“But Paleo is so EXPENSIVE! How can anyone afford to eat this way?”
I’m frequently asked how to make Paleo eating more budget-friendly, and I invariably respond with a familiar list of my tips: buy in-season produce! Participate in a farm share! Choose braising cuts and ground meat over pricey steaks and chops! Keep an eye open for deals and specials! Blah,blah, blah—I know you’re rolling your eyes ’cause you’ve heard it all before.
But let’s face it: eating Paleo is more expensive. Prioritizing health and environmental sustainability by choosing real, nourishing food costs more than nutrient-poor, factory-processed foods made with heavily subsidized commodities like wheat, corn, soy, and sugar. That’s the rub: there are hidden costs to the Standard American Diet—not the least of which is compromised health.
Knowing this, however, doesn’t make it any less painful when we see the price tags on many of the Paleo foods we’ve come to love. There are good reasons why they’re more expensive; well-sourced ingredients aren’t cheap, and most small purveyors of artisanal, Paleo-friendly products can’t take advantage of the economies of scale that the global agribusiness giants can. In fact, some traditionally inexpensive ingredients (like bones!) are now rising in price in response to growing demand from real food enthusiasts like you and me. Because bone broth, yo.
I know I don’t make it any easier on you, either—my mash notes about everything from Paleo-friendly fish sauce to coconut aminos have prompted many of you to increase your food budgets. (To those who’ve told me that they’ve gotten into hot water with their more thrifty significant others: I’m sorry!)
But I’m going to make it up to you by showing you how to shave 25% to 50% off the retail price of many of the best natural, organic, GMO-free products available online. And I’m not referring to some janky, off-brand stuff, either. I’m talking about Paleo-friendly products and brands that many of you already use and love—as well as new and exciting discoveries.
“TWENTY-FIVE TO FIFTY PERCENT OFF? HOW IS THIS HUMANLY POSSIBLE?” you demand, shrieking, in all caps.
“THRIVE MARKET!” I respond, yelling even louder, in all caps. “THAT’S HOW!”
In a nutshell, the just-launched Thrive Market offers a wide (and fast growing!) selection of my favorite wholesome, healthy foods at wholesale prices. Like Costco, Sam’s Club, or other warehouse stores, Thrive Market is membership based. An annual membership costs $59.95—less than five bucks a month—and in return, you get access to more than 3,000 of the top organic, non-GMO products available. Paleo-friendly foods are only the tip of the iceberg; Thrive also sells non-toxic cleaning supplies, healthy home goods, beauty essentials, baby products, and much more.
There’s even a handy-dandy “Paleo” tab on Thrive’s site that shows off the store’s selection of products that match your dietary requirements—no guesswork required. Even if you’re not perfectly Paleo (and come on—who is?), you can find stuff in Thrive’s other sections, knowing that every product offered is natural and GMO-free. In fact, no matter if you’re Paleo, gluten-free, vegan, raw, dairy-free, nut-free, allergen-free, or just a food fanatic with a discriminating palate and a passion for real food, you’ll find plenty that’ll float your boat.
As a Thrive Market member for the past few months, I’ve already been placing a bi-weekly order so I can re-stock my pantry with non-perishable, Paleo-friendly sauces, snacks, and other products—and with the discounts offered by Thrive, I’ve already saved more than enough to cover the cost of an annual membership. (I may be money-stupid, but as the child of budget-conscious Chinese immigrants, I know how to spot a deal, folks.)
And believe it or not, I’ve even started buying safe and natural household cleaning supplies and beauty products from Thrive. I know: it’s shocking, given how terrible I am about cleaning my house and making myself look presentable.
My experience with Thrive is that it’s like shopping at a Costco stocked with incredible real food options—all without having to get out of your pajamas. You just browse the website, fill your cart with your favorite stuff, and have your order shipped directly to your doorstep. (Shipping’s free for U.S. domestic orders over $49.)
And to top it off, Thrive Market doesn’t just pay lip service to its social mission of making real food affordable to everyone. In fact, with every paid membership, Thrive donates a free membership to a low-income American family, giving them access to the same steep discounts that paying members get. Pretty awesome, right?
I love Thrive and its mission so much that I became not just an affiliate, but also an advisor and seed investor, along with Chris Kresser, Robb Wolf, Mark Sisson, and Katie of Wellness Mama. If you’re a longtime reader, you know that this is a huge step for me. I never endorse anything I don’t use and love, and I pretty much never do sponsored posts, let alone invest my family’s savings into someone else’s company. I’m a natural skeptic, so you can imagine how thoroughly I kicked the tires when I was given the opportunity to put my money where my mouth was. But the thing that put me over the top was Thrive’s social mission and its commitment to giving all of its members access to better choices at discounted prices. I didn’t want to pass up the chance to help Thrive get affordable, high-quality, real food options to as many people as possible (and hopefully end up making back my investment, too!).
Here’s the thing: I don’t want you to have to take my word for it. I want you to have the chance to test-drive Thrive Market yourself. That’s why I’ve partnered with Thrive for a groovy giveaway!
One lucky Grand Prize winner will receive a $500 shopping spree at Thrive Market, where you can buy your favorite natural, wholesome products at 25% to 50% off!
And twenty (count ‘em—20!) Second Prize winners will receive a FREE 1-year membership to Thrive Market (a $59.95 value)!
Entering is easy: register for free with Thrive Market using this entry form. Once you’re registered, you can check out the products available on Thrive’s website, and even take advantage of a 15% discount on your first order. Plus, you’ll be entered for a chance to win!
Good luck!
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