carrots and beets Some people will try and convince me that choosing to buy organically grown, chemical free food is more expensive than living off mass farming methods. I don't agree! Maybe the physical price that you see at the check out is slightly dearer, but the long-term costs of not eating organic unprocessed foods are far greater economically, environmentally and for our health than perceived short-term savings.

The price of organic foodrepresents the price of real food the way nature intends us to eat it and how our ancestors ate before the prevalence of man made disease. The price of mass farming methods doesn't show us the hidden costs that show up in so many other ways.

The cost of sickness

Nothing is healthy about putting a load of chemicals, including pesticides, into your body through your food intake. We are already subjected to a wide range of environmental pollutants and we can control at least some of them through making smart food choices now. The price to pay for pesticides, herbicides and fungicides accumulating in the body is proven to cause a host of degenerative diseases that are an expense to treat.

If you don't spend on your wellbeing now, you are guaranteed to spend it on sickness later, which costs lot more than your health. The health and nutrition present in the soil will reflect the quality of food you're eating and be an accurate indication of your wellbeing. So chemical free food is a lot cheaper and more enjoyable than curing disease, trips to doctors and medication to mask the symptoms of poor nutrition.

The cost of environmental pollution

Conventional farming degrades the land, promotes soil erosion and destroys the ability to use it for crops after a short period of time. Soil in conventional farming contains a wide range of chemicals which ends up in the produce, reducing its nutrimental value – so need to eat a lot more to gain the same nutrition as organic foods, along with the chemical cocktail. (Organic foods have so much more flavour too and kids are more likely to eat veg when its organic).

The chemical run off from conventional farming methods, destroys the quality of our water, air quality, soil health and affects the health of other animal and plant life and the community costs to our health and government spending on fixes is more significant than prevention and earth friendly farming practices. Healthy, nutritious soils without chemicals provide us with strong healthy plants and animals that are more resistant to illness and therefore so are we.

Affecting the community and your children

Your choices at the check out affect everyone else in your family and in the community. From the pollutant run-off that enters the water supply, including antibiotics and hormones that affect other's health, to the animals that feed off the pollutants as a result of your food and medication choices. This in turn affects their health and through the food cycle, consumption of unhealthy plants and animals, and equals unhealthy humans and increased expenditure of antibiotics and other medications… and so the cycle continues!

Give your children a healthy start – they are more vulnerable to the toxins from pesticides than adults due to their lower body mass and large intake of food per kilogram. It is crucial to nourish our kids with healthy and chemical free wholefood for vitality and strong immunity. Mothers can pass on the chemicals accumulated in the body from conventionally farmed food to their babies before birth and through breast milk.

The toxins from poor food choices build up and concentrate in our bodies. Human breast milk has the some of the highest levels of many toxic contaminants. This is why it is so essential for expectant mums to eat organically because breast milk is said to be the most highly nutritious, purest food source for babies.

How can we reduce our spending on food and stay true to ethical eating and living?

  • Avoid processed foods – this will instantly slash your spending. Opt for organic fresh fruit, vegetables, unprocessed grains (like quinoa, millet, buckwheat) instead of breads, pastas, juices and other refined foods devoid of real nutrition (don’t buy into the marketing on the labels), reduce meals eaten out and fast food/take away.
  • Buy LOCAL, fresh, seasonal produce – it will last longer, avoiding waste. Make sure the produce you put your dollar to is the freshest possible and hasn't been travelling for weeks to get to you or sitting on shelves or in cold storage at the back of the shop before it gets to your plate.
  • Choose cheaper cuts of meats (if you decide to eat meat) – a whole chicken can be used for three meals (a roast, stock for soup, leftovers in a salad for lunch) and is a better option than chicken breasts which cost more, provide less nutrition and only one meal. Cheaper cuts of meat are well suited to slow cooking which is more optimal to retain nutrients in the food.
  • Shop online! Order a seasonal box providing you with local, organic foods that are plentiful at the time for a good price. It also saves the numerous trips to the shops to impulse buy and you can cook delicious produce that you usually wouldn't try.
  • Cook from scratch – use easy to follow recipes and prepare a number of meals at the same time if you have limited time on your hands. Ensure your fridge is packed with fresh ingredients and ready to eat pre prepared snacks that you've made.
  • Use the leftovers – for example create bubble and squeak from leftover roast veg, slowly wilting veg can be made into a soup or used in stews.

If cost is a real factor in avoiding organic food and you see the obvious benefits in eating food the way nature intended, the best way to start is by introducing a few foods each week that are organic, particularly for your children.

Every little change makes a difference.

If you'd like to read more about how our lifestyle decisions can contribute to a healthier future for our children as well as find out some more solutions to children’s health issues, check out these helpful online resources:


You can find eco businesses that can supply you with organic produce in the Organic section of the Green Times Business Directory.


Written by Nicci Gafen

Image: Simon Bowden, FreeDigitalPhotos.net