Regular or Organic Groceries

Maybe I am becoming a snob.....wait, I already was one, but that is besides the point...

I started working at an organic company, and it seems I am doing my grocery shopping at Urban Fare and Capers. Not only do I find the produce better looking, but I find the fat/caloric content in certain foods a lot lower in organic groceries.

I am also trying to move away from processed, pre-made, and pre-prepared foods. Especially bags of salad, or baby carrots, or pre-packaged cookies. They cost so much more than bulk.

Do you use one more than another? Do you think there is a difference? Is it better health wise? Is it a gimmick, is it worth the money?

[tiedye]

We have a very limited, expensive organic section up here.. otherwise, I'd be eating organic. It's definately better for you.

[bebu*funfun]

if i wasnt on a student budget i would shop at capers more often.. my bf went in there last sunday and walked around like it was a shopping mall, tons of interesting stuff and even the vibe in there is different. but yea..the pricing for organic foods is a lot higher, but i guess you do pay for the quality and taste. I definately try to stay away from processed, frozen packaged foods.. new the cooking thing and i love it, i find that i a lot of the packaged stuff is just as easy to make from scratch, usually it costs double, but you get triple the portion (leftovers..mmm).

even the packaging design for organic products is a lot nicer, such a big difference.

[rawb]

ORGANIC FOOD IS JUST DESIGNER FOOD
MARGINALLY BETTER FOR YOU, BUT ALTOGETHER MORE EXPENSIVE AND LESS SUSTAINABLE ON THE ENVIRONMENT

SO YOU BETTER BELIEVE IF I ATE VEGETABLES ID BE ALL OVER IT

[cubed]

^are you still on a strict diet of cinnamon raisin toast and chocolate milk?

[elliot]

yes, capers is quite religious about their organic goods. anything organic that touches something non organic must be cleansed with flame and eye bleach. buying all ones food there can be expensive.. unless you exploit the sales and case discounts.

[LLaaUUrrYYn]

I love those machine shaped little baby carrots!

Normally I try to buy organic fruit and vegetables..but I shop at save-on-foods and who knows if its really organic.

I just stay away from anything 'ready to serve' or processed.

[glorywithheld*]

Originally Posted by rawb

ORGANIC FOOD IS JUST DESIGNER FOOD
MARGINALLY BETTER FOR YOU, BUT ALTOGETHER MORE EXPENSIVE AND LESS SUSTAINABLE ON THE ENVIRONMENT

SO YOU BETTER BELIEVE IF I ATE VEGETABLES ID BE ALL OVER IT

I don't understand why you say it is less sustainable for the environment... organic food has strict regulations on the use of synthetic pesticides as well as banning the use of GM foods. While GM foods are still debatable, it is undeniable that the chemicals sprayed on conventional foods pollute the environment as well as the food, which we then consume.
I try to eat all organic foods, it is a bit more expensive, but when it comes down to it, it’s a matter of priority. I think eating good food is very important. Especially all dairy foods, eggs, and meat, if I was not a vegetarian I would only buy organic meat. The amount of hormones and antibiotics given to animals is amazing!
All in all I think organic is much better for people and the environment.

[rawb]

Originally Posted by cubed

^are you still on a strict diet of cinnamon raisin toast and chocolate milk?

YOOOOU KNOOOOW!

[Kraig]

Urban Fare has some of the best produce I've seen period. It's right by my house and so I tend to go there a lot for that type of thing.

[charly]

Originally Posted by bebu*funfun

if i wasnt on a student budget i would shop at capers more often.. my bf went in there last sunday and walked around like it was a shopping mall, tons of interesting stuff and even the vibe in there is different. but yea..the pricing for organic foods is a lot higher, but i guess you do pay for the quality and taste. I definately try to stay away from processed, frozen packaged foods.. new the cooking thing and i love it, i find that i a lot of the packaged stuff is just as easy to make from scratch, usually it costs double, but you get triple the portion (leftovers..mmm).

even the packaging design for organic products is a lot nicer, such a big difference.

exactly. damn student budgets.

i ate a lot more of it when i was working full time and not in school. but i could afford it then.

now i try to eat the best i can on my budget, which involves organic stuff as much as possible (like apples, those are one thing i won't give in on!)

[-evil-duerr-]

you guys oughta shop at Choices.

we have slightly better prices than Capers :)

[charly]

^ i used to when they closer to my house. now they aren't. :(

also in the locations of both stores that i've been into, capers always seems a lot larger.

Originally Posted by -evil-duerr-

you guys oughta shop at Choices.

we have slightly better prices than Capers :)

The only problem I have with Choices, is that it stresses me out, it is too small. I feel like I am shopping in my corner store. :(

[Jen-E-03]

I buy regular groceries mostly because the capers is too far to walk from with bags of groceries. I'm sure organic is better for you, but since I'm not one to watch my calories or carb intake I don't really care all too much.

[miss.myra]

i had organic produce delivery through green earth organics for years, I had to stop eventually because it's hard to accommodate delivery times when you live in an apartment and work schedules can be unpredictable.

anyways, they delivered a big bin of lots of goodies and I had it every two weeks, this worked really well for me because I eat a lot of fresh produce and it worked out to be like $32 every two weeks. I loved all the variety I got- especially in the summer months.

Organic produce may not look as nice as the stuff you can get at Safeway, but I find it has a lot more flavor and lasts much longer.

I don't buy my produce at the grocery store unless I am in a total rush because their prices are double, if not more than I can get at a produce store like Kin's. I like Kin's because it's got tons of variety and good prices- and if you prefer organic they have a pretty decent, fairly priced selection.

[galaxie]

Organic whenever I can.
And I agree with Myra, Kin's is awesome.

My family also has organic milk products delivered to our home, and we have ever since I was a baby. Check out Avalon Dairy...it's great stuff and very reasonably priced!