How to find Organic and Natural Food Coupons Online - Updated!

Photo courtesy of MamboSprouts.com

The best way to find coupons is to go directly to the manufacturer's website or to their Facebook/Twitter pages. Some sites will offer printable coupons while other sites may have mailing lists. Don't be afraid to join a mailing list or subscribe to a newsletter. Many times the newsletter will offer great coupons, discounts and coupon links. Create a separate email address just for newsletters if you're worried about getting too much mail in your main inbox.

Links to Organic and Natural Food Coupons

Online Organic Food Coupons - A comprehensive list of companies who offer online coupons!

All Organic Links -.You can locate organic food companies through All Organic Links and see if they offer coupons.

EatingWell.com offers valuable printable coupons from natural brands for food, groceries, and other natural products. I signed up for their newsletter and get the same coupons in an email.

Mambo Sprouts Online Coupons - You can print organic and natural coupons for free from their site

Mambo Sprouts Messenger & Sprout e-news - Sign up to get FREE articles, product information, e-coupons and more! The sprout E-news monthly newsletter shares their latest giveaways, recipes, e-coupons and more!

Publix GreenWise Market Magazine - A monthly magazine that can be found inside Publix stores. The magazine has both Publix coupons and other manufacturer's coupons. You can also sign up online to get a free subscription delivered to your house.

Whole Foods "The Whole Deal" - A value guide that you can pick up inside your local Whole Foods. You'll find more than $30 in coupons, budget recipes, money saving tips and more.

Whole Foods "The Whole Deal" Printable Coupons - Print out coupons from the latest issue of "The Whole Deal"

Manufacturer's Sites

Alexia Foods - Register and print out a coupon for $.75 off their new Alexia Spicy Sweet Potato Julienne Fries!

Arrowhead Mills - Sometimes have coupons on their site.

Barbara's Bakery - Their site sometimes offers online coupons.

How To Save On Organic Produce

Join a Co-Op - Join a Farm Co-op or a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) group. You can purchase a share in a local farm and in exchange, you'll get a portion of the food that the farm produces. You can find an organic co-op or CSA in your area by going to Local Harvest.org.

Buy in Bulk - Warehouse stores like Sam's Club and Costco have great deals on organic produce. Go shopping with family members or friends so you can share the cost and split the merchandise.

Find Coupons Online or at Natural Grocery Stores - Earthbound Farm has coupons on their site. (You have to take a quiz in order to get a $1.00 coupon.) My local Whole Foods sometimes has coupons available inside the store. Also, check out Mambo Sprouts for online coupons.

Look For Low Cost Produce - Search for reduced prices on produce that needs to be used right away. I often find bags of organic spinach and veggies at Kroger that need to be used within 1-2 days. They are sometimes 50-75% off the original price!

Check Circular Ads - I've noticed that some local grocery stores advertise sales on organic produce. Walmart and Meijer have sales on organic produce often!

Grow Your Own Produce - Plant an organic garden in your yard. You can even grow some veggies on your windowsill if you don't have space for a garden. You may spend a little more for organic seeds, but you'll save money in the long run!

Shop Locally - You can find lower priced organic fruits and vegetables at local Farmer's markets. If you don't have any markets in your area, then look for locally grown organic produce at your grocery store. The price of local produce will be lower since they don't have far to travel.

Buy Produce That's in Season - All produce is less expensive when they are in season.

Cheapest Fruits and Vegetables Month-by-Month (Frugal Living section of About.com)

Shopping for Organic Produce

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., released their 5th annual "Shopper's Guide to Pesticides" on March 10th, 2009.

The Shopper's Guide to Pesticides is a tool that will help you identify fruits and vegetables that are the most susceptible to pesticide residue. Choosing organic for the produce determined as the “Dirty Dozen” can reduce pesticide exposure by up to 80 percent. You'll notice that fruits and vegetables that have thin skins are more likely to have a higher amount of pesticides.

The "Clean 15" are fruits and vegetables that have the lowest levels of pesticides. Since buying organic may not be feasible if you're on a tight budget, stock up on the "Clean 15" more often.

Remember that you need to incorporate fruits and veggies in your diet for necessary nutrients!

Image courtesy of the Environmental Working Group

Download Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides (It will be available as an iPhone application soon)

The full list of 47 fruits and vegetables

Read EWG's recent statement: Organic Fruit and Veggies Still Recommended

The Organic Center also has a Pocket Guide for reducing pesticide dietary exposure - It is more extensive and considers the pesticide exposure to farmers, citizens and wildlife who live near farms that use harmful pesticides.


What is Organic?

The USDA National Organic Program's (NOP) definition of organic:

Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too. (Consumer Brochure, USDA National Organic Program, http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/Consumers/brochure.html)

What to Look for on Labels When Buying Organic:

• A food that has a "100% organic" label will have no synthetic ingredients and can legally use the USDA organic seal.

• A food that is labeled as just "organic" has to have at least 95% organic ingredients and can use the USDA organic seal.

• A food that has a label that says "made with organic ingredients" must contain at least 70% organic ingredients with strict restrictions on the remaining 30% including no GMOs (genetically modified organisms) . This food can't legally use the USDA organic seal.

• Products that use less than 70% organic ingredients are able to list organically produced ingredients on the side of the package, but aren't able to put organic claims on the front of the package.

Reducing Pesticide Residues:

• Wash and scrub produce under running water to remove dirt, bacteria and surface pesticide residues. Make sure you also wash produce that has inedible skin such as cantaloupe. You don't need to use soap. (Make sure to wash organic produce this way as well)

• Remove the peel from fruits and vegetables.

• Remove the outer leaves from leafy vegetables

• Try to eat a variety of foods from various sources.
  

Shop Smart - Get the Facts on Food Labels

Print out this fact sheet from the American Dietetic Association to learn about food labels:

Shop Smart - Get the Facts on Food Labels

I also like the video below from monkeysee.com. A Registered Dietitian explains food labels in detail.

There are 8 segments, so make sure to click the "Next Segment" button after each video is finished. It will take you to the monkeysee.com site after you watch the first video.

10 Healthy Foods Under 1 Dollar - WebMD

This is a very helpful article that I found on WebMD. "Even with rising food prices, it's possible to shop for healthy foods without spending a fortune."


10 Healthy Foods Under 1 Dollar