budget

Budgetary Comparison of Organic VS Regular Store Bought Vegetables

Of course organic fruits and vegetables are the best and healthiest to eat.  Unfortunately they can sometimes be cost prohibitive.  It is better to eat regular fruit and veg instead of crap from a box or can, even if you can’t afford the expense of organic.  My budget is pretty tight right now, so until it improves and until the summer is upon us and my garden is back in full swing, it is the Freshco for me.  Here in Durham Region there is an excellent local resource for organic foods delivered right to your door. It is called Durham Organics.  They are fantastic.  Quick to email back if you have any questions and they strive to provide as many local foods as possible.  I have taken the liberty of doing a side by side price DSC_0042comparison.  Perhaps you will find the price differential not so insurmountable.  If so, that is fantastic!  I would also hope that someone who is fearful of changing to a whole foods diet because of the expense will see that it really isn’t that bad! Those box meals and ready made meals can really add up!

Durham Organics

Click here to view the bin selection!  There is plenty to choose from and you can set preferences and customize all of your orders!

Green With Envy Bin – 42.00 before tax  Add On Juicing Box – 25.00 before tax

This is based on my customized order.  I LOVE that you can pick and choose the items you want for a flat fee.  It is also pretty great to have it delivered right to your door in reusable bins!  FYI, I have absolutely no affiliation with this company, I just think they are great!

  • 1 Avocado
  • 1 Lemon
  • 1 LB of local onions
  • 1 bunch of parsnips
  • 2 bunches of beets
  • 2 bunches of kale
  • 3 bunches of spinach
  • 1 bunch of broccoli
  • 1 head of cauliflower
  • 1 bunch of bananas
  • 1 container blueberries
  • 7 Fiji apples
  • 2 Navel Oranges
  • 5lb of clementines
  • 1 Grapefruit

Total:  67.00

Freschco

I love this grocery store.  It is budget friendly, has an excellent international selection of foods and the produce is always in great shape.  The staff is super friendly and always helpful at the store I frequent. They never just point to an aisle and say “It’s over there”.  In fact, today, I got there at the end of the day and the kale was pretty picked over.  The kid working in the produce section said “No problem” and ran to get a box of fresh Kale.  That is service!

  • 1 Avacado = 0.99
  • 1 Lemon = 0.50
  • bag of onions = 1.49
  • 1 bunch of parsnips = 1.99
  • 2 bunches of beets = 4.98
  • 3 bunches of spinach = 2. 97
  • 1 bunch broccoli = 1.49
  • 1 head of cauliflower = 1.99
  • 1 bunch of bananas = 0.93
  • 1 container blueberries = 3.49
  • 7 Fiji apples = 4.30
  • 2 pears = 1.40
  • 2 navel oranges = 2.58
  • .5lb clementines = 6.25
  • 1 grapefruit = 0.50

Total =  35.85

This is by no means all the vegetables I purchase for the week,  I also bought tangelos, blackberries, strawberries, plums, English cucumbers, a big container of baby spinach, and spaghetti squash. We have lots of happy eating to do!  I was fearful at first that we would not eat all the food and it would go to waste but by the end of week one the fridge was bare and ready to load up again.  It felt like quite an accomplishment.  Careful meal planning and making sure we ate all nine servings of fruits and vegetables made it work.