Eating organic and healthy doesn't have to be overly expensive. \n\nSure, there are some things that are just pricey, but there's so many options that you aren't gonna die if you don't get the Hands of Buddha lemons ($7lb) and just buy yourself some regular lemons (2 for $1- just like the regular grocery) for your lemon zest. Just gotta be smart about how you shop, but that's something you should do whenever/where ever you're buying. \n\n I go to Whole Foods at least once a week (usually Tenaya just because I'm in the area) and do a majority of my shopping at Whole Foods now. We're pretty fucking broke and we eat great....and guess what? We haven't made major adjustments in the food budget to incorporate our newfound stance into getting quality ingredients. \n\nI recently made a big change to really look at grocery providers, comparing prices vs. quality. I think a part of us are so used to bottom prices that when we see price, we don't think about the quality (and time and effort it takes to do so) and shy away. I cook and have done comparisons with certain ingredients and the quality is miles apart when there's a slight price difference. I used to call it Whole Paycheck like everyone else and now I  don't. After crunching the numbers vs. conventional markets I'm getting more here for my money.....unless we come really hungry and high and buy a bunch of unnecessary junk food and luxury items and blow the food budget right out. I'd post all my research, but I'd probably bore people...I encourage people to discover for themselves and look at prices. \n\nI don't do all my groceries here, but I buy enough to know I still adore this store even though I'm the one paying for it and not my parents anymore. Haha.