You likely are no stranger to the benefits of organic foods over conventionally grown foods — organic foods ‘aren’t allowed to be cultivated with nasty pesticides, synthetic growth hormones, and GMOs. But perhaps the price tags of organic items make you wonder if it’s possible to fill your cart with only organic items.
There are many benefits of eating more organic food, like lowering your exposure to hormone-disrupting toxins. The costs of healthcare are more astronomical now than ever, so it makes great sense to take better care of yourself through nourishing foods that don’t have harmful agents in them.
Going organic can have a bit of a higher price tag, but it is worth it in the long run. If going all organic isn’t an option, you can still take small steps to get safer food on your table.
Here are a few tips to help you on your next grocery run:
Always give your kids organic
Because kids are still in a crucial period of growing, if you have to make sacrifices in your budget for organics, then you could just buy organic for your children to start with. Those pesticides and growth hormones can affect their growing bodies. You can start by picking up long-lasting produce that won’t go bad quickly, so you aren’t throwing money down the drain. There are some items that you don’t HAVE to buy organic – because it will not matter… but those are in an earlier post.
Go organic on meat and dairy items
Conventionally-raised livestock is given synthetic growth hormones, and they’re fed grains that contain GMOs. If that’s not upsetting enough, these animals are often kept in inhumane conditions that you’d be appalled to see. If you do choose to eat meat, choose organic meats from farms that have an excellent reputation.
Even fruits and vegetables
Want to know something really alarming? Even fruits that have peels that you don’t eat can absorb the pesticides they’re sprayed with. So when you thought it was fine to choose a banana that wasn’t organic, think again. It’s even more critical when it comes to fruits and vegetables where you do eat the skin. Check out the EWG’s yearly Clean 15 / Dirty Dozen list (I posted about that on FB back in May – let me know if you want that information again) to see what items you should definitely be purchasing organic, and which items have the lowest amount of pesticides where you can skip the organic label.
Avoid GMOs at all costs
GMO’s cause a host of problems and should be avoided. Just a few years ago, GMO’s weren’t as widely understood as they are today. Because of this awakening, it’s quite simple to find GMO-free products, primarily because they’re clearly labeled. So lucky for you, it’s not difficult to make sure you are getting GMO-free items before you head to the check-out aisle!
Switch your coffee
Love coffee? Make the switch to organic. Regular coffee is chemically-treated, and since it penetrates into the beans, you’re brewing up a pesticide-laden beverage for yourself that can take a toll on your health over time. Since coffee is typically consumed daily by coffee drinkers, it’s worth the extra money to invest in organic coffee.
So yes, going organic everywhere is really best for your benefit, but especially important for your kids. And if money is a factor, consider shopping for produce at your local farmer’s market where you can be sure you’re getting organically-grown produce which has the added benefit of being local, too. You can also join a co-op where everyone pitches in for fresh organic produce from local farms. There are options for your better health organically that don’t have to cost a fortune, so check them out and find what works best for you and your family.