One question that I get a lot is “How should a person get started with organic food?” One complaint I hear a lot is that organic food costs too much.
Let me both answer this question and address this complaint with a story.
Last week, Brian, a new friend of mine who works on the same floor of my office, came to ask me some food-related advice. He wanted to know what he could be doing to eat healthier, as he was “crashing” in the middle of the afternoon. Brian was very concerned that his eating habits were negatively impacting his ability to perform at work, which would impact his ability to make money.
He did not know much about organic and was very concerned about the price. When I started talking about organic food, the first words out of his mouth were “Hey, I don’t make $20,000 per month.”
Brian went on to tell me about the fast-food breakfasts that he had been eating and he didn’t think it was the cause of his problem.
While I can’t say for sure these egg McMuffins with sausage were the exact cause of the problem, I know that they weren’t helping. Aside from the fact that the nutritional value of this food has to be very poor, it is also full of GMOs and synthetic growth hormones, neither of which is good for the body.
So, what I suggested to Brian was that he transition into organic food slowly and begin with breakfast. I threw out the idea of starting with an organic breakfast comprised of organic oatmeal with an organic banana and organic palm sugar.
Again, he mentioned his concern about the cost and I told him not to worry. I said that I didn’t think it would be more than $4 or $5 dollars. As it turns out, I was very far off from that price range.
Let’s take a close look at the cost. Since he doesn’t live near an organic market and might not have found the ingredients so easily, I did the shopping for him and this what I came up with.
COST OF EACH INGREDIENT
Bag of Organic Palm Sugar: $4.99
Organic Oats: $0.73
Organic Bananas: $0.52
Those were the prices for what I paid but he certainly was not going to eat the whole bag of organic palm sugar nor was he going to use the whole bag of organic oatmeal. Let’s assume he used 1/20th of the bag of organic palm sugar and 1/2 of the bag of the organic oatmeal.
The cost of this breakfast now breaks down like this.
COST OF EACH SERVING PER INGREDIENT FOR THIS BREAKFAST
Organic Palm Sugar: $0.25
Organic Oats: $0.37
Organic Bananas: $0.52
Total Cost of this Breakfast: $1.14
My $4 to $5 original estimate for this breakfast was way, way high. Approximately 400% too high.
As you can see, this is a pretty easy way to get someone started with organic. While palm sugar may be a new ingredient for people, bananas and oatmeal are certainly not.
And what was Brian’s take of this organic breakfast? He said “I felt full of energy and it was a hearty breakfast. You’re ready to start your day……This slow transition into organic has been a healthy epiphany about how food can change your day.”
The next time you meet someone who wants to get started with organic food or is nervous about the high cost of organic, please forward him/her this blog post.
The more people we can get eating organic, the better.
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Earleen,
This article was written in 2011, just days after the purchase.
I feel that you are being somewhat dishonest. The receipt you show, to qualify your cost for breakfast was from 2011. 3yr old grocery receipt…Really……………………………
Great post Max!
Were did you buy these 3 items at. So i can get the same brand.
Thanks
Ray
Hi Ray,
They sell these at most organic markets.
Live well,
Max
Forgive me for asking an silly question. Do you just use 1/2 cup almond milk with 1/4 cup oatmeal, heat in microwave for a couple min then sprinkle in the palm sugar and cut up banana?
Hi Niki,
I NEVER EVER use a microwave. I heat the water in a pot (ratio – 2 water: 1 oatmeal)and once it boils, turn of the stove, add oatmeal, stir and let sit for 15 mins or so. Then add palm sugar and fruit.
Hope this helps!
Live well,
Max
This is more like it. This is a very affordable breakfast. Question about the palm sugar, I am using sucanat now and how does this sugar compare to the sucanat.
Hi Leshelle,
I would think that palm sugar is MUCH lower on the Glycemic Index than sucanat.
This is what I use:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005TY2K3C/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=livingmaxwell-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B005TY2K3C
Live well,
Max
Hi Stephanie,
Thanks so much for posting the link to this movie!!!
Live well,
Max
Hi Max,
Important film to premiere in SF on 3/5 about the Dole Company and the banana industry. Just a head’s up.
http://sfgreenfilmfest.org/2010/12/bananas/
All the best,
stephanie
R. Gunter,
If you come up with any creative and unique ways that work with your 16 year-old, please let everyone else know!!
Live well,
Max
I mix yogurt and fruit to granola! Great breakfast and very satisfying! Now if I could get my 16year old to go for it!!
Hi Brian,
So glad you now have a great way to start your day!!!
Live well,
Max
Great Start to the day-