3 Ways to Find Coupons for Fresh, Natural Foods

Extreme couponers may be saving big bucks, but they seem to be eating a lot of packaged, processed foods. That's because few, if any, of the coupons in a typical Sunday newspaper are for sustainable, organic or natural products. As a result, shoppers like me, who prefer to buy more natural products, rarely use coupons. But it doesn't have to be that way.

"Despite popular belief, there are indeed coupons for healthy foods and sustainable household products," says Sarah Eve Fulghum, social media manager for couponing site AFullCup. "But it's true that most of the coupons available are not, so be prepared to put in a little extra effort to find coupons for healthier items."

The good news is that since avoiding processed foods and buying sustainable products is more expensive anyway, consumers who prefer these products will actually benefit the most from couponing, Fulghum says. Here are three ways to find and use coupons for natural products.

1. Seek out favorite manufacturers. If you like products from certain companies such as Nature Valley or Earthbound Organics, sign up for the company's newsletter, "like" the company on Facebook, or Google the brand name and the word "coupons." While they may not run coupons in your newspaper insert, many offer special "members only" coupons to their newsletter or Facebook groups. In addition, sites like MamboSprouts and OrganicDeals aggregate coupons from many different organic and natural food companies.

2. Get to know your local stores. Chances are your local health food store also offers coupons or discounts of its own, so ask. The coupons may be available online, in the store or through a customer loyalty card. By using store coupons and combining them with manufacturers' coupons, you'll get the most savings, Fulghum says.

3. Buy in-season and local. Check the grocery ads for the produce that's in season and on sale, and buy it at its lowest price. To really save money, stock up on your favorite produce in season and learn to can or freeze it. If you don't know what's in season for your area, search by state and time of year at SustainableTable (scroll to the bottom of the page). To find other local options for fresh produce, such as co-ops, Community Supported Agriculture, farmers markets and organic buying clubs, visit LocalHarvest. And if you want to save money by buying directly from a farm, visit the searchable database of farms that sell directly to the public at EatWild. Some farms and farmers markets offer their own coupons to customers.

Read more: Living Green: 10 Ways to Be a Locavore and 8 Simple Tips to Start Canning