Ouch Organic

I have arrived at the sad, sad conclusion that I simply cannot buy my family the high-quality, organic food they deserve. In the summer, we have a share in a CSA farm, and for what works out to be about $25/week, we get more organic produce than we can eat. For the supplemental protein, dairy and snacks I need, I can swing some organic purchases. But this time of year, with the aforementioned plummeting of my income, the fact that we have heating expenses, and no more farm share, I just can't afford it. So, yesterday at Stop&Shop I caved. I try to limit my weekly food spending to $160, and that just is not going to buy enough for us if I try to buy organic. I had to give myself a little internal therapy session the whole way home, "It's ok - they get to eat food that is good PART of the year. When I was a kid, we ate crap all the time, and I turned out ok (Did I?)...Some kids are hungry all the time, at least my kids can be full". Etc. I then called a friend on the way home, who told me that not only was her family no longer eating organic foods, she wasn't even sure if she could afford to buy generic groceries this week.

When I got home and was putting away the groceries, I noticed my list of "When to Buy Organic" foods, looking balefully at me from the refrigerator door, where I stuck it under a magnet after clipping it from Eating Well magazine sometime last year. The list reminded me that bell peppers, apples and celery were sure to kill my children (and me, in short order) were I to buy non-organic versions. I averted my eyes and kept putting away the food. I also noticed that the fridge is starting to make an occasional buzzing sound, which probably means death is imminent. If we have to buy a new fridge right now, I am burning the list from Eating Well.