Low income can be a real problem when it comes to food and it strongly influences the way you are going to feed your family.
This is probably a well-known fact for most of you, but in case you feel like experimenting, try buying a week`s worth of healthy food on a budget for $50-75. Lower income shoppers are usually target to food manufacturers whose products contain toxic ingredients and more GMOs in their offers.
It can be difficult to hold onto the usual food restrictions. In general, it is recommended to avoid the following products:
- Products that include chemical additives, such as preservatives, artificial colors, or flavors
- Products containing neurotoxins, such as aspartame, MSG, or fluoride ( along with other artificial sweeteners)
- Non-organic meat due to the hormones and antibiotics as well as the GMO feed given to the animals
- Products that are likely to have been doused in pesticides
- Non-organic dairy due to the hormones and antibiotics as well as the GMO feed given to the animals
- Products containing canola, corn, or soy in any form because it is almost certain to be GMO
It is a matter of the pros and cons, and choosing what things for you are the most important, while deciding which standards could be sacrificed. These decisions are highly individual and they are different for everyone, based on their genetic propensity for certain diseases, the members of the family for whom they are buying the food, and ultimately on their personal health concerns.
Being backed by a comfortable budget can make you be judgemental when looking at someone else`s situation and telling them what they should and should eat. However, we must understand that times are tough and some people are left with only two options with a two week grocery budget:
- Buy strictly healthy organic foods and feed your family for perhaps 8 out of the 14 days.
- Carefully select which standards you will relax to keep the stomachs of your family full until the next paycheck.
Small percentage of you will go for option one.
There are people who have a big stockpile of non-GMO dried foods and a beautiful and productive garden that serves as a back-up to non-toxic items that are being offered. However, in case you don’t have such stockpile, it means that you are left at the mercy of the food manufacturers.
In case of an extremely limited budget, the normal healthy eating suggestions of visiting the farmer`s market will not suffice. The thing is, as much as you want to stick to the fresh organic produce and consume only locally grown food, the $50 farmer`s market spree will keep you full and satisfied for only a few days.
The Lesser of the Nutritional Evils
You are probably wondering what should a broke, but health-conscious shopper eat?
As all dairy, GMOs and neurotoxins are at the top of the toxic pyramid for children`s development, people who are health-conscious and pay attention to the food their children consume, should definitely avoid all of the above listed ingredients.
If you have to feed your family with really low budget, you should research a little bit prior going for the brightly colored packages with the false nutrition within. Even though this list isn’t fully comprehensive, here are the things to think about when buying conventional grocery store offerings.
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Pesticides
We can say for sure that the use of pesticides in conventional farming is overpowering. Even the Environmental Protection Agency has to admit that the ingestion of pesticides results in serious health problems. They mention the risk of nerve damage, cancer, birth defects, and other effects that could potentially occur over time. However, keep in mind that besides this warning, EPA has raised the acceptable limit of glyphosate. The most susceptible to this risk of harm from pesticides are the fetuses and the prepubescent children.
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Assorted Chemical Cocktails
Usually, the direct indicator of the unhealthiness of a certain product is the length of the ingredients list itself. If the product contains a lot of colors, preservatives, additives, and flavors, it is most likely that most of the nutrients are gone. These processed substances are difficult for the body to break down, meaning that few remaining nutrients can be used. In brief, if you don’t have any idea of how the ingredient looks in its original state, it is probably something that you don’t want to consume. Have you ever seen a calcium propionate growing in the garden or a tertiary butyl hydroquinone grazing in the field? It is simple as that!
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GMOs
Even though the GMOs or Genetically Modified Foods have not been tested for long-term effects on people, there are many studies which suggest that GMOs can cause a host of illness. Some peer reviewed studies have linked GMOs to the development of grotesque tumors, liver damage, kidney damage, a viral gene that disrupts human functions, premature death, severe allergic reactions, gastric lesions, organ failure, etc.
Hormones and antibiotics: Livestock animals that provide dairy or meat products are few with antibiotics, growth hormones, and GMO food. The bad news is that these items reach the consumer through the food chain. As a result to the constant exposure to antibiotics through the food supply, people are slowly becoming immune to their effects. This means that due to the antibiotic resistance, many diseases that could be treated can easily become deadly.
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Neurotoxins
Believe it or not, our water supply contains fluoride, a dangerous neurotoxin which is associated with hardening of the arteries, infertility, and lowered IQ. Almost every packaged food stored on the shelves is seasoned with MSG in one of its many names. In addition, many diet drinks and low calorie foods are sweetened with aspartame. Both MSGs and aspartame are excitotoxins that cause brain cell death. They are associated with seizures, headaches, decreased IQs, and depression.
What should you eat when you’re broke?
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Water
As mentioned above, the water supply is loaded with chemicals, such as fluoride, chlorine, and ammonia. Both you and your kids are not recommended to drink this water. The cheapest variant is taking a large 5 gallon jugs. Moreover, look for sources of spring water to fill your own containers.
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Meat
In case you cannot afford grass-fed meat then at least look for options that are guaranteed to be antibiotic and hormone free. Pork is a slightly better option because USDA doesn’t allow the use of growth hormones in it. Moreover, if you cannot afford organic meats, look for these antibiotic and hormone free options as a supplement to vegetarian protein sources, such as organic dairy products, local eggs, and beans.
Here is a little primer on those confusing meat labels:
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Grass Fed
The grass-fed cows are not fed corn or grains, and they are allowed some access to the outdoors. They aren’t necessarily organic because the grass they are grazing could be chemically sprayed or fertilized. Their access to the outdoors may not be the lovely pastures that you have in mind, but a crowded corral with many other cows.
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Hormone Free
Hormone-free doesn’t mean antibiotic-free. It means something with beef, but it is nothing more than a marketing trick that you see on pork, as USDA doesn’t allow the use of hormones with this animal.
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Free Range
This label means that the animal is allowed at least an hour a day outdoors. However, this also means that they are crowded into an open area with million other chickens, without room to move, or that their cage is put outside. So, just like the grass-fed cows above, take the label “free-range” with a grain of salt, unless you see the farm for yourself.
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Antibiotic Free
Factory-farmed animals are extremely susceptible to illness as a result to the stressful and poor living conditions. This label means that they weren’t prophylactically treated with antibiotics, but it doesn’t mean that the animal is hormone-free.
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Grains
If you cannot afford organic grains at least look for whole grains without additives.
- Barley
- Wheat flour
- Couscous
- Brown rice
- Quinoa
- Pasta (with recognizable ingredients)
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Dairy Products
Conventional dairy products are definitely loaded with hormones. In order to make them produce more milk, dairy cattle are given high levels of female hormones. This causes little boys develop female characteristics and little girls enter puberty at a far younger age than normal. Moreover, these hormones can cause obesity in both genders. Some dairies have pledged not to use rBST, the most commonly used growth hormone, due to the public outcry. The Lucerne brand, for instance is guaranteed to be hormone free. Interestingly, the company that pushes rBST wants the FDA to disallow diaries to put this on their labels. Moreover, they want the FDA to force the ones who produce rBST-free to put the following disclaimer: “No significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rBST-treated and non-rBST treated cows.”
The best option is going for organic dairy, as the cattle are fed a healthier diet and are free of antibiotics. In case you cannot afford organic dairy, look for rBST-free dairy products. Moreover, you can learn how to prepare your own untainted milk, as well as yogurt cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt.
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Fruits and Vegetables
Again, if you cannot afford organic produce, go for products with the lowest pesticide loads. Fruits and vegetables that can be peeled are likely to contain less pesticides that thin-skinned ones. In case you have no other option than conventional produce, wash the produce thoroughly and peel it if possible. Consider the following stand-bys:
- Pineapples
- Rutabagas
- Sweet peas
- Sweet potatoes
- Turnips
- Oranges
- Onions
- Mushrooms
- Mangoes
- Kiwi
- Grapefruit
- Eggplant
- Cantaloupe
- Cabbage
- Avocados
- Asparagus
- Apples(peeled)
Other Tight Budget Tips
You should build your pantry. However, when you have barely enough food to make it between the paychecks, this can be quite difficult. But if you are able to buy one bulk item per shopping trip, in a few months you will have a pantry that will help you make better quality grocery purchases on your weekly trips. So, then you can start visiting the farmer`s market, which is very reasonable priced in many locations, and buying sufficient amount of bulk to preserve your foods.
You should also pay a lot attention to the good hygiene. Make sure you wash the produce carefully and soak it in baking soda bath. Moreover, wash the beans and rice with special care.
Get growing. You can also sprout some seeds on your counter in order to add fresh nutrients. Herbs and some salad greens can be grown in a sunny windowsill. By investing only few dollars in some seeds on weekly basis, you will soon have some nutritious, organic, home-grown veggies as supplements to your diet.
Visiting outlet stores, such as Big Lots or grocery clearance centers is highly recommended. They offer organic options at reasonable prices, and you will be able to purchase cereals, crackers, and canned goods for much better price.
Look for freebies. In many locations, even in the city, there are many delicious foods waiting for you to pick them. Wild berries, nutritious leaves, and dandelions are just few of them. However, make sure you know what and when you are picking.
At least one extra frugal meal per day should be included in your daily diet. Not every meal has to be made up of protein, grains, and veggies. You can also consume soup, a bowl of oatmeal, peanut butter and crackers etc.
The most important thing is to stay consistent and never give up. Never go for macaroni and cheese or some Ramen noodles and call it a meal, even if you are completely financially defeated. You can make much better meal with the resources available. Bad health is definitely not an option!!!
The Simple Truth
There are some things that many readers will not agree with, and this is totally acceptable. Discussing these things and thinking critically is very good because many new solutions can arise from the discussion.
Do some research on the subject and do the best you can with the resources available. Don’t accede to the toxic trial laid out by Big Food and create a plan to provide better options.
