Tonya Kay is an actress, TV personality, professional dancer and danger artist living in Los Angeles. A vegetarian of 28 years, vegan for 18 of those and raw vegan for the last 11, Tonya Kay pioneers the green health movement with appearances, publications and green media (available at 
| Organic Produce—Price vs. Value, Part 4: The Cost to Our Health |
| Tuesday, 18 September 2012 00:00 | Written by Tonya Kay | Blog Entry |
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Immediately, I was ready to raid her bathroom to toss chemical cosmetics, perfumes and deodorants. I was ready to rip up the floor and lay down a new natural-fiber carpet. I had the reusable grocery bags in hand poised for a trip to the produce aisle. Instead she said, organic food “costs” too much. There is a righting of priorities needed in this country when a woman considers organic produce too expensive, but her medications affordable. I can't help but wonder how we feel about the price of end-of-life care. Not for my mom, who is a young woman with oodles of healthy, happy, active years in front of her, but for all of us someday when we approach death. There is a phenomenon that takes over the last 10-15 years of most of our lives that people are afraid to talk about. Society pushes under the proverbial carpet the hip replacements, surgeries, invasive tests, hospital visits, medication concoctions, nurses, life support and hospice workers that for many, define the last decade of living. What is the cost of all that? What is the cost of losing relationships with our oldest and wisest community members because they are part of some denial-based cover-up? Supporting organically farmed produce, if it can save us these medical bills, preserve these valuable members of our society and give us a coherent, natural death, becomes the most valuable thing I can do—no matter what the price on the tag. Oscar Wilde once said, "A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing." I don’t want the same to be said of me. I don't need more compact discs. I don't need another down payment. I can override the new tires, the children's toy and designer boots. The food my family and I eat directly affects our quality of life and it is the first place I will spend my money. I am not looking to cut coupons or corners—my well-being is far more valuable than that. And to spot a good value, we must consider what is truly important to us. Yes, it's time to rediscover our values. This is not a discount body. Read Part 1: Organic Produce—Price vs. Value: Location, Location, Location See also: [Sign up to be notified each time Tonya publishes a new Clean and Green Everyday blog entry on EcoHearth. See a complete list of writing by Tonya Kay on EcoHearth.com or visit her Clean and Green Everyday blog. – Ed.] Help the Earth, Spread the Word: Share this article with family and friends by clicking on the "Email This" or "Share This" links below right. Then see TODAY'S TOP STORIES. Copyright EcoHearth. All rights reserved. Reprint Policy
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Written by Tonya Kay , February 08, 2010
Thanks for writing, James. And the quality of life factor doesn't just apply to the end of life, either, does it? It's the quality of my life NOW that matters most! I wish for my world, healthy family, friends and community surrounding me. I wish everyone the health I, too, enjoy.
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Written by James Reno , February 07, 2010
Way to put the big picture in perspective, Tonya!
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End of life costs and lost opportunity costs I would say are the biggest costs to not eating well. Lost opportunity because your are sick and/or chronically fatigued not living up to your true potential. To Your Health! James Reno (editor) Raw-Food-Repair.com
Written by Tonya Kay , December 14, 2009
Very nice blog Erskien! I admire your obvious flow in lifestyle and your path in life. I need someone to show me how to get organics to my door for free!
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Written by Erskien Lenier , December 11, 2009
I'm a Barefoot Ultra Marathon Runner who uses my running for everything from visiting friends to grocery shopping. I work from home helping people learn about how to get fresh Organic produce shipped to their front door in some cases for free!
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I also help people learn how to create residual or self regenerating incomes from their homes so they can move on to things other than concerns about income production to create a better quality of life. Feel free to explore my blog for info or to contact me.
Written by Tonya Kay , December 10, 2009
Hey, yea! You saw the Vegan Fitness dvd! Yes, that's the first time I said those words, "this is not a discount body" - you are so on it!
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PS - if anyone wants to know what Jean is talking about, you can find the really awesome Vegan Fitness dvd at http://kayosmarket.com And KJ, the reason I need help is because I think I may be too passionate for my own body. I dream so big and take them seriously, so I also live my dreams and ... that spells "too much for one woman" often times. For example, I really think it's a GREAT idea to have organic shirts that say something like "this is not a discount body" or to host a raw vegan food prep class or to organize a group volunteer tourism vacation to work with the elephants in Thailand, but ... I'm running my business, I'm hitting my acting career pretty hard, I'm trying to exercise every day ... I"m only one woman! If I had an assistant, maybe I could be two women! Meanwhile, where I am in consciousness right now is figuring out what I can eliminate from my life so I can take care of the simple things, like laundry, clean water, full nites of sleep and time with my real life family. It goes against my passionate nature to wish for less, but right now, my priorities are righting themselves too. I'm not picking up good ideas unless they are the ideas that fulfill my life.
Written by JeanJeanJean , December 10, 2009
Loved this. When I first "met" you via Vegan Fitness, I took away your comment, "this is not a discount body." It's become a mantra of sorts when (literally) weighing cost vs value.
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*You shine* Hugs, Jean (SW)
Written by KathrynJeanette Cormier , December 09, 2009
My b/f made a "joke" to make sure when you print out your T-shirts, to make sure it also says, "Eat Organic." Because he said I will be wearing the shirt, someone will take it in a way I am not expecting, make a comment to me, and I am going to be contacting all the government agents demanding they imprison the person for the next three life times. Of course, that is not true.
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I think he was telling me that it is possible someone would think something vulgar behind it, and I would not be expecting it. Everyone would know EXACTLY what it means;that it means to eat organic. Why do you need assistant? You did all this other great stuff on your own. But if there is ever anything I can do, let me know. It is not often I find someone who has the same opinions as me on lots of topics. I.e. on your Spring Athlete E-book, when you said you sit down in the grass and do your exercises, I love to do that. But there again, living in Louisiana, they have bugs-and bugs and bugs, and when I am wearing shorts and sit in the grass, the ants lets me know I am intruding their space. I sprayed the OFF (always have it) on the ground, did not work. I buy the cheap rain coats, put them on the ground, that works somewhat. And one more thing, I remembered after I posted to your reply on your other blog. About organics not selling in Louisiana. And I agree, I am absolutely sure there are people in Lafayette who are wanting organics and love that raw vegan diet just as much as I do, I just do not see them, or know of them. But this is what it is like in Louisiana. This state was voted the most unhealthiest state on some survey. Now I do not know how they measured that, cause I know these survey's outcomes can be predetermined. But a great number of people over here, loves doctors to make up excuses why they cannot work, and collect assistance from the government. The system over here is ran that way. When Kathleen Blanco was governor, she tried to promote healthier lifestyles, I think she is the one who made those walking and bike trails on Johnston Street. And even though they are blaming the way she distrbuted the Katrina money from FEMA as the reason for not liking her, that is not what it really is. If she promoted healtheir lifestyles, many of these people would have no reason to collect government assistance, and that is what their problem is. I said that in the political science class, and everyone laughed at me. I told them she is promoting health and fitness and everyone over here likes to drink to much alcohol. Like I told you in an email, if she was in California, everyone would have loved her. But that is the way people are over here. For organic vegetables to really go over, the only way is to change out the people.
Written by Tonya Kay , December 08, 2009
Yea, only on organic cotton, though, right? If hemp were grown in the US, that'd be cool. Or best of all, print it up on reused t-shirts scouted from the thrift stores. Anyone wanna be my personal assistant so we can see things like this through!
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Written by KathrynJeanette Cormier , December 08, 2009
Yeah, Tonya, -sell some T-shirts-have it patented, put it up on your market,
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This is not a discount Body!
Written by jennifer styles , December 08, 2009
"This is not a discount body."
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Someone should put that on a T-shirt!
Written by Tarik , December 08, 2009
Tonya, I've been following your series on organics and have gathered a lot of valuable information and insights. Thank you! This entry is the best yet. Truly, what is more valuable than our health and the planet. And what does it cost us in the long run if we don't take care of these precious gifts in the short run.
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Written by Joanna , December 08, 2009
I think that when people calculate their grocery budget, they should add the cost of their medications as well. Yes, organic food can be expensive. A regular lettuce costs me $1, while an organic one used to cost me at least $2.69 and often $3.09, and I would pay $200 a month on just my green juices. Stressing about that wasn't good for my health, and stressing out about my chemical intake wasn't good either. People who live in non agricultural areas like I do (OK, we grow most of the US corn, but it doesn't count!) should go through a wholesaler, and those who live in California... well, they don't have a lot of excuses :) I once saw a Tim VanOrden video where he said organic lettuce costs him $1. In some areas, eating organic IS affordable. In others, skipping the middle man makes it affordable. There is always a way if we REALLY want to eat organic. But if despite everything, we still eat mostly non-organic, it's because we don't want it badly enough.
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Written by KathrynJeanette Cormier , December 08, 2009
I love these quotes:
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"This is not a discount body." "There is a righting of priorities needed in this country when a woman considers organic produce too expensive, but her medications affordable." Oscar Wilde once said, "A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing." |
So my mom says to me that she's got an "underachieve thyroid" and, although she doesn't want to go on medications, she doesn't see any way around it. What causes an underachieve thyroid, I ask? Mom, being the smarty pants she is, had already researched this enigmatic ailment and was disheartened to find very little information on its causes. But, she says, it is somehow linked to chemical exposure and sensitivity. 
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