You are right, the health food store can be expensive. Is there anyone you know in your area who has tapped into the local/health food avenues? Such a person may know of a co-op, a local farm, a local meat provider. Your best bets for economical, healthy foods are direct from local providers. Do you have a local free weekly “shopper” newspaper? I’ve found that local farms tend to advertise there for their eggs, meat, raw milk, gleanings from the harvest, etc.

For non-perishables and pantry items, your most economic choice is to join a co-op with a health food distributor such as Azure Standard or United Natural Foods. If there is no co-op nearby, your health food store may allow you to place large bulk items through them for a discount.

Online sources for local farms (if they have chosen to list themselves) are: http://localharvest.org/

The last Mother Earth News had an article for tips on how to cut a food bill by up to 50%. I will see if I can find a link for you. Well, their page isn’t loading right now. I’ll post again later if I can get to their site for that article.

Please let me know if you have other questions as you read more.

I guess I will just have to keep reading your blog!

Your first question had to do with healthy foods being more expensive. Well, this can be true. If we don’t find other ways to cut back (buying less convenience foods, not going out to eat, buying in bulk, seeking out unconventional food sources) then shopping at a health food store can be a budget breaker. I hardly ever go to the health food store. Maybe if I was single or if it was just me and my husband, but to feed a family at health food store prices could be very expensive (you could keep costs down by being very choosy and mostly buying in bulk, though). When we first started eating healthfully, our budget was high. Over time, we’ve found ways to pare it down, such as buying through two co-ops, getting produce from local farms, and doing without foods that aren’t local or in season. But still, I know we spend more on food than other people. However, we are hardly ever sick and don’t have medicines or doctor visits to pay for. We are content being home and don’t have expenses for eating or entertainment out. I am just speaking for us and don’t mean to suggest that the choices we’ve made are better or more right than anyone else’s. This is how we’ve made it work.

When I spoke of not going to the grocery store, I was speaking specifically of purchasing food there. I realize now that many people purchase toiletries at their grocery store. I am not/was not in the habit of doing this. I didn’t realize that by saying this, I could give the impression that I make all my own toiletries! While I do make soap and I do use vinegar and baking soda for much of my cleaning, we still purchase other toiletries items. I make some of my purchases at a local walmart-type store called Bi-Mart and I also order toiletries through Azure Standard, as well as stocking up on others from my every-few-months trips to Trader Joe’s.

If you’re looking for recipes, the net is full of them. Do you have any specific recipes you’d like? I can help you find some.

Dana, I would love to be a help to you. Please realize though that making these choices is different for every family. This is not only because of what is in our hearts, but also because of where we live and what our situations are. You have challenges with the work you do, so in your case, I would encourage you to look for simple recipes using simple ingredients. Many of my recipes are this way. Now I may use ingredients that conventional stores don’t carry, but once acquired they are easy to use. I hate to cook complex foods/recipes, with a few exceptions.

Please take a look around here and feel free to write to me if you have more questions. I have chosen to answer your questions here in the comments, since I feel that this discussion may be beneficial to others who visit here. I would like to encourage you or anyone else to offer their thoughts, questions or comments. I have so much learn, and money and time to save, and my family is always pursuing the right path, just like you!

God bless you and your family!

Have a pleasant day!

Dana