They say you are what you eat. Likewise, the earth is what we eat, too! The more we pour conventional agricultural chemicals into our landscapes, the more polluted the planet becomes, harming us and our non-human friends as well. Choosing organic food is a great way to reduce your impact on the planet and promote good health in the process. And we know that when we’re healthier, we’re more productive and less prone to requiring trips to the doctor. So eating healthier means saving money, too!

• Buy food in season! These fruits and vegetables will have traveled a shorter distance and therefore be fresher (and healthier!). And because they’re in season, they’ll also be cheaper.
• Cut prepared foods out of your diet. Pre-packaged foods are usually more expensive than cooking at home and they’re higher in preservatives, fat, salt, white flour, and other unhealthy ingredients, making them pricier for your wallet and pricier in terms of your health.
• Get your produce from a local CSA (Community Support Agriculture) organization to get inexpensive, often organic fruits and veggies delivered to your door! You’ll save money on gas for trips to the grocer, too. Find a CSA via LocalHarvest.
• Farmer’s Markets are great places to find locally-grown, often organic food options of all types that usually cost less than what you’d find at the grocery store. They’re also a lot of fun and support your local economy. Find a market with FarmersMarket.com.
• Eat at home rather than at a restaurant. Doing so will reduce your gasoline bills and save you at the till, too, since most restaurant meals are costlier than home-cooked options. Plus, they’re usually healthier, which means smaller medical bills in the long-run, too.
• Choose store-brand organic foods to save money of Certified Organic options. These are usually good quality but more affordable than name-brand items.
• Ruminating animals (cows, sheep, goats, etc) add significantly to climate change by emitting a powerful greenhouse gas: methane. Eat one less pound of beef weekly to save $109 yearly in food costs.
• Whether you buy your food at the local farmer’s market, the grocery store, or grow it in your own backyard, canning, dehydrating, and otherwise preserving food is a great way to enjoy season foods year-round—at a fraction of the cost. Check out the National Center for Home Food Preservation for ideas and tips.

If you can’t afford to buy all of your food organically, go for those options that would otherwise be the most laced with pesticides. Check out this Dirty Dozen list for those fruits and veggies that should be at the top of your “organic foods to buy” list.