Organic food costs more. It’s a plain and simple fact. So, when counseling a family about whether to spend this money or not, the one question I always have them consider is this…
“Is your child’s health and future worth spending the money?”
If the answer is “Yes”, then the money is worth it. You can find ways to afford organic foods and you can pick and choose which foods are the “dirtiest” to always buy organic. The Environmental Working Group looks at the food supply and data from laboratory tests done by the USDA Pesticide Testing Program and information from the Food and Drug Administration. This organization publishes “The Dirty Dozen” yearly giving consumers the information they need to buy cleaner. You can lower the amount of pesticides your child’s body is exposed to by avoiding the 12 most contaminated or “dirty” fruits and vegetables. Buy only ORGANIC when purchasing the following fruits and vegetables:
1. APPLES
2. CELERY
3. SWEET BELL PEPPERS
4. PEACHES
5. STRAWBERRIES
6. NECTARINES – imported
7. GRAPES
8. SPINACH
9. LETTUCE
10. CUCUMBERS
11. BLUEBERRIES — domestic
12. POTATOES
Plus…. GREEN BEANS and KALE/GREENS
The following fruits and veggies were considered ‘CLEANER’ by the Environmental Working Group’s study of pesticide contents of foods. So, if your budget is a little tight, choose the fruits and veggies listed above ORGANIC and purchase the following fruits and veggies as non-organic. They are considered lower in pesticides…
1. ONIONS
2. CORN — but most corn in the US is GMO – so organic is a better choice
3. PINEAPPLES
4. AVOCADO
5. CABBAGE
6. SWEET PEAS
7. ASPARAGUS
8. MANGO
9. EGGPLANT
10. KIWI
11. CANTALOUPE — domestic
12. SWEET POTATOES
13. GRAPEFRUIT
14. WATERMELON
15. MUSHROOMS
So what does “Organic” mean? Organic food refers to foods grown and processed without chemical toxins, artificial ingredients, chemical preservatives or ionizing radiation. The guidelines for organic foods were established in 2002 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. To label their product as “Organic” a company pays an additional fee to use the label which increases the cost of the product.
Why is it important to choose organic foods for your child? Non-organic foods contain chemical toxins from pesticides, artificial ingredients like food dyes which are made from petroleum, and chemical preservatives like BHT. Giving your child non-organic foods pollutes your child’s body with these substances. These substances weaken the immune system, cause cancer, cause inflammatory conditions in the body, cause allergies, promote obesity, and disturb the normal bodily functions. Many countries ban substances that are allowed in the U.S. food supply.
Making healthier choices for your child is your job as a parent. Choose organic food as much as you can. Buying organic food is a health decision you make for your kid.