It ain't cheap to be healthy

The best way to save money is probably to grow my own produce. Seriously. Those who doesn't know my buying and eating habits - I try to eat organic as much as I can. Probably 2/3 of my monthly food budget goes to organic produce and gourmet bread. I bought 2 teeny weeny eggplants, 3 tomatoes and a lil bag of mandarins for $14 today. I've paid $3 for 1/2 pack of red beans, which will normally cost $0.50 from your local Asian grocer. It costs $6 for a loaf of organic wheat bread v $3 from Brumby's. I pay $2 more for free-range eggs (I know it's not the same as organic). You get the drill. So for once, I'm glad I'm living on my own because if you have a family of 4, you'll probaly have to think twice about going organic at the the price tag that comes along with being healthier.

"Why pay so much more for organic?", one may ask. Do a search on "Benefits of Organic Food" and you'd get heap loads of return. This site states that organic food has "63% higher in calcium, 73% higher in iron, 118% higher in magnesium, 178% higher in molybdenum, 91% higher in phosphorus, 125% higher in potassium and 60% higher in zinc. The organic food averaged 29% lower in mercury than the conventionally raised food". So in a way, you're just paying a little more in return for more nutrients from your food source. Even antioxidants are apparently higher in organic food. That's why I buy organic green tea and white tea! As you go through that article, it also states that "the use of synthetic chemicals as preservatives, colourings, antioxidants etc are prohibited" in organic food. --- In a nutshell, it's just healthier. Period. Also, read this article for more insights.

You can by organic stuffs rather easily these days. Unfortunately, we don't have the infamous Whole Foods here in Melbourne. But we sure have lots of other places to go to - there are a couple of stores at the Sth Melbourne market that sells organic produce and health food including breads, biscuits, teas, you name it. Many health stores now have an organic section that sells teas, snack bars and organic chocolates. Even Coles has an organic aisle, although I have to admit that it's a sad selection of items on offer. If you prefer, you can hop onto the Green Line website and place your order online and have your stuffs home delivered. Other stores include Macro Whole Foods(Richmond and at The Glen), and Organic Wholefoods.