Shopping at Whole Foods (aka "Whole Paycheck")can be a bit financially scary for the first time shoppers. I've caught myself staring at the organic almond butter ($16.99 a pound), off season watermelons that ring up at $20.00 and my favorite crackers that are .20 cents each.

In a world today where you can get $1.00 cheese burgers no wander so many people choose to avoid healthy foods.

This always leads me back to the same thing - THE FINANCIAL WORTH OF GREAT HEALTH CAN NOT BE MEASURED!

Adding some vegetarian days to your life and choosing organic instead of conventional foods could add years to your life.

Vegetarian foods are usually much less expensive then animal based foods.

If you drop red meat, poultry and fish from your diet several times a week, you'll find plant proteins cheaper than the equivalent amount of animal protein. The cheapest cuts of beef, such as ground round, average $3 per pound in U.S. cities (lean and extra lean); boneless chicken breasts cost $3.40 a pound; and canned tuna is about $2 per pound.

Contrast that with dried beans and lentils at less than $1 a pound and rice well below $1 per pound.

Here are 5 tips to eat healthy organic foods on a budget:

1. Shop at your local farmers' markets. Farmers' markets are great sources of fresh local produce. A just-picked tomato from a local farm tastes better than a tomato that's traveled thousands of miles before reaching a supermarket shelf. Local farmers tend to be much less expensive than the grocery store.

2. Buy your foods in bulk. Whether you're shopping at a natural foods store, supermarket or co-op, buying in bulk is a great way to stretch your food dollar.

For beans, grains, lentils and nuts, head straight for the bulk containers. Just make sure you have a cool, dry place in your kitchen to store your dry goods for a few months. You can save on storage space by splitting your stash with a friend.

3. Buy in season. Your favorite fruits and veggies will always cost less in season.

4. Seek out a store's private label for significant savings. The store brands are often 20% less expensive than national brands. For example, Whole Foods has about 185 items in its "365 Organic Everyday Value" line, from hearty whole grain cereals to barbecue sauce.

5. Be on the lookout for coupons. Many natural products have coupons right on the package to be redeemed at checkout. Visit company websites. Many offer coupons and or incentives to try their products. Two great sites to look for coupons are stonyfieldfarms.com and mambosprouts.com.

Remember, the more people that buy organic food, the more consumer demand that's created, the more prices will be driven down and the organic food market will get more competitive

As a wise saying goes, the best reason to eat organic is that pesticides don't know when to stop killing.

Now answer honestly: Can you afford NOT to eat whole organic food?

To great health always,
Deanna Latson