of Yellow Onions - $2.99 / C - $1.00 each OR 3 lb. bag - $2.99
Organic 5 lb. Bag of Russet Potatoes - $4.99 / C - $3.49
Organic Iceberg Head of Lettuce - $1.99 / C- $1.79
Organic Frozen Broccoli - $1.79 / C - $1.79
Organic Diced Tomatoes 14.5 oz. can 365 Brand - $1.19 / C - $1.25
Organic Kidney Beans 15 oz. can 365 Brand - $1.09 / C - $.95
Organic Strawberries - $4.99 / C - $3.49
Organic Oranges 4 lb bag - $3.99 / C - $3.50
Whole Trade Bananas - $.79 lb / C - $.50 each

From this you can see slight differences in price but nothing that should keep you from buying organic. Peppers are usually the most expensive but if you saw how big the organic peppers are it would also make sense. Sometimes I only use half for a meal which cuts the price drastically. Fruit, especially berries will always be pricey. Thats why buying local and in season is best. Make sure you visit your local farmers markets! The differences in price are generally under $1.00 or none at all. Not bad so far! It is more important that you are eating fruits and veggies that are not contaminated than spending an extra quarter here and there. Supporting sustainable and local agriculture is what you would be doing as well and thats a reason to get a gold star!

Dairy
Wherever you shop, dairy prices are costly. Its good to catch those sales but they are hard to come by. If you eat dairy than buying organic is very important. If it comes from an animal you should make sure that animal is a happy and healthy one. Not sick, sad and living on a bad diet with lots of antibiotics! The more I read about dairy the more I find out it is not that good for you after all. Although, you might have grown up thinking you need all that milk or your bones will shrink, it is all a lie. I will leave you with that. Today there are a lot of good alternatives I suggest you try. My boyfriend and I personally LOVE almond milk. Thats one dairy item down! Here are some price comparisons for dairy as well the better alternatives.

Organic 1/2 Gallon Milk - $3.69 / C - $2.19
Almond Milk 1/2 Gallon - $3.69
Organic 1 lb. Butter - $4.79 / C - $4.15
Organic Brown Large Eggs - $4.59 / C - $2.74
Earth Balance Vegan Butter Sticks - $3.49



Snacks
Who doesn't love to snack! Finding healthy treats can seem hard if you know that most of them out there are basically crap. Here are some snacks that we are all familiar with alongside the better options.

Cheeze Its - $3.37 / Back to Nature Crispy Cheddars - $ 3.19
Wheat Thins - $2.95 / Back to Nature Crispy Wheat - $2.99
Wise Potato Chips - $1.88 / Organic Potato Chips with Sea Salt - $2.39
Tostidos Corn Chips - 4.92 / Garden of Eatin' Blue Corn Chips - $3.79
Fruit by the Foot - $3.00 / Kid Cliff Organic Twisted Fruit - 4.79
Planters Cashews - $5.14 / Organic 365 Brand Cashews 12 oz. bag - 5.99
Special K Bars - $2.99 / Cliff Kid Organic Z Bar - 4.39

You can also try snacks by LesserEvil. They are awesome!



Everything else
Organic Pasta - $1.99 / C - $1.39 (.99 at Whole Foods)
Organic Rolled Oats 18 oz.- $2.99 / Quaker Oatmeal - $2.99
Organic Ketchup - $1.99 / Heinz - $2.07
Organic Mustard - $1.99 / Gulden's - $1.80
Organic Flour - $4.69 / Gold Medal Flour - $2.99
Organic Sugar - $3.39 / Domino Sugar - $3.50
Organic Olive Oil 33.8 oz. - $13.99
Organic Blue Corn Taco Shells - $2.69 / Old El Paso - $2.29



Vegetarian Substitutes
These are so friggin good! I LOVE the company Quorn. Their products are the real thing, I promise! You can totally trick someone with their chik'n patties and crumbles. These substitutes are way better for you and are very easy to cook. I highly suggest you try them. All are $4.99 at whole foods. You can also check out Gardein.



Trader Joe's also has some really good items I would recommend you try:
Traditional Mariana Sauce - $1.29
Whole Wheat Flat Bread - $2.49 (Great for pizzas)

I hope that these comparisons help you out the next time you go shopping. The fact of the matter is, organic and natural foods may be slightly more money than conventional processed foods but not in all cases. In some its just by pennies and others it many close to $1.00. Nothing that should keep you from choosing the best option. The more we buy organic products they will become cheaper. If we want something the food industry will make it available. They want to make money and we want to spend it wisely. Keep in that in mind when you spend yours and move closer to becoming a part of something bigger and better. By doing the right thing and buying organic/natural products you are supporting what this country needs most, our health and planet!

Here are some articles you can read for more information on this issue:
Whole Foods Organic Butter Rises to the Top
Whole Foods Talks Dollars and Cents
Today Show Features Quorn
Organic Grocery Shopping on a Budget
ABC News: Daryl Hannah on Buying Organic

Gardening Cuties

I came across this little shop, Monkeys Always Look, and absolutely fell in love with it. I had to share it with my readers. Spring is here folks! It's the perfect time to start your home gardens. Whether you have a backyard or a small terrace garden these adorable markers will make a great addition to any of them. She uses vintage silverware which I love not only because its recycling but it looks cute too. Vintage is the way to go! You can also get them personalized. Tell me that wouldn't make a great gift!

All items are made by Allison D. Cecil in California. She is an interesting woman who loves to make things and has a unique family. She is also a vegan! I highly suggest you check out her shop and take a look around. There is so much you will want to buy, I promise. Her creations have also been sold at Anthropologie. No wonder, she's awesome!



These are some of the other things I love from her shop:

Green Restaurants

I love when businesses take the proper steps to help the earth. It not only shows that being green is cool but that it is possible to run a successful company and take care of the planet at the same time. Here are some restaurants that explore being green.

Habana Outpost - Brooklyn, NY
Located on the corner of Fulton Street and South Portland Avenue you will find Habana, NYC's first eco-eatery. Open during all seasons except winter, this green restaurant uses solar panels for its energy, rainwater for its bathrooms and has recycled furniture for its customers to sit on. They also provide charging stations for your cell phones and laptops. Not to mention, the option to mix your own margaritas by riding a bike! Their menu is fun and interesting just like its environment. They only have a few vegetarian dishes but it is definitely a place you should check out. On weekends from 12 - 6 pm they open their outdoor market where you can find clothes, art and other unique items and they also have a kids corner complete with gardening, crafts, face painting and more. I love how they teach children about the earth and how to take care of it. If Habana seems like a good time to you, check out their site and read more of what they are about.



Uncommon Ground - Chicago, IL
If you like honey than this place will hit the spot. On the roof of this restaurant are four active bee hives that thrive naturally. They house over 195,000 bees! The fresh honey is used for most dishes on the menu and the bees have a new home. Producing about 40 pounds of honey a year I would say they are pretty busy. Owners Michael and Helen Cameron decided to help the bees find homes when they suddenly started to abandon their hives a few years ago. I think they did a great job! They are also the first restaurant to have a certified organic rooftop farm. How cool is that!



5 Seasons Restaurant & Brewery - Atlanta, GA
Not only does this brewery make natural, efficient beer but it has great food too. Their rainwater filtration system on the roof of the restaurant collects about 900 gallons of water each 30 minute pour. If you didn't know, rainwater has a lower pH and mineral content so its better for you. This resulting in really good beer! Owners Dennis Lange and David Larkworthy have a passion for natural foods and drinks and turned this idea into a very successful business. Not only is this place providing good food and service to the community it saves it about 3,000 gallons of water a month! Now thats being green.



Chipotle - Everywhere
If you like mexican food than you will love Chipotle. If you haven't eaten there yet than where the hell have you been? They are awesome. Their food is natural, fresh and delicious and they run their company in an eco-friendly way. Plus, their prices aren't so bad either. It costs $10 to feed my boyfriend and I and that my friend is smart eating. My favorite combination: burrito bowl with rice, extra peppers & onions, a little corn, tomatoes and cheese. Yummo! I found a good article that talks about all the green choices Chipotle has made so check it out. I promise you will be impressed! Ecofriend Don't forget to check out Steve Ells brief to the Senate about the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act. Chipotle is definitely evolving for change!



These are just some of the places that are taking the necessary steps toward a better earth. Do your research and see if there any places in your area that are green and doing their part. Here are a few more to add to the list and some websites to visit for more infmation:
Mixt Greens - San Francisco
Solar Roast Coffee - Pueblo, CO

Going Greener
Green Restaurant Association
Tree Hugger
The Great Green List

The Green Home

Making your home a green environment is not that hard. Whether you rent or own there are plenty of things you can do to help the planet as well as your wallet. Here is some info that could help you make the changes smoothly. Remember to always do your research and keep an open mind. Sometimes spending a little more now will save you tons later!

Appliances
When it comes to appliances you should always look for ones that are the most energy efficient, reasonably priced and rank high on performance. Of course, you want one that looks good too! Nowadays that isn't a problem. With tons of new models and different designs you will be sure to find one that suits your home.

According to Consumer Reports the top green appliances to shop for are washing machines, dishwashers and refrigerators. If you are looking for a new component to add to your laundry room than front loaders ranked the highest in both efficiency and performance. For years they have been the best choice and are known to save up to $100 a year on your energy cost. They are also getting cheaper. Just know that they can do a lot of shaking so it might be best for it to be in the basement or on first floor. There will obviously be more bending involved but that never hurt anyone. Their smart pick was the GE WCVH6800(WW) priced at $750. To check out other great picks visit these websites: Consumer Search, Green Guide and Green Home.



What are the best solutions for getting those dishes clean? Nowadays, dishwashers are being made much better and more energy efficient. Some even use less than washing by hand! The only thing with this appliance is most of the highest ranked machines cost more money. You can definitely find one that is not too costly but it will probably use more water for each load. They recommend the Bosch Evolution 500 Series and the Kenmore Elite Ultra Wash HE both ranging between $800 - $850. For more choices and information you can check out these sites: Planet Green, Greener Choices and Inhabitat.



As far as refrigerators go your best option is to get one with a top or bottom freezer that doesn't include an ice or water dispenser. Although, the side by side styles are getting better, as of now they are not good enough so stick with the classic style. The only downside of choosing these green machines is they won't be big and fancy. I think that is something a lot of us can handle considering the greener it is the more money we save and the planet will be happier. Smart Picks are LG LTC22350 and Whirlpool Gold G9RXXFMW both in the $850 range. For more info go to: Greener Choices, Tree Hugger and Planet Green.



The Bathroom
Not only should the bathroom be one of the cleanest rooms in the house but it should be one of the greenest as well. Think of how many times you flush the toilet and wash your hands. Not to mention, taking a shower. Thats a lot of water! Today toilets have come a long way. Most of them only use about 1.6 gallons per flush which is a 2 gallon difference from 2005. Here are the best picks: Kohler Cimarron K-3609 and American Standard FloWise Cadet. They range from $300 to $445. Remember you can save around 650 gallons of water per year buying a green low flow model. Visit these sites for more info: Mother Earth News, Fox News and Green Living.



Shower heads are another great green product to buy for your bathroom. There are a good amount of choices out there that use enough water to give you a good flow but are still energy efficient. The ones with the best performance use 2.5 gallons per minute but there are others that use less and cost the same. I highly suggest you do your research before making your purchase. Here are the best picks: American Standard FloWise Dual Function Water Saving model which runs at about $50. It could save you up to 7,300 gallons of water per year!



Other ways to make your home eco-friendly are to substitute the things you use the most with greener options. If cooking is something you do a lot of than invest in some new cookware. Preferably ones that don't have PFOA, a chemical that is used in nonstick pans. If this sounds good to you than you might want to try Earth Pan and Starfrit. Another good choice is to use stainless steel. Read Planet Green for more information. Flooring is another important factor considering its used all over the house. The best choices are bamboo, cork and linoleum. They are all made from renewable recourses and last a pretty long time. Although, some may be pricey it pays off in the end. Look into these best buys: Eco Timber Woven Honey, Armstrong Locking Hardwood Bamboo Carbonized Natural, Montado Cork RK49001 Jisbula Cinnamon, Armstrong Marmorette Oak Brown.

Some easy fixes for everyone are lighting and paint. Even renters can benefit from this green option. Change up your regular bulbs for CFL's. They last 12 times longer and use 75% less energy! EcoSmart and Philips have some great products you should check out. Thinking about giving your home a makeover? Using low-VOC paints are the best way to go. Especially, if you have children and pets. They may be a little more expensive but you and your family's health is worth it. Plus, who likes the smell of paint? Can someone say headache! From my reading I found that Benjamin Moore Natura is a good buy. It doesn't have any VOC's and there are more than 3,400 colors to choose from. You will need to use a primer beforehand though. Fifty a gallon may sound pricey but I suggest you give it a try. You can also check out Green Planet Paints and Milk Paint.

Another thing to look out for when buying green products are labels. They might confuse you considering there are a lot out there. Who do you trust? Well, here is a quick look at some you might find familiar.

Greenguard - An independent group that does all testing themselves to make sure paint does not cross high amounts of VOC's.

Green Seal - They limit the amount of VOC's in flat paint to 50 grams per liter which is a strict standard. Also an independent company they limit non flat paint to 100 grams. You will have a hard time finding products with this seal in stores though.

Green Sure - By limiting VOC's in paints to 50 grams per liter and prohibiting other hazardous chemicals this group is moving in the right direction. However, they are a Sherman-Williams group and only test their own products.

Green Promise - This group is also company owned and only applies to its own products. Benjamin Moore runs this one folks. I like this one because they prohibit both VOC's in the paint and the compounds used.



I hope you can take this information and use it to make better choices for your home. Remember to always read up and do your research!

Processed Foods - Then and Now

It's funny how today, most products you find in the supermarket are highly processed and full of crap. What the packaging says may not be the truth and a lot of advertising are just lies. This is upsetting because when these same products were first introduced they were amazing to everyone. People didn't realize how bad some of this stuff really was! Let's just take a small look back in time. Thanks to the April issue of Real Simple we can catch a glimpse of history way back when and see how things have changed for some of these products.

Kool-Aid (once known as Kool-Ade)
This powdered drink mix was invented by Edwin Perkins and his wife Kitty. They originally created Fruit Smack which was a liquid concentrate. Problems with the packaging and high production costs let to the idea of Kool-Aid. It was made a powder in 1927 and later sold to General Foods in 1953. Notice how the packaging changed once it went to a commercial company. That vintage appeal was lost. Ingredients that were once listed were no longer printed. In came the big fat Kool-Aid guy all happy like he smoked crack. Did they need to make him break through walls? Of course, the advertising was focused on children and after seeing the commercials what kid wouldn't want to drink it? The crap is pure sugar! Even the sugar-free versions are horrible considering they contain aspartame. Just another highly processed and toxic product for our kids. They even started to print labels that said "sensible selections" on the packaging. Are they crazy! You can't go wrong with cheap crap that makes your kids happy, right? Unfortunately, you can!

The original drawings of the Kool-Aid guy were cool. Being an artist I can appreciate that. But when you use something that is cool in a negative way its simply a waste of creativity.



Minute Rice
We all want to make dinner faster and easier right? Well, General Foods first introduced Minute Rice in 1949. It was pre-cooked, easy to make and ready fast. They have a lot of varieties which is good but I am just wondering where all their rice comes from. You see, I like to buy my rice in a bag that doesn't get boiled. A bag that tells me where it came from. I don't mind it taking 20 minutes or so to cook. Big deal! This was one of the products that slowly helped American families stop cooking real food and make dinner in 10 minutes. Something I do not support. The packaging sure as hell changed too.



Hamburger Helper
Another great friggin idea! Hamburger Helper is one of the worst products out there. The amount of crap in it is horrible. Created in 1971 it was intended to help stretch the amount of meat a family bought due to the escalated prices. What ever happened to just making real macaroni and cheese and adding meat? Oh I forgot, American families are lazy. And what's up with the hand dude? He doesn't even make sense. I get the whole "helping hand" idea but its still pretty lame. General Mills also sells frozen versions too. Yuck! They even have the nerve to put "home-cooked skillet meal" on the package!



Campbells Soup
Honestly, the first thing I think of when Campbell's comes to mind is Andy Warhol. Not how good the soup tastes. What does that say! First of all, the idea to condense soup might have been good at the moment but there really is nothing great about it. Of course, today they have normal soups as well. Sadly enough, most of them are high in sodium, contain msg and are really bad for you. In 2008, they started to make label changes so the packaging would appeal more to the public. Just last year the company finally lowered 50% of the salt content in their products. It took them that long! Geez, people have been complaining for years. Just so you know, they own a lot of other brands as well: Pace, Pepperidge Farm, Prego, Swanson and V8. Talk about big business. That doesn't include the brands they own from other countries.

Campbell's line of soups was introduced in 1897 with the original Tomato Soup. They added new flavors as the years passed. They started to add the Campbell's Kids to their ads in 1904 which are now collectors items. That ended in 1958 but showed up again in a 1990 commercial where the kids were rapping. Huh? Anything to get your children's attention. In all their ads they mention how cheap it was, how fast it was to cook and how healthy it is. Hmmm..I would rather make my soup from scratch.



If you want to check out all the products listed in the article then check out the Food section on page 251 of the April issue.

If you haven't noticed, a lot of products aim their advertising toward children. Parents really need to look out for this. Even when you go to the movies! A new study from Pediatrics found that 55% of all product placement in films rated PG and PG-13 are sugar-sweetened drinks. That is horrible! Your kids should not be drinking soda or any of that other crap. Why do think diabetes and obesity is such a big problem in the United States? This is why I support the NY drink tax. I think its a great idea and I hope that all states follow through. Its called "real" juice people, not powder!

I just hope that everyone reads the ingredients of what they buy. I bet most of it has a huge list of things you can't pronounce. Thats bad! Put it back and stop buying it. Don't believe the packaging because its cute and don't buy into the lies the ads throw in your face. Be smarter and eat healthier! You are what you eat :)

Better Toys for Your Tots

I am always looking for great shops and websites that carry earth friendly products, especially for children. My Natural is one of the best I have found for stuffed animals. Not only are they adorable but they are made from cotton that is untreated, unprocessed and unbleached. 100% toxic free! Now that's what I'm talking about. Their unique PureWaterWash process is what makes their products stand out from the rest. Check out their website, read up and do some shopping!

They have three collections: Bamboo, Dr. Seuss and Jane Goodall. All are adorable and worth buying. I LOVE the gorilla!







Here are some other great shops!
Stubby Pencil Studio
Plan Toys
Green Toys
Baby Earth
North Star Toys
Pi'lo
Little Twig
The Little Seed

Green Beauty

In the May issue of Lucky magazine they suggest some eco beauty products in their Green Beauty section. I wanted to share them with you because it is so important to use products that are green, natural and organic. Why would you want to put anything less of that on your body? So check these out and let me know how they work out! If you have a product you want to recommend to the Revolt readers don't be shy. Leave a comment and share it with all of us.

Fresh Wave Soy Candle

If you are going to light candles at least have them be natural. You are breathing it in silly! This company Fresh Wave has a nice collection to choose from.

Dr. Bronner's Body Wash
This company has been around for 150 years so I think they know what they are doing. They have such an assortment of natural and organic soaps that you will just want to buy them all! This one is a peppermint body wash that is paraben-free, vegetable based and is not tested on animals. In addition, all the oils in the soap are organic and the packaging is 100% post-consumer recycled plastic. Can't get any better than that!



Tom's of Mainee
I love this company so much. I use their deodorant, toothpaste and mouthwash and am very satisfied with their products. Lucky mentions their 24 hour deodorant which is aluminum-free as well.



Jason
Their Healthy Mouth tooth gel is refreshing and soothing. It has organic tea tree oil and aloe vera gel to help heal gums and also knocks out bad breath with their awesome flavors. It does contain fluoride though so rethink this one.



Acquarella
I haven't used this nail polish yet but I am now! I have been looking for a polish that is way better than the rest that won't break the bank. Acquarella makes all their products non-toxic and water-based. It usually dries in about 3 minutes and second coats are not needed! Now that's hassle-free.



Hamadi
This plant-based shampoo with keep your hair smooth as can be and smelling fresh. None of their products are tested on animals and they have such unique combinations. Ginger, sweet orange and rosewood! Cmon, how awesome does that sound.



Nutiva
For hemp and coconut products this is the place to go. All organic and good to the earth, Nutiva products are worth the buy. Their Extra Virgin Coconut Oil can be used for cooking and for moisturizer! Because it absorbs fast it will keep your skin healthy and smooth.



If you want to check out more eco-products pick up the May issue of Lucky. Happy Shopping!