I have been buying the antibiotic and hormone free meat from whole foods and its really expensive! I just read a post under list one diet ideas that someone said they did not have to be hormone free.

It's much much healthier to eat hormone and AB free meats, no matter if it helps for IC or not.  Traditional supermarket meats are fed grains - cheap corn mostly- (meant to eat grass) and given antibiotics to prevent illness which arises form their poor diet, therefore the antibiotics end up in the meat we eat.  It's worth the extra money as far as general wellness.  Do yourselves a favor and spend the extra money if you can, in my opinion.  

While its of course preferrable to eat the hormone free organic meat-and would be the best choice  I know from asking Matia myself that your meat does not have to be organic to order to get better. I think the meat serves as an important tissue rebuilding nourishment. some grovery stores are starting to carry their own brand of hormone free meats - it seems to be a middle ground pricewise for me- not the fancy whole foods meats but not the lower qaulity processed meats. for those who can afford it do it but for those who need to watch their budget - you will still get benefit from the meat and can get well. She has had many patients get well on non-organic meat! I end up doing about 50/50 % organic and regular supermarket meat. Mary

I do not shop at whole foods inless I have to they mark everything up so much. I have an organic section in my grocrie store and then smaller chain health food stores. If you have trader joes in your area I would go there. YOU can get antibotic free with out being organic but of when you can I would choose organic. There are certain veggies that are more permiable to the pesticides too. IF you can grow your own veggies this is a great way to save on money. You don't need a lot of space to do this esp if your only eating a few things.  When I Lived in my apt and had no yard I bought those storage bins and put holes in the bottoms. I filled them with dirt and started the compost in them by blending my leftovers before adding it. I did this for about a month before I added my veggies. I had a few containers. lettuce broccolie and cabbage garlic. I had to buy the cucumbers and the zuchinni and potatoes cause they trail. I also did a little herb box in my window with some basil and dill. My garden is much bigger now that I have space but there is always room to grow. I normally always build up instead of digging too because it's easier then bending over. I have been thinking of getting my own chickens too but I have been slacking on getting the structure made for them. I plan on letting them roam but they will still need an area to sleep and lay eggs.

I live in Chicago. I'm not sure what part of Illinois you live in, but do you know about Timber Creek Farms? They are in Yorkville, but their delivery parameters are pretty wide, I think. I'm just starting to order through them again because I'm finding the meat shopping to be so expensive as I'm trying to eat natural/organic to see if that makes a difference, plus I just don't want those antibiotics, ect, in the beef. I'm pretty sure it's more economical with TCF. Plus it gets delivered right to my house, so it saves me from all the stress of traipsing all over the city trying to get the right things, and figuring out the best prices. http://www.tcforganics.org/

I looked and there meat seems to be the same price as Whole Foods.  I am going to go to Whole foods today and write down all the prices, but with shipping and packing free I think its cheaper at whole foods.  I may get my produce from them though, that looked like it was a little cheaper and you got more.

You might also see if any of your friends and family would be willing to do a co op with you. You could order some meats online I have done this in the past.
Nicole

http://www.organicvalley.coop/coupons/?gclid=CPW27aiUl50CFRQhnAodHmwR3A
http://www.organicvalley.coop/store-locator/where-to-buy/
http://coupons.mambosprouts.com/online_coupons
I usually get the book on this last one and I find that there is the lundenburg rice cakes sometimes I will get about 3 -4 things I can use each time.
http://www.organic.org/
http://www.greenpeople.org/OrganicMeat.html