This month I was challenged by the Organic Trade Board to be part of their #ThriftyOrganic challenge for Organic September. Organic UK food is encouraging us to explore the benefits of eating organic. The challenge would see us swap our regular weekly shop for an organic one and share how we got on with you all. Does organic produce taste better? Is it much more expensive? More importantly can you do your weekly shop for all organic produce with a budget of £83?
The Office of National Statistics data puts the average food spend for a family of 4 at £83 (not including alcohol or household items).
We were sent a voucher to spend at Sainsbury’s, as their So Organic range is very extensive.
The organic food industry in the UK is growing year by year. We all know organic is better for us; it’s better for animal welfare, it’s better for the environment, but can it be affordable for the majority of families? We wanted to find out.
#ThriftyOrganic tips:
1. Plan ahead. Meal planning means you can be clever about how to spread out the meals. For example, having a roast chicken one night and using the leftovers in a curry or pasta the following day. This means there is also less waste.
2. Order an organic veg box. Organic vegetable box schemes are really competitive against organic supermarket produce.
3. Bulk out your meals. Use less meat and bulk it out with extra veg or beans.
4. Eat seasonally. This means the produce will be in abundance so it will be at the best price and quality.
5. Bulk buy. Buy from a wholesaler in bulk.
Our 7 day Meal plan
I knew that if we were going to keep on budget we would have to meal plan. This helps to avoid waste and helps the food ģo further.
Here’s our week:
Breakfasts: Porridge / Granola / Toast & Jam / Bacon Sandwich / Porridge / Granola / Toast & Jam
Lunches: Scrambled eggs on toast / Ham sandwich / Leftover Chilli / Poached eggs on toast / Leftover Cottage Pie / Ham omelette / Beans on toast
Dinners: Chilli & Rice (£5.71)/ Chicken Pasta (£5.95) / Cottage Pie & Veg (£5.24) / Chicken Curry & Rice (£6.93) / Beef Stew (£8.01)/ Chicken & Roasted Veg (£8.19)/ Beef Pie (£3.10 plus leftover stew).
The shopping experience
I found it a little stressful. I am not great in the supermarket anyway and I had no idea where the organic things were, so it seemed to take forever; not aided by the frustrated toddler I had in tow.
There were a few things I couldn’t find
Marinade
Spaghetti in tomato sauce
Raisins
Soup
Parsnips
What we did get – Our #ThriftyOrganic Shop
Rice 500g – £1.80
Baked Beans 420g – 60p
Cannelloni beans 230g – 75p
Tomatoes 40g – 80p
Chickpeas 230g – 75p
Tea bags 80 – £1.75
Granola 1kg – £2.70
Kidney Beans 230g – 75p
Dried spaghetti 500g – £1.05
Jar of jam £1.50
Sunflower oil 1 lt – £2.50
Mince 500g – £4.00
Chicken thighs 360g – £5.00
Ham 100g – £2.50
Bacon 200g – £4.00
Peppers x 3 – £2.50
Onions x 3 – £1.50
Carrots 750g – £1.00
Mushrooms 250g – £1.50
Potatoes 2kg – £2.50
Broccoli 300g – £1.70
Cucumber £1.25
Bread x 2 400g loaves £1 each
Eggs 6 – £1.90
Tomatoes x 10 – £1.85
Cabbage – £1.40
Pasta sauce – £2.40
Curry sauce – £2.40
How we found the week?
We did have to meal plan to ensure that the food stretched further. We added less meat and used beans to make up the shortfall. We enjoyed the eggs especially and they had a vivid yellow colour. One thing to watch is, due to the lack of preservatives, the organic produce we bought had much shorter best before dates than our usual products; so that’s worth keeping an eye on.
Our verdict
It is possible to eat organic produce and stay within the £83 per week budget, but it does need thought and planning. Some low cost supermarkets also have organic ranges so this might help reduce the cost further.
Here is a little video of our week.
What do YOU think? Would you swap to Organic? Are there any items you always try and source organically? Do you find it really expensive or has the price come down?
Disclosure: I have been commissioned by Organic UK to undertake this challenge and share my experiences with you here on my blog. These are my own honest opinions.
Comments 19
A great post. I have often wondered if this is possible on a budget. You are right though it would take some thought and planning. I might give it a go.
It’s such a tough one isn’t it? Weighing up between the cost and the value! I’d love to go totally organic and really believe it is far better but it would mean almost doubling our food bill!! There are some things I am funny about and try to always buy freerange/organic though… eggs, pork,bananas!
I found this really interesting. I’ve often thought of going organic. However, the prices are very high! As a Lidl convert, my shopping bill is a fraction of this and I can’t justify increasing it for organic. I found this interesting though.
I would love to buy organic more often but I do have to take into consideration the cost when I’m on such a tight budget.
This looks like a great challenge Aby. Most of our weekly fresh food shop is bought through Riverford and it doesn’t cost us more. As you say, planning, using up leftovers and for us, just eating meat and fish two or three times a week, instead of every day helps us stay in a manageable budget. I wholly advocate organic food. Overall it’s better for the environment, there are less chemicals used so it’s better for us and the animals we eat including the animals living off the land we cultivate, it’s more sustainable and it tastes better because you only but what’s in season. Glad you enjoy your thrifty organic week 🙂
Excellent tips and a great idea for a challenge! I’ve found meal planning helps a lot and I go through my pantry/fridge/freezer first when choosing recipes, trying to use up what’s already there as much as possible. I usually shop organic fruit and vegetables and I always try to buy free range meat/poultry/eggs. I do most of my grocery shop online but when possible, I like to buy our produce/meat/etc from the local farmers’ stands and butcher. I agree with Mummy & Bean – it’s better for the environment, more humane for animals and more sustainable – and I try to support those initiatives when I can.
Great post and tips we don’t tend to buy organic normally either. It’s good to know u can keep in budget if u plan well.
ooh I love this! I’m super nosey and love seeing how other families do their shopping. There are a few things I buy organic but not many. This was really interesting, I wonder if I would be able to stick to the budget.
Eating organic is great but it does need planning and budgeting but once you know the shop layout and you have the basics in your cupboard its a lot easier.
I buy organic when I can, I would love to be able to do my weekly shop for under £90 but I find it’s impossible when you buy organic or farm shop meat.
Sounds like an interesting challenge. It’s good to try to eat as much organic food as possible, even if it is expensive.
Well done on the challenge and for a nice video. We don’t eat anything organic in our house mostly because of the cost, but I do think that it has improved cost wise.
I really enjoyed this post. I don’t eat organic food unless (on the rare occasion!) it costs less than the standard alternative. My dad always says organic bread tastes better though x
Fab idea for a challenge – I have to say I would find it stressful trying to go around a supermarket looking for only organic food – I would definitely try your tip of an organic veg box.
I would like to shop organic, but to be honest I tend to try to go local more. Our local butchers has a lot of local produce which has been my focus recently. I would love to be able to go organic/local but it seems to be that much more expensive.
Where I can buy organic I do, but sometimes the prices are so extortionate that I don’t x
This is such a great challenge – we try to eat organically but it is more expensive. It’s good to know that it can be done on a budget.
I love organic food, its good for our health!
Interesting post – I don’t consciously buy organic it still seems so expensive. Well done for your planning! Kaz x