One of the biggest criticisms of the organic, locavore, sustainable food etc. lifestyle is that it costs too damn much to be realistic. In other words, I may know that an organic red pepper is better for me and the world, but at $8/lb (versus $2/lb for the conventional pepper), I can’t always justify spending the extra money.

The problem is, the epicure in me gets a little twitchy if I don’t have a fairly regular influx of artisanal cheese or fresh, organic greens in the house. And these days my weekly feeding schedule includes Shabbat dinner and lunch, which, by way of being festive meals, deserve better-than-average food. So how do I satisfy my need for good food without breaking the bank?

Family lore tells me that my grandma Martha was able to stretch one chicken into a nourishing meal for six people, with leftovers. I unfortunately did not inherit this gift, but I have picked up some tricks for eating well on a budget without resorting to dumpster diving (don’t worry Mom, I’m over that phase), or existing on the starving artist fare of rice and beans, or – gasp – bologna and Wonder Bread.

Tips for Eating Sustainably on a Budget

Buy in bulk - Wherever I can purchase beans and grains in bulk, that’s where I shop. The same 12 ounces of quinoa or whole wheat pasta cost significantly more when they come in a plastic package than when they’re scooped from a bin. And this way, my grains line my counters in pretty glass jars, as opposed to cluttering up the cabinet.

Know your priorities – If you can’t afford to buy all organic or local (and really, who can?), pick the top 3-5 things you’ll never compromise on – for me those items include organic milk, free-range eggs, and local apples – and give yourself a break if you can’t always swing the “ethical” choice on everything else.

Bring breakfast (and lunch) to work – I used to buy coffee and a muffin 3-4 times a week. Later in the day, I would purchase a rushed lunch that I could eat at my desk, charging the $10-12 dollars of soup and salad or Thai food onto my credit card. Not only did these daily indulgences cut into my spending money, but I wasn’t eating particularly healthily either. These days, I leave a stash of breakfast foods in the office fridge and – on the days I work from the office – I attempt to bring a sandwich or leftovers from home. (It doesn’t always happen, but on the days it does, I feel nourished and not guilty for spending money on food I don’t really want.)

Join a CSA – Community-Supported Agriculture, where you pre-pay for a season’s worth of veggies from a local farmer and pick them up once a week from a convenient location, is the best good food money-saving tip I can think of. Although paying a couple hundred dollars in advance can be difficult to swallow, many CSAs offer sliding scale payment systems or let you pay in installments. And since you’re paid up before the season starts, you every time you pick up your produce, you feel like you’re getting something amazing for free. Check out Hazon’s Jewish CSA program, Tuv Ha’Aretz, here and another national database of CSAs here.

Embrace COFP (Clean Out The Fridge Pasta) – During the summer months, when I’m picking up CSA vegetables every week, it can be hard to eat everything before it goes bad – which is definitely a waste of money. But I recently saw a brilliant post on Culinate for COFP (essentially a hearty pasta dish topped with whatever beans, veggies, stock, meats, tofu, etc. you have around the house) that allows me to use up all the odds and ends in the fridge, and have a nourishing, delicious meal (or two!)

Don’t skimp on Shabbat – Weight Watchers is famous for its “flex plan” concept that allows you to eat healthily for most of the week, but plan in a few moments of indulgence. In my opinion, every budget-conscious diet should include a flex plan moment for Shabbat. Go ahead and get that amazing chocolate bar – it’s a holiday!

Drink tap water instead of beer (or wine, juice, or soda) – It’s the healthier for you and, at least for now, virtually free. This is an especially relevant tip for those nights that you eat out at restaurants when an extra drinks tab can significantly hoise up the bill.

Have other tips for eating well on a budget? Leave a comment below!

(Photo credit: The Tea & Cookies blog)