Deliciously Organic

Organic, Grain Free, Gluten Free, Paleo Recipes and Thyroid Health

Fava Bean Soup

Many gracious friends took time to write about my cookbook and organic foods in general over the last few months. As readers comment, price continues to dominate the discussion. Many consider organic food an unattainable luxury item, out of reach for their income level. Yes, going organic can be more expensive, but what are the other costs to consider, and is it really prohibitive?

First there can be the cost of health. If I eat a non-organic salad, I will have a migraine so severe I can’t function. I had days where I was completely bed-ridden in a dark room. To get rid of the migraines caused by pesticides and herbicides, I have to take a prescription drug that costs $650 for a month’s supply. (We’re a military family so the co-pay for those pills was small, but the taxpayers were footing a hefty bill. So now I’ve reduced the amount the government needs to spend each month by about $650.)

A friend of mine wrote asking for advice about her child’s issues with allergies. I gave her a few tips and told her of different resources and supplements she could take. I warned her the supplements and dietary change could cost them a bit more money each month. She replied, “I pay $400 a month for my daughter’s medication right now. If I can find a way to buy different foods (that may be more expensive) and cut out some of our medical bills, I’m all for it.”

So many of us happily pay $4 for a latte but balk at the idea of a $3 bunch of kale. Why is this? In 1940 the American household spent an average of 27% of their income on food and 3% on health care. In 2006 the average American household spent 14% of their income on food and 17% on health care. Wow. That’s quite a change. Why not buy better food, feel better, and spend less time and money at the doctor’s office?

On average, Americans eat out 4-5 times a week. Eating out can be expensive, even if it’s just to McDonald’s. If I were to buy just off of the dollar menu, a family of four could eat for $12. Most of the meals I cook for my family average between $5-10 a meal. So most nights, it’s actually cheaper to feed my family a wholesome, homemade, organic meal than to drive-through the local fast-food joint.

I understand that not everyone has health issues related to non-organic foods. When Elena featured me in an article on Fox News, the readers debated whether or not someone could buy organic on food stamps. I don’t have much knowledge on this topic so I talked to a friend Damaris from Kitchen Corners who was on food stamps a while back:

“My husband is a graduate student. We live on a tiny budget. He works as a TA (teaching assistant to professors) and usually we just live off his income. For about 3 years we had a food budget of $300 a month for the two of us plus our son. I obviously love to eat and love cooking so I would try to buy things on sale, but not junk food, just cheaper produce. I am fortunate to live in California where there is a lot of wonderful produce. We have many all organic Farmer’s Markets but I could not afford going to them. I tried. So instead I would buy my produce from the swap meet, but it was clearly not organic. However we never qualified for food stamps because we had more than $2000 in the bank as savings. We’re very good with our money and very frugal. We didn’t want to spend down, which the social worker in the food stamps office would constantly advise us to do. We didn’t have a lot of money saved but we just wanted to have some savings in case anything happened – and often times things happened. So basically we survived with our tiny food budget.

Then a new law was passed that stated that if you have kids you can have savings, more than $2000. In fact I don’t think there is a limit on how much you can have in savings. Anyway, right around that time my mom and sister came to live with us from Brazil and my new baby was starting to eat solids. It was impossible to feed 4 adults and 2 children on $300 a month so I applied for food stamps. I qualified and I started getting over $500 a month. It was amazing! I was finally able to buy organic. The Farmer’s Market accepts food stamps where I live and Costco also started accepting food stamps around that time. I was thrilled to be able to buy organic milk. I could tell organic milk was better for my daughter. Now we no longer qualify for food stamps again but I always try to buy organic milk. I can’t afford organic produce anymore which is a huge bummer.”

Isn’t her story interesting? I had no idea that food stamps could actually help some families afford organics.

Is organic food a luxury item? Why do most Americans think fast food is cheaper than homemade, unprocessed food? Have you had any experience saving money in other areas because of organics? I don’t really have answers to these questions, but I think it’s a great discussion to have. What are your thoughts?

In light of serving up something economical, I cooked up some fava bean soup. It’s cheap, incredibly flavorful, and of course, organic.

Serves 4

Fava Bean Soup

Before preparing the soup, bring a pot of water to boil, add beans, and cook for two minutes. Remove the beans from the boiling water, cut open the beans and remove the beans inside. Save the beans for the soup and discard the outer shell.

Adapted from Martha Stewart Living.

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Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 cups chicken stock
  • 2 1/2 cups blanched fava beans
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 3/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano, divided
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Melt butter over medium heat in a large sauce pan. Add onion and saute until soft, about 5 minutes. Add chicken stock, beans, and salt. Lower heat and simmer until beans are tender, about 10 minutes. Add 1/2 cup Pecorino Romano and then puree soup with a hand immersion blender or pour into a blender and puree. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with grated Pecorino Romano.
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https://deliciouslyorganic.net/fava-bean-soup/

 

 

 

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40 Comments

  1. Marcy

    April 21, 2011 at 12:20 pm

    Those beans look sprouted. Are they? Do they come like that?Most of my friends who don't buy organic are not buying lattes, paying medical bills, or eating out. They're in between -- they use beans, but canned because it's quicker. Chicken, but boneless skinless pieces because there's less handling and waste. And so on. I wonder if this middle ground is just as expensive as eating out and getting lattes and all.
    Reply to this comment

    • Deliciously Organic

      April 21, 2011 at 12:56 pm

      It can be just as expensive. Buying canned beans is more expensive than dried. The same goes for boneless skinless breasts that are much more expensive than buying a whole chicken. That's interesting that your friends aren't sick or eating out. The people I know who don't eat organic and eat lots of processed foods are constantly in and out of the doctor's office with all sorts of illnesses. It's an interesting thing to think about.No, the beans aren't sprouted. That's what they looked like when I squeezed them out of the pods. They are so cute, aren't they?
      Reply to this comment

      • Marcy

        April 22, 2011 at 1:25 pm

        They're not buying organic, but they're not eating lots of processed foods either, unless boneless skinless chicken and canned beans and the like count as processed. They are, in a way -- but when I think processed I think of boxed or bagged mixes and frozen meals and the like.The beans really do look cute!
        Reply to this comment

  2. Anna

    April 21, 2011 at 1:01 pm

    I make most thing from scratch which, I think, reduces the cost. Buying raw ingredients is much less expensive than prepared, canned, or processed foods. Sometimes it takes a little more time to cook dry beans than to open a can, but spending time in the kitchen is a little bit of a luxury -- a chance to catch up with family and friends, listen to the days news, or just have some quiet time to yourself.
    Reply to this comment

    • Ashley

      April 24, 2011 at 5:34 pm

      What you explained is exactly what I try to explain to people who say that it is too expensive to eat organic. I have found that what you buy organic is more expensive than the pesticide covered things, but you also buy less. When you are not buying processed, already made items and you make them yourself, you do save money. I enjoy my extra time spent in the kitchen making a homemade carrot bread for breakfast, rather than buying a less nutritious breakfast already made. I also have saved a bunch of money by joining a co-op. The only thing that is pricey is organic meat. I have started getting monthly meat packages from a local farm, but we have also started eating many meals without meat, which really saves money.
      Reply to this comment

      • Deliciously Organic

        April 25, 2011 at 8:25 pm

        I agree. I've also found that I buy less also because whole foods satiate us much more than processed. The meat is a tricky one. I hope that as demand increases it will be easier for everyone to find good organic meats at reasonable prices.
        Reply to this comment

  3. El

    April 21, 2011 at 1:32 pm

    This is a great article. Thanks to Damaris for sharing her story. It's amazing. I do try to buy organic whenever possible. For me, it's not allergies but the politics of factory farmed foods that keep me away.
    Reply to this comment

  4. Erika

    April 21, 2011 at 1:38 pm

    I will admit that I spend a lot more money on groceries since trying to buy organic, but, I feel it's worth it. It's just a fact that Ezekiel bread is going to cost more than the off-brand white bread on sale for 89 cents - and I'm okay with that :) What irritates me is that my local grocery store will have "buy one get one free" offers, but organic is always excluded. And oranges may be on sale, but never the organic oranges. I am a "me, myself and I" household, and I've noticed a diference in price buying organic, but I've also noticed I feel better and my jeans aren't as tight. When it gets down to the nitty gritty, I think it's mostly about what matters most to you. Everyone chooses to spend their money differently. p.s. Those statistics about food spending/medical spending were interesting!
    Reply to this comment

    • Bethany

      April 24, 2011 at 6:59 pm

      Do you have a Fred Meyer near you? If you do you should check them out. They often have organic produce on sale. They have killer deals on berries, apples and even oranges. Just last week organic oranges were on sale for $0.88/lb which of course is more than non-organic right now which is around $0.59/lb but personally I would buy the organic at that sale price because it isn't the biggest difference. Not like when the difference is a dollar or two. Anyway, I think that it is available but it definitely takes shopping around.
      Reply to this comment

      • Deliciously Organic

        April 25, 2011 at 8:23 pm

        I wish I had access to a place like Fred Meyer. Those sales sound great! We live on a very remote Air Force Base in S. California so I have to search far and wide for my organic produce/meat/dairy. Can't wait to move back to civilization one day! :)
        Reply to this comment

  5. Heather @Gluten-Free Cat

    April 21, 2011 at 2:33 pm

    Those beans are so adorable! And I love the article. I can't tell you how much money we've saved on medical bills since changing our diets, learning of my gluten intolerance, and eating as much organic produce as possible. I'd much rather buy organic and feel this good than go back to daily prescriptions and migraines. Thanks for the post!
    Reply to this comment

  7. Elizabeth (Foodie, Formerly Fat)

    April 21, 2011 at 7:30 pm

    I've been making a slow progression of non-organic to organic over the past 12-15 years so it's hard to know how much the cost has changed especially when so many other things have changed in that time that also effect food costs: inflation, going from feeding 1 person to feeding 4 people, moving to a new area, etc.That said, I suspect that if one were to continue to buy food following one's old habits but simply replace regular produce, dairy, and meats with organic ones it would be more expensive. However, I find that this issue is not just about buying organic or not, it's about how one approaches food in general. I cook most every meal at home and menu plan for them so I tend to buy less; buying specific food for specific meals in specific quantities. If I find I can buy a bunch of mushrooms in only a preset amount then I make sure I have another meal planned for that week that will use them up so there is far less waste. Approaching my meal planning to avoid waste and maximize whatever is on sale that week makes the grocery budget go a lot further. This way I don't have to compromise on organic milk, eggs, or spinach.I have some of my own food issues that make it very important to me how and what I choose for myself and my family. Personally, I'd rather cut corners elsewhere, like not getting new clothes for myself for a while, not buying lunch at work, driving less to save gas money, or going out less to save babysitter cash in order to have the freedom to buy fresh healthful foods for my family.
    Reply to this comment

  9. Christine

    April 22, 2011 at 4:07 am

    This is a great article. I too chose to buy organic as much as possible--always organic milk, organic veggies when available (winter can be a little challenging for selection), and ditto for meat. It does cost more--a lot more, but it's the one thing we have refused to sacrifice while living off one salary this year. I chose to take an extra year of maternity leave with my son even though I would only be paid for the first year (yes, in Canada, we get 12 full months PAID maternity leave !) and as a result, we have shifted our spending priorities so that I can continue to and increase my organic food purchases, esp as my toddler's diet increases. I truly believe it is all about your priorities and budget management!
    Reply to this comment

  10. Diane

    April 22, 2011 at 7:15 am

    Thank you for the recipe, Carrie! I have some fava beans and will give this recipe a try today! I have recently started buying organic food and spending more time preparing good recipes for my family. I find that it is cost-effective because my teenage boys are satiated. They eat a good meal and then don't want to snack as much in between, so I feel that I am saving money in that respect. And at the same time, giving them better food!
    Reply to this comment

  11. Renee

    April 22, 2011 at 10:00 am

    I assume this is for fresh fava beans, since you're blanching them...I have a bag of dried fava beans that I need to find something to do with...any ideas? Also, some people are seriously allergic to favas...be careful out there!
    Reply to this comment

    • Deliciously Organic

      April 22, 2011 at 1:22 pm

      Yes, use fresh fava beans (thanks for pointing that out, I'll edit the recipe!) You could make this soup with dried beans, just soak them overnight, drain, begin with the soup recipe, and add an extra cup of stock. Simmer for a couple of hours until tender. I've never tried this, but I bet cooked fava beans would make a great pesto! You could put the pesto on top of chicken and broil until bubbly. Hmm...I think I need to try that one! I didn't know that some are allergic to fava beans. Good to know!
      Reply to this comment

  12. Jennifer

    April 22, 2011 at 1:27 pm

    I think that people need to adjust portion size too - most North Americans eat far larger portions than they need to, which drives up their grocery budget. My mother shops almost entirely at New Seasons (Portland) and the farmers market, and she says that by just slightly adjusting her veg to protein ratio she doesn't spend any more on food than she used to. It's also cheaper to plan your meal at the market when you see what's fresh and local, than to already have something in mind and maybe end up paying a premium price. The other issue is that cooking is a lost art in some communities. Food banks hand out instant food and if you look in many people's grocery carts they are full of instant, processed, pre-made food. I really believe that the tract Jamie Oliver is right - you have to teach people that cooking isn't hard or scary and can actually be fun! Thank you for your delicious recipes and beautiful photos - I'm still laid up with my broken leg, so sadly have been limited in my cooking/shopping, but I'm doing a lot of dreaming of good things to make when I'm healed!
    Reply to this comment

  13. marla {family fresh cooking}

    April 22, 2011 at 2:26 pm

    Thanks for this insightful post Carrie. I can always count on you for well researched info on ingredients and organics. I am careful with the food I purchase. If something does not fit into the budget, then generally I wait for the price to come down which it usually does. We do not eat take out, so our money is well spent on high quality foods that actually cost mush less when you take into account portion sizes, left overs etc. Lovely soup too! xo
    Reply to this comment

  14. Jack O'Brien

    April 22, 2011 at 6:32 pm

    I feel like it can oftentimes be a balance between keeping ones sanity and buying the organic/whole foods that you are able to buy. Oftentimes, families have spouses (both husband and wife) that are working 9-5 (at least) who have mouths to feed, houses to clean and take care of, errands to run, ballet lessons to take their children to, etc. While I know it only takes 45 minutes to butterfly and cook an organic whole chicken, the cheapest I have found an organic WHOLE chicken in my area of Upstate NY is $15.00, whereas the same weight non-organic chicken is $4.50. And if you're like me who's living alone, with a very small fridge and freezer, it is almost impossible to "go in" with someone and buy an entire cow to try and get cheap organic meat. While it would also be wonderful to grow my own organic garden, I simply do not have the time to do that unless you are able to create more hours in the day for me. I just do not see how some families have the time to cook, plan, and afford all of these foods that you prepare for your family every day. You and your family are very lucky.I love your website, and I really hope to one day be able to cook EXACTLY like you do because I believe in every word that you're saying about organic food, but it almost makes me feel bad that I'm eating a non-organic salad because I really can't afford to. I've never had allergies, am not allergic to anything, I work out 3-5 days a week, and all of my medical problems have come from doing competitive gymnastics for 12 years (something you'd think would actually help me be more fit haha), and I feel like I eat healthy although not "organic". I almost feel like it is better to try and get people into healthy eating habits rather than switching them over to organics because I believe that is more of America's problem at this point in time. Enormous portion sizes, and the "must eat meat" mindset needs to be changed before people will really catch onto the idea of the organic diet.Those are just my two cents. I can't wait to buy your cookbook though!
    Reply to this comment

    • Deliciously Organic

      April 23, 2011 at 10:03 am

      Jack - Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I never want to give the impression that it's "all or nothing". I agree with you that simply making healthy changes (even if they aren't organic) is good. I totally understand that many don't cook the way I do. My goal is to encourage and give everyone as much information (and great recipes) as I can so that others can make educated decisions. Honestly, if someone reads my blog or book and makes just ONE change to their diet I feel that I've succeeded. (Hmmm...I feel a post on this topic coming up)I checked out your blog - very nice. Great photos. :)
      Reply to this comment

  15. Dani @Flowers on my plate

    April 24, 2011 at 3:10 am

    Very interesting article, Carrie. We have been buying organic food since last fall. We do not spend more money on groceries than before (nobody seems to believe this!), however, we do plan a bit more precise than we used to - we now make a menu list every week for the following week which helps a lot in saving money and avoids buying stuff you just won´t need. Also, we rarely dine out, we just don´t want to anymore since we know that we can control what goes into our food if we make it at home.2 years ago I was told that I have a dust mite allergy as well as hay fever and I suffered a lot from it. I needed to take pills but they only helped on some days. When we started buying and eating solely organic food I did not expect this to get better, it didn´t even come to my mind that it could help me with my allergies. All I wanted to achieve was living a more healthy and sustainable lifestyle by buying organic. Can you imagine how surprised I was when, after a few week, I discovered that I won´t need to take pills anymore to help me with my allergies? I just didn´t need them anymore! I really found this very impressing and it shows how the everyday food you eat affects your health - we all know this of course, but experiencing it the way I did was quite surprising after all.Thank you for your blog, book, wise articles and inspiring recipes! It´s always a pleasure to read :)
    Reply to this comment

  16. Margie

    April 24, 2011 at 7:59 am

    Having never tried fava beans, I looked for them at the local markets with no luck. I could not even find frozen favas. I did a little research on the internet and found that favas are similar to lima or butterbeans, so I decided to try your soup with a combination of baby limas and butterbeans. We usually eat vegan meals - with a few exceptions on special days when we add a little dairy. The first course for Easter dinner will be "Fava" Bean Soup.I have decided to grow some fava beans this year for a new experience. I love growing produce in my backyard. It's totally organic and very inexpensive!
    Reply to this comment

  17. Gaby

    April 25, 2011 at 11:43 am

    I'm with Marla - I love that I can always count on you for well researched info on ingredients and organics!!We don't eat out a lot so it make buying organic easier!I always buy organic for my clients too but I also try and do some serious menu planning before each week so I don't waste any money!
    Reply to this comment

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