I just saw this trailer yesterday and I have to see this!  This looks to be sort of an eco-version of the Super Size Me documentary, yet more funny and entertaining.  (I was mostly just grossed out and horrified by the latter).  “No Impact Man” is an extreme one year project by Colin Beavan and his family, in research of his book.  I love his wife in this trailer - so real and honest and how I’m sure the majority of us would feel if our man came to us and asked us to do such a thing.  It seems a little unbelievable that anyone could have absolutely “no impact” (on the planet) in one year, but I’m sure willing to watch and find out how this family tries to do so.

Colin can be found on his blog, or at Crazy Sexy Life (founded by Kris Carr, subject of the medical journey documentary, Crazy Sexy Cancer). 

Is it just me or does any else notice the blatant, obvious fact that glares at me each time I stroll down the grocery store aisle or flip through a popular glossy?  The term “organic” used to equate with “crunchy” and those who cared about it were typically confined to stereotypes like “granola munchers” or “hippies”.  Now “organic” is just about the trendiest bandwagon that can be jumped on and because of this, for the most part, it has lost it’s true meaning and many consumers believe that ‘organic’ automatically equals ‘healthy’ and others honestly have no idea what ‘organic’ really is, just that it’s somehow better.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that organic cigarettes are not good for you, though savvy marketers know that by slapping this magic word on their label, they will likely increase sales, unfortunately.  The same is true for most organic candy, cakes and cookies.  Many consumers buy because they read “organic” next to candy and think “wow, I can eat as much as I want without the guilt because it’s organic so it must be good for me!”.  I hate to break it to them, but the only different between consuming a whole bag of organic cookies and a whole bag of conventional cookies is that the organic variety contains ingredients that might have been grown without the use of pesticides and fertilizers.  It does not mean that you will gain any less weight or be any healthier than you were before.  ‘Organic’ also doesn’t simply mean ‘natural’, which many buyers get confused about.

So what’s my point?  My point is that if you retain common sense when buying organic, you may just save some money in the process.

1).  Don’t Judge A Book By The Cover:

Don’t take the front of the package at face value.  Marketers are ultra~savvy and know just how to position their product to appeal to the masses.  Don’t forget to flip the product around and peruse the ingredients before tossing it into your cart.  Afterall, why pay premium prices if the contents are not all that different from the conventional variety?!  Know how much organic content it actually contains.  If it contains just one or two organic ingredients so the company can slap the word “organic” on the front label, it’s likely been washed in green (aka greenwashed).

2). Know Why You Buy: 

If you’re comfortable chowing down an entire organic chocolate cake in one sitting, but would never dream of buying conventional apples ~ you may not be interested in healthy eating, you may be a victim of trendy eating.  The most important thing is to be conscious of your decisions and explore your options.  Using a product just because your mom did or your mom’s mom did, doesn’t mean it’s the best or the most healthy.  Ask questions, read ingredients, do your homework, know what’s toxic and unhealthy…don’t do it because it’s just always been done that way, because you don’t have to ~ you have options and resources to discover more information than our mom or our mom’s mom did.

3). Learn To Spot The Seal:

The USDA seal that is.  This is a symbol to indicate that the product has been approved and verified as containing certified organic ingredients by the Unitied States Department of Agriculture, most specifically their National Organic Program.  It the product name or description contains the word “organic”, there is no way to really be sure unless you see this seal on the label.

4). Buy Store Brand Organic & Save: 

In my neck of the woods, I have access to a big box Superstore, which is a huge, and an oftentimes overwhelming place that I can find apples, car batteries and dishes all in the same place.  Make no mistake, it is a mega~store, but it does contain an organic gem amongst all the stuff…lower organic food prices.  Oftentimes I find organic produce at the exact price (or sometimes lower) as the conventional varieties and packaged or canned organic food in the store’s brand is definitely comparable in terms of price.  Find out if your store has their own organic brand (that has the USDA seal) and you could save big time!

5). Can’t afford organic? Buy local & healthy:

If you just don’t have the funds to splurge on the organic version, buy local and healthy (i.e. produce).  After all, the reason we should want to buy, eat and support organic is to be more healthy and support the reduction of toxins in our body and environment.  I believe ‘organic’ to be the most healthy option in terms of produce and most food, but sometimes the cost is double or triple that of the conventional variety and it can be difficult to justify that cost.  Visit your local farmer’s market, shop at health food stores, always keep your eyes open for sales or consider joining a produce Co~op.  Consume lots of vegetables and fruit, organic or not, and think twice about splurging on organic treats if you’re interested in health and/or weight.  If you cut back on all the junk food (organic or not), you’ll likely be able to afford to spend more on whole organic food and/or products.

6). Know The Code:

Have you ever wondered what the little stickers on produce represent or why they are there?  There is actually a purpose other than annoying you while you try to peel them off without leaving any adhesive behind.  I learned the little secret from Sophia Uliano, author of best selling book, Gorgeously Green.  Bottom line, if it’s fine (organic), it has a nine.  Codes that are 5 digits and begin with’9′ are organic and have not been genetically~modified.

So what about you?  Have you found creative ways to save when buying organic, do you think its important to always buy organic or do you pick and choose, or are you on the other side of the fense and think it’s all hype???

Photo credit: Nutrition & Food blog