Organic - what to buy?

SarahsMom · January 2011

Hi ladies - I have always been a healthy eater, no salt on food, nothing fried, no MSG, low fat, fruits and veggies, lean meat. I don't like chocolate or sweets much, so no worries there. I do enjoy carbs but choose healthy like wheat bread and oatmeal. So I really try!

I've been a little spooked by reading the labels on processed foods in my house and a lot of those are never coming back through the door again. My daughter loves "pizza bites" but when I looked at the list of 25+ ingredients, some which I couldn't pronounce, it freaked me out!

Anyhow, I bought some organic food the last trip to the grocery store but I became confused. Where should I spend the extra money? There has to be some food where organic doesn't make much of a difference?

Where do you get your biggest bang for the buck, is it organic yogurt, milk, eggs, etc? How about in the veggie and fruit section - guessing organic lettuce is important? I wish I was a billionaire so moeny didn't matter as much and I could go completely organic!

I am also trying to eat more superfoods like pomegranite and blueberries. I really want to purify my diet this year. Thanks for any advice!

wenweb · January 2011

I have a list from Prevention magazine that advises what is worth buying organic and another list that says buy regular.

Organic: celery,peaches,strawberries,apples,blueberries,nectarines,bell peppers,spinach,kale,cherries,potatoes,imported grapes.

Non-Organie: onions, avocado,sweet corn,pineapple,mangoes,asparagus,kiwi,cabbage,eggplant,cantaloupe,watermelon,grapefruit,sweet potato,honeydew melon.

I had read about organic potatoes a while ago. The article said that even potato farmers don't eat their potatoes but buy organic ones. It could have been a bunch of bunk, but I highly doubt it. They know what pesticides they use, and if they don't want to eat them, neither do I!

Hope this helps to get you started.

Wendy

SarahsMom · January 2011

Thank you, Wendy! That is great info, I really appreciate it.

That is so scary about potato farmers, wow! I'm with you on that one - if they don't eat them, I am not going to, either!

Have a great day!

Jelson · January 2011

http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php

here is a handy copy of the list wenweb typed out. there are 12 fruits/veggies it is worth buying organic and 15 not so much. The Environmental Working Group has analyzed and rated cosmetics, sunscreens and other products for toxins we should be trying to avoid.

Glad I saw this thread, it helps firm my resolve to be a more conscious shopper.

Julie E

SarahsMom · January 2011

Thanks so much to all. We're eating organic where we can now, especially the dirty dozen! I also bought "Fit", the spray you use to wash fruits and veggies before eating. Says it removes 95% more chemicals that water alone. Appreciate your insight!

Over to what we put on our bodies, check out this site:

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/

Scary!!!

LizM · January 2011

I buy mostly organic. On the top of my list to buy organic are: organic chicken and beef (regular beef has added hormone rBGH), organic fruits and veggies, especially berries, apples, bell peppers, celery, cheries, grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes and spinach. Okay to buy non-organic: asparagas, avocadoes, bananas, broccoli, cauliflowers, corn, kiwi, mangoes, onions, apapya, pinapples and peas. I also always buy organic yogurt and dary products due to cows in the US being treated with the growth hormone rBGH.