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Wildly Affordable Organic: Eat Fabulous Food, Get Healthy, and Save the Planet -- All on $5 a Day or Less Paperback – Illustrated, May 31, 2011

by Linda Watson (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars 128 ratings
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Buy Green. Eat Green. Save Green.

If you've wanted to eat like it matters but felt you couldn't afford it, Wildly Affordable Organic is for you. It's easy to think that "organic" is a code word for "expensive," but it doesn't have to be. With these ingenious cooking plans and healthy, satisfying recipes, Linda Watson reveals the incredible secret of how you can eat well every day--from blueberry pancakes for breakfast to peach pie for dessert--averaging less than two dollars a meal.

Get ready for wild savings! You'll discover how to:
Ease your family into a greener lifestyle with the 20-minute starter plan
Go organic on just 5 a day--or go thrifty and spend even less
Take advantage of your freezer and freeze your costs
Find the best deals at your local farmers' market or grocery store
Cook easy, scrumptious, seasonal dishes from scratch

Packed with tips for streamlining meals, from shopping and cooking to washing dishes, this book shows how sustainable living is within everyone's reach. Slow global warming with delicious dinners? Lose weight, save money, and save the polar bears at the same time? When you live the Wildly Affordable Organic way, it is possible! Join the movement to change the way you eat--and keep the change.
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Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    272 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Da Capo Lifelong Books
  4. Publication date
    May 31, 2011
  5. Dimensions
    7 x 0.75 x 9.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    073821468X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0738214689
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Editorial Reviews

Review

San Francisco Book Review, August 2011
“Watson's recipes are simple, her methods make sense, and readers are left wanting to put her ideas into action.”

Curled Up with a Good Book
“Armed with this book and Watson's tips, strategies, and clear-eyed investigation, anyone with a sincere desire to eat well on a tight budget can easily and quickly transition to just such a healthy lifestyle…Wildly Affordable Organic is something of an epiphany, what with the detailed budget and expenses included and the vast array of possibilities. This one should be required reading in high school Life Skills classes and for every household.”

Midwest Book Review, August 2011
“This book tells how to eat healthy on three dollars a day and packs in tips for healthy organic food preparation on a budget, from menus and recipes to shopping and food options. Health and culinary collections as well as general and homeowner libraries will relish this approach.”

Prevention, October 2011
“The barriers to cooking organic—hefty price tags, hours over a hot stove—vanish, thanks to these quick, delicious meals you can make for less than 5 a day.”




InfoDad.com, 7/7/11
“Most useful for its shopping information and its well-constructed once-a-month, seasonal shopping lists; these are what elevate it above standard advocacy books and above other cookbooks containing recipes similar to the ones here.”

Girlfriendbooks.com, 7/20/11
“Remarkable.”


USA Weekend, 7/17/11
“Secret weapon.”

Grandparents.com, 8/2/11
"Try [these recipes], and you'll see that organics can be an attainable and delicious option for your family.”



Library Journal, 4/22/11
“Watson demonstrates realistic ways to cook inexpensively yet healthfully without living in the kitchen. Well written and full of useful ideas and tips…Verdict: With the twin concerns of health and food costs very much on consumers' minds lately, this is likely to be popular.”


Kirkus Reviews, 5/15/11
“A unique addition to the genre, this sustainable take on everyday meal planning is both practical and contemporary.”

 

Portland Oregonian, 6/7/11
“Most of the recipes are simple and time-saving, offering lots of options for on-the-go people.”

 

Technorati.com, 6/27/11
“[A] strong introduction to organic cooking, offering recipes that will appeal to vegetarians, vegans, and people who just happen to love fruits and veggies. The money-saving and health benefits are added value.”
 

Tucson Citizen, 7/1/11

“Part cookbook and part shopping guide, Watson gives readers the tools they need to eat well and reduce their impact on the environment without spending top dollar.”

About the Author

Linda Watson, the founder of CookforGood.com, created her wildly affordable cooking plans after being inspired by a national challenge to eat on a food-stamp budget. She credits her background in project management helping her to not just survive but thrive on just a dollar a meal per person. Her 2013 SNAPcut Challenge used WAO recipes to cook organic and local even on the newly reduced food-stamp budget.

Linda has a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from eCornell and the T. Colin Campbell Foundation. She's had a wildly varied career so far, including developing a top-secret expert system, working with Tom Clancy and Douglas Adams on computer games, and riding the dot-com wave with eGarden.com. Today she teaches cooking through classes, books, and videos. Watson lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with her husband.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Da Capo Lifelong Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 31, 2011
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Illustrated
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 073821468X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0738214689
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 0.75 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 128 ratings

About the author

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Linda Watson

Linda Watson

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Linda Watson is a food evangelist who lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, a veritable hotbed of sustainable agriculture with an inspiring ethnic mix. She started the Cook for Good project after being inspired by the national Food Stamp Challenge: living on a dollar a meal per person for a week. Her three-week experiment became a lifestyle, the website CookforGood.com, the book Wildly Affordable Organic, and now the Wildly Good Cook videos and teachers' training program.

Her ears perked up when she heard that Fifty Shades of Grey had outsold Harry Potter. Why not write a funny book that combines romance and recipes? One that celebrates sustainability and the fiery potential of women old enough to have hot flashes? The result is her new book Fifty Weeks of Green.

If you and Linda wound up sitting next to each other on plane, you might find out that:

* She really believes in the power of cooking a pot of beans every week

* She wants to help you live your dreams by using the skills you already have

* She's lost 20 pounds since becoming a cookbook writer, just by eating real food cooked from scratch

* She's battling ivy in her garden to establish an edible forest garden

* She's taken improv and stand-up comedy classes at Dirty South Improv Comedy Theater

* She's the inventor of the Rudeness Index, used in the language engine for Douglas Adams' computer game Starship Titanic

* She's an optivore and a flexitegan, not a food Nazi, who knows you don't have to do it all or all the time to make a difference

Linda might be on the way to teach a cooking class or give a talk on organic cooking, thrift, sustainability, or creating an amazing life.

Not on a plane? Find Linda online on her site CookforGood.com, which features free weekly recipes and food news. She also writes for The Huffington Post, the Organic Trade Association, GoodVeg, and DrGreene.com.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
128 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book excellent for healthy cooking, with one mentioning how it changed their family's diet. Moreover, the recipes are easy to follow, particularly the bean burger recipe, and the book serves as a go-to core of recipes. Additionally, customers appreciate the book's readability and information quality, with one noting its well-researched content. The writing style is clear and accessible.

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ReadabilityHealthRecipesInformation qualityWriting quality
37 customers mention "Readability"34 positive3 negative

Customers find the book readable and well-researched, providing great advice, with one customer particularly appreciating the "scrimp or splurge" list.

"...This is a great book for anyone who is ready (or needs to) make more of what they eat, eat healthier, or save money on food...." Read more

"...I've enjoyed reading Linda Watson's book, which is obviously well-researched and thought-out. She practices what she preaches...." Read more

"...Even I did not like my bread before. The book is hugely practical, and rest assured, you really can do it for $5/per day/per person...." Read more

"...All of the information contained in it is solid, trustworthy, and backed up not only by the author's own experiences but also several other..." Read more

36 customers mention "Health"36 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's focus on healthy eating and cooking, with several noting it's great for vegetarians. One customer mentions how it helped them transition to cooking from scratch, while another describes how it changed their family's diet.

"...day you can accrue quick meals in the freezer for busy nights; healthful breakfasts, lunches, and dinners which are nearly all organic; and save..." Read more

"...This book is vegetarian (with the minimal use of dairy and eggs)...." Read more

"...Reading about how the project evolved was fun -- it was not easy at first but she figured it all out and passes it on to us...." Read more

"Very inspiring...." Read more

36 customers mention "Recipes"33 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the recipes in the book, noting they are easy to follow and serve as a go-to core of meal ideas. They particularly like the bean burger recipe, and one customer mentions the shopping and cooking strategies are excellent.

"...in the freezer for busy nights; healthful breakfasts, lunches, and dinners which are nearly all organic; and save money over the conventional..." Read more

"...It's not really that much more work and it's so convenient to have homemade food in the freezer and and easy dinner 20 minutes away...." Read more

"...even if you are not going to jump in 100%, you'll learn some good ideas and recipes. Watson provides the details anyone needs to copy her success...." Read more

"...what brands to buy, and how to organize your cooking to minimize time in the kitchen...." Read more

21 customers mention "Information quality"21 positive0 negative

Customers find the information in the book to be good and full of practical ideas, with one customer noting its down-to-earth approach.

"...reading Linda Watson's book, which is obviously well-researched and thought-out. She practices what she preaches...." Read more

"There is some good information in this book, but it disappoints me that the author doesn't stick wholly to organic foods, or rather, allows the..." Read more

"This book had a lot of good information in it and I believe someone could eat organic using this approach...." Read more

"This book is a wonderful introduction to easing your family into a healthier and more economical way of eating, focusing on affordable organic foods...." Read more

5 customers mention "Writing quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well written and easy to read.

"...Watson's writing is excellent as well (though I would have liked a bit more about GMO "foods")...." Read more

"Very well written and great recipes...." Read more

"...It wasn't. Easy to read, but the information isn't anything profound or new, nor do I feel that Watson offered many tips or alternative shopping..." Read more

"Well written. Easy menu and shopping plans. May need to Adjust prices for the year and location" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Anne Speck
    5.0 out of 5 stars Provides the How-to
    Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2011
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    My Dad once criticized a family friend's food spending by saying that a person in the US should be able to eat on a dollar a meal a day. That was in the 80's and I heard it frequently during my own college career. Thing is; we didn't eat on $3 a day at home and my dad could never really tell me *how* -- this book provides the how.

    How #1 -- a go-to core of recipes that are made with basic ingredients. No longer do you need to buy bread and biscuit mix and pancake mix and cake mix plus the baking soda/powder for cookies and quick breads. Instead buy 5-10 lbs of great flour, fresh baking soda/powder, and learn to make all the rest with variations on the basics.

    How #2 -- when you cook, make some for later. By doubling stews/bean/breads when you cook them, you have quick meals ready for busy nights or times when you want a fast dinner so you can cook something else.

    How #3 -- eat more beans. As another reviewer pointed out, this book has a lot of bean recipes. It also has a lot of nuts, whole grains, and high-protein pasta. The author has a good reason for this: peanut butter and conventional beans cost about 2 cents per gram of protein, half the cost per gram of the cheapest, factory-farmed cuts of meat you can buy. That makes plant-based protein a great place to save money (even if you spend some of that savings on occasional meals of better meat down the line).

    How #4 -- have a system. This is where the book truly shines. Starting with investing 30 minutes a day you can accrue quick meals in the freezer for busy nights; healthful breakfasts, lunches, and dinners which are nearly all organic; and save money over the conventional American diet.

    This is a great book for anyone who is ready (or needs to) make more of what they eat, eat healthier, or save money on food. It is also a great companion book for food justice books such as the More-with-Less cookbook or Diet for a Small Planet.
    41 people found this helpful
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  • A. Bailey
    4.0 out of 5 stars Overall I Love the Method Here … However The Recipes and Some of the Particulars are not for Everyone
    Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I recently re-discovered this book. I purchased it initially in May of 2012, when I had a one-year-old and was still trying to figure out the balance of being a new mom, purchasing/making healthful and affordable (!) meals in a manner that is manageable with a one year old.

    I was totally sold on this short book at the time. I read it quickly and that weekend I decided to implement it immediately. I was okay, at the time, with it being "flexitarian", though I feel that is a mis-leading description. This book is vegetarian (with the minimal use of dairy and eggs). In fact I would say 75% of the plan (and if not, at least half) are totally vegan.

    Anyhow, I went out to the grocery store and went full force. This book relies heavily on the ideas behind Once a Month Cooking (freezer cooking, where you cook a large batch of many meals at one time and then eat them throughout the month). Naively I **knew** I would love it all and made huge batches of food.

    And then I took my first taste test of the food and began the following few bites into utter disappointment. The best of it we found to be bland, the worst of it was completely tasteless to us. The whisk bread didn't work for me (although, being 2 years ago now I cannot remember what exactly didn't work). And I had huge portions of food we didn't like at all.

    I immediately became disillusioned with the book totally, deleted it from my Kindle, and moved on. I read other books about eating healthfully in an affordable manner that is practical for busy families. My budget and our eating practices leveled out.

    Until here recently when, once again, I was struggling with our grocery bill, frustrated with figuring out meals, etc … As I was skimming through Amazon I once again came across this book, remembered that i already owned it and decided to download it again.

    Well coming at it from a different perspective (as a much more experienced "practical" cook, with a lot more experience in meal planning and taking the dynamic of family into consideration …) I liked this book much more.

    The book is basically:

    *One chapter talking about how she got the idea to try this. (She read that it was nearly impossible to survive on the food stamp allotted money of $1/per person/per meal.) She decided to try this on her and her husband and see if she could do it. (She could but she found that trying to purchase on a weekly basis made it very difficult, being able to purchase once-a-month and bank the savings from bulk purchases made it very, very possible.)

    *One chapter about the experiment (It started with her bread not rising on the first day and them eating it anyways because they didn't have the budget to buy something else. It ended with her figuring out a ton of ideas to stretch the dollar and still eat mostly organic and her husband saying, "Can we continue to eat this way?")
    *One chapter about what to buy organic, and where to scrimp if you need to
    *The Strategy divided by season and starting with winter
    *The second half of the book is recipes (again, I wasn't a fan of them)

    So what is her strategy? The basic idea behind it is cook one big weekend (stocking up in bulk to cook a lot of food at once) and have many meals, breads, and desserts out of the freezer.

    I am now to the point with cooking that recipes are more outlines to me so I know I don't have to follow them to the "tee" … I've decided to give this method a go again but with some changes:

    1) I am going to be using meat in many of the meals. (Really what's the difference between making pasta sauce and making pasta sauce with meat? Not much …) I love how these kinds of recipes (bean and vegetable centric) can stretch meat: especially since local, organic, grass fed (etc) meat is very expensive.

    2) I am going to be using my own recipes. You can easily google for recipes that work with this method. What I knew to look for were recipes that could be cooked in batch easily, would utilize seasonal vegetables, and freezes well.

    The recipes I came up with are:

    bread, pizza dough, biscuits, and other homemade bread products (I make them up to the point of letting them rise and then freeze. I've actually been doing this for a while with pizza dough, making two and then freezing one. But it does make a lot of sense to make 4 at a time and freeze 3 of them. Then you have a whole month of pizza dough ready to go (if you eat pizza once a week, that is).

    Pasta Sauces (especially keeping homemade meat & vegetable marinara sauce on hand … then dinner just requires heating up the sauce and some whole wheat pasta, adding a side salad if you are feeling particularly energetic ;) )

    Soups (bean soup, chili, vegetable soup, vegetable and beef stew)

    Bean Dishes (economical and freezes well): (bean burritos, bean & taco meat mixture, bean & meat sloppy joes, bean & meat burger patties)

    3) I am not going to do the gigantic weekend cooking. I don't like doing that. I don't like spending an ENTIRE Saturday cooking even if that means I get the rest of the month "off". I plan on just doubling (or quadrupling) recipes as I make them and freezing the extras. As I've mentioned with pizza dough, this has worked really well for us so far. It's not really that much more work and it's so convenient to have homemade food in the freezer and and easy dinner 20 minutes away.

    4) I am not going to take the method too seriously. This is exactly what my problem was last time. We are very blessed and not limited to $6 a day for a grocery budget and we are able to have more variety than she suggests. (Although I read somewhere that most people eat the same 20 meals over and over again and that seems pretty accurate to me.) My plan is to get to the point where I am cooking 2 big batches a week, 1 unique meal of anything we want to eat, and eating from the freezer for the rest.

    So the big takeaway points:

    Save money by:
    Buying some things in bulk or larger sizes (flour for example)
    Buying large amount of produce when it is seasonal and therefore cheaper (or produce you grow)
    Using beans and seasonal vegetable to stretch more expensive ingredients (meat and dairy)

    Have a plan. Plan out your meals, snacks, and desserts.

    ….

    I know this was a long review, but I hope it can be helpful :) I think her "method" and the "idea" behind all of this is good. I think her specific meal plan is probably not going to work well for others due to preferences, dietary choices, and personal taste. However, I think seeing her seasonal meal plans and how she organizes it is a great jumping point to figure out what works for you and your family. :) With everything I've said in mind, I would recommend the book. :)
    123 people found this helpful
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  • andrea
    5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful guide for challenging times
    Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2011
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I followed - with fascination - the hoopla in the news a few years back about congressmen attempting to survive on a food stamp budget. I am constantly trying to pare my food budget - one of the few items in my budget that can "budge" at all. Therefore, I was already pretty sure "Wildly Affordable Organic" would be right up my alley. What intrigued me was the idea that you could eat organic, which I don't buy due to the cost, and stay on such a slim budget.
    I've enjoyed reading Linda Watson's book, which is obviously well-researched and thought-out. She practices what she preaches. Truthfully, I think the menus are a little monotonous for my family, if that was all we ate. I have a wealth of recipes using the same ingredients as are in the book, such as falafel, or migas, to add variety. However, I got some great new ideas for things that it always bothered me to waste, such as bean broth and those woody ends of asparagus. I also look forward to trying parsley pesto, saving another item that too often goes to waste in spite of my best intentions!
    I highly recommend this book for a young person setting up shop for the first time, a spendthrift who wants to learn how to survive on a drastically slashed budget, and anyone who, like me, enjoys reading cookbooks that have more than recipes in them. This is more of a lifestyle -- and even if you are not going to jump in 100%, you'll learn some good ideas and recipes. Watson provides the details anyone needs to copy her success. With this book in hand, I plan to try once more to pare that food budget - and this time, maybe I can try the organic produce, too!
    14 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Carol Crispe
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on July 28, 2018
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    AFFORDABLE AND SOME VERY GOOD RECIPES
    Report
  • Carabella
    1.0 out of 5 stars One Star
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 14, 2015
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Awful book. Regret buying. American tripe with no substance. Save your money, this book wont help.
    Report