Grocery Shopping Tips: How to Eat Organic on a Budget

As a parent, feeding your family nutritious, wholesome meals is a big priority. But, sticking to your monthly budget for groceries is important, too. That’s why some people skip past the organic section at the grocery store. Organic produce, meat and other products are expensive, right? Not necessarily true! With the right approach, you can choose organic items and stick to your budget with ease.  

But, before we jump into the grocery shopping tips, let’s define what organic actually means. If an item is marked “organic”, this simply indicates that the product was grown and raised a specific way:

• Produce is grown without the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
• Livestock is fed a GMO- and hormone-free organic diet.
• Livestock has access to the outdoors and is not given antibiotics.

These organic practices not only support sustainable farming and animal welfare, they also keep environmental damage to a minimum. Eat healthy and support the environment; sounds like a win-win, right? 

Now that we’ve defined what organic is, it’s time to identify the grocery shopping tips that’ll help you eat organic on a budget!

Tip #1: Look for Weekly Specials in Store Flyers

Yep, organic products go on sale, too! So, before you head to Food Lion, check the weekly specials flyer online, or grab a paper copy in the store to see what deals are available. Make note on your shopping list of any organic produce, meat, dairy, etc. that is on special. 

If organic canned items or other packaged products are featured in the flyer, plan on picking up a few extra. These items have a longer shelf life, and by getting them on sale, you’re saving money on future meals! 

The same goes for organic meat. Definitely grab a few extra packs of meat, like chicken. They can be stored in the freezer and thawed when you’re ready to cook them.

Tip #2: Clip Coupons

It’s a fact - coupons are a great way to save on groceries! Paper coupons are the traditional way to save and you can certainly find savings on organic products, but have you tried digital coupons? Leave the big coupon binder at home and use your smart phone instead to save on your family’s favorite organic items. 

And if you shop at Food Lion and have your digital MVP account, you can easily load digital coupons directly to your account. Then, at checkout, all you have to do to redeem is scan your MVP card

Tip #3: Make Sure to Meal Plan

Meal planning is key for anyone trying to eat organic on a budget. Not only will you be able to avoid the temptation of takeout, but you can also have more of a strategy at the grocery store for ultimate savings. Like we mentioned, take a look at those weekly sales flyers, see what coupons you’ve saved and make a plan with a shopping list you can stick to. 

For instance, if you see organic chicken and organic broth on sale that week, you may want to consider making a tasty chicken noodle soup.

Tip #4: Use Your Leftovers

Eating leftovers is a great way to stay on track with your monthly budget. But, if your family members aren’t big fans of eating the same thing twice, repurpose them for a whole new dish! Not sure how to do that? Here are a couple of examples: 

• Organic tomatoes and ground beef make a great night for spaghetti and meat sauce, but if you have leftovers, toss them in an oven-safe baking dish. Then, for the next meal, top the pasta with shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan and bake in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until the cheese is slightly browned and bubbly. Pasta bake anyone? 

Not able to finish all of the turkey chili made with ground turkey and organic vegetables? Save it for another meal. All you need is some organic bell peppers and shredded cheese for a whole new dish - turkey chili stuffed peppers! To make this recipe, cut the tops off of your bell peppers and remove the seeds. Scoop your leftover turkey chili into the bell peppers, top with cheese and bake in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly. Then, top with organic cilantro for some added freshness.

Tip #5: Choose Food Lion

“Easy, fresh and affordable” is our promise to every customer. We work hard to offer low prices on everything in our stores, including organic items. So, when you choose to shop at your local Food Lion, shopping organic instantly becomes more affordable. And that means your family can enjoy fresh, organic produce, meat, snacks and more without having to overspend. 

Besides the organic section in the produce department, also be on the lookout for our Nature’s Promise Organic products throughout the store. You’ll find organic items such as milk, juice, meat, canned products and more. There are plenty of other brands offering organic items as well, all at affordable prices. 

And if your store offers Food Lion To-Go, you can easily search (online or on your smartphone) for the organic items your family will love, add them to your cart, pick-up and go (or have them delivered - it’s up to you). 

That's a Wrap!

We know how important it is for you to feed your family healthy, nutritious meals. After all, you only want what’s best for your kiddos. And with these six grocery shopping tips, you now know the secrets behind how to eat organic on a budget.