It is not often easy to cook with organic or natural ingredients if you do not know where to look. Organic foods are often wrapped in high prices and clouded in judgment. Many are over-priced, and for what? Lesser, more qualifying ingredients? If you want to sneak some affordable organic foods in your family’s Thanksgiving dinner this holiday, it does not have to be an impossible task.

Fruits and Vegetables

Organic fruits and vegetables do not have to break the bank, although many are worth the few extra pennies per pound. If you are lucky enough to leave near a Trader Joe’s or a Whole Foods (they do seem sparse), the store brands provide a natural – not always organic – produce section that is worth checking out.

Spices and Condiments

An important part of every great feast is in the spices and sauces. Pumpkin pie needs clove, ginger, and nutmeg; mashed potatoes need salt and pepper; sweet potato bake surely needs brown sugar. Store brands like Whole Foods, and Target’s Simply Balanced and Archer Farms, provide affordable, natural seasonings for your Thanksgiving favorites.

Egg Nog and Hot Drinks

Surprisingly, organic and ‘all-natural’ (be sure to read the labels for these claims) coffee, tea, cider, and egg nog cost about the same as your favorite brands. Even Silk, which provides a soy alternative, only runs $2.99 per quart of nog. There is more expensive organic nog, such as almond milk ‘egg’ nog, but it is not something for the typical family meal. Brand to watch out for: Organic Valley.

Cheese and Other Snacks

Many people serve snacks and drinks before their Thanksgiving feast – cheese platter, veggie and dip, or crackers. These appetizers provide another opportunity to slip an all-natural side dish in for your family and friends.

Note: common stores like Kroger and Target both provide a private label organics line. These are affordable and accessible.

The hype would tell an average consumer that organic products are expensive and a waste of both time and money. However, it is natural to want to feed your loved ones foods that you can trace back to a farm, or a sustainable company. Sneak in a few organic apples in your husband’s pie and be comfortable in the fact that you can provide a natural, bountiful feast.

The post 4 Affordable Organics for the Thanksgiving Dinner Table appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

For many, living well is not simply a fad. It is not a fleeting moment that brings organics and natural products in their home – it is a way of life and it is a way to be conscious, sustainable citizens of the planet. Here is a list of five products that prove that labels do not always need to read ‘organic’ for you to live naturally.

Natural Peanut Butter and other Hidden Gems

Natural peanut butters like those found at Kroger and Target are inexpensive alternatives to organic labels. In both store brands of ‘natural peanut butter’ the ingredients are peanuts and salt as an option. There is almost no need to buy organic labels if you take the time to read labels!

Kirk’s Castile Soap

Natural or organic soaps can be very expensive – as much as $20 for a 10-12 ounce bottle of body wash. However, for more than 175 years, Kirk’s Castile soap has been around to provide an affordable, natural, and reliable natural soap for customers.

Local Produce

Buying local produce is a great way to stimulate your community, and it is also a great way to get fruits and vegetables grown without chemicals without turning your wallet inside out.

Target: Made to Matter

Target is a great place to shop if you are committed to affordable and available organics and natural products. The Target brand of organics, appropriately named Simply Balanced, has changed the chain’s sale of affordable organics in the local community. Target’s Up & Up baby products are hypoallergenic and free of perfumes; Target has a tight hold on ‘accidentally’ natural products within the retail market.

Many times, the organics sold in local stores are priced so high simply for the ‘organic’ or ‘all-natural’ brand label. There is no need to purchase an item for the label; the most important aspect is reading labels and truly understanding what you are buying. Taking a few minutes to understand the ingredients could mean a better, greener lifestyle for your family.

‘Kirk’s Castile Soap’ : http://www.kirksnatural.com/.

‘Local Produce’ : http://www.localharvest.org/buylocal.jsp.

‘Target: Made to Matter’ : http://www.target.com/c/made-to-matter/-/N-558sz.

The post “‘Accidentally’ Natural Products” appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.