Friday, March 1, 2013

Organic Panic

Health gurus will tell you that the only way to eat is all organic, all natural, only grass- fed beef...  They try to make you believe that it's an all or nothing situation.  

But, I live in the real world.  I don't have an unlimited food budget.  I have 6 people to feed and I can't spend all my money on organic foods- and truthfully, some of them aren't any better than the regular foods ;)

So what do you do if you're on a budget?  Be smart about how you shop.  If you have access to a farmer's market, talk to the farmers.  Many of them practice organic farming, but because of the cost involved in being certified, aren't.  You can get organic fruits and vegetables at the farmer's market cheaper than you can in the store.  

If you do have to shop at the store, use the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists to help you decide what to buy organic and non- organic.

Dirty Dozen Plus
Buy these organic
1
Apple
Apples
2
Celery
Celery
3
Red Pepper
Sweet bell peppers
4
Peaches
Peaches
5
Strawberries
Strawberries
6
Nectarines
Nectarines
– imported
7
Grapes
Grapes
8
Spinach
Spinach
9
Lettuce
Lettuce
10
Cucumber
Cucumbers
11
Blueberries
Blueberries
– domestic
12
Potatoe
Potatoes
Plus
+
Green Beans
Green beans
+
Kale
Kale/Greens
+ May contain pesticide residues of special concern
Clean 15
Lowest in Pesticide
1
Onions
Onions
2
Sweet Corn
Sweet Corn
3
Pineapple
Pineapples
4
Avocado
Avocado
5
Cabbage
Cabbage
6
Peas
Sweet peas
7
Asparagus
Asparagus
8
Mango
Mangoes
9
Eggplant
Eggplant
10
Kiwi
Kiwi
11
Cantelope
Cantaloupe
- domestic
12
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes
13
Grapefruit
Grapefruit
14
Watermelon
Watermelon
15
Mushrooms
Mushrooms


In the last 10 years, the organic food business has exploded.  With revenues of $27 billion in 2010, the movement continues to grow exponentially.  This growth is good, because it gives us more access to healthier foods, but it can also create a problem.

Focusing on the quality of food (where it came from, how was it sourced,  how was it grown...) can lead many to an unhealthy obsession with healthy food.  They get to the point where their obsession with what they eat creates an imbalance with the rest of their life.

"It's good to eat healthy food.  But if a focus on healthy food begins to crowd out the rest of life, then that focus is becoming a problem." Dr Steven Bratman

Even for those who don't need to lose weight, obsession about the quality of food can lead to unhealthy eating habits.  This can deprive the body of nutrients it needs.  It can also lead to over- spending and unnecessary debt.

Just like in everything else, moderation is the key.  The next time you're grocery shopping and picking up vegetables, be wise about which ones you're picking.  Take small steps now to change your family's diet and soon you'll realize that it's been weeks since your kids had a bowl of sugary cereal =)


1 comment:

  1. i always hear that if you had to peel it, that organic wouldnt make a difference, but hey, i am no biologist, i wash the heck out of everything! makes me feel better at least!

    ReplyDelete