Organic Fruit ©Dawn Riccardi Morris
Fruit ©Dawn Riccardi Morris
What do strawberries, grapes, apples, blueberries, and nectarines all have in common?
In addition to the more obvious answers, they're part of Environmental Working Group's Dirty Dozen List of Fruits and Vegetables. So, if you're having trouble deciding which produce to buy organic, that list will really come in handy! I have one on my refrigerator.
Why should you spend extra money on organic food?
If you eat these fruits on a regular basis (and especially if your children do), you could be gradually accumulating a significant amount of pesticide residues in your body if you don't buy organic ones. I don't know about you, but there's enough pollution in the air that we don't have control over. Why eat pesticides if you don't have to?
Organic food might cost a bit more, but if you change your mindset, and buy fewer pre-packaged items, your whole family will be a lot healthier.
For example, why not replace that bag of chips with a bowl of organic cherries? Or, make a smoothie with yogurt, strawberries, blueberries, and bananas? Fruit is a much healthier option than sugary and salty snacks, not to mention a lot less calories!
These days, we have to be careful which companies we buy products from, including (especially) food manufacturers. If you haven't seen the documentary, Food, Inc. yet, it really is a must-see movie for American adults (and mature teenagers). It's now available to buy or rent, but have a box of tissues handy when you watch it. It'll change the way you think about food. You can find more information at a prior post.
So, we don't usually think of being a picky eater as a positive thing, but the more we watch what we put in our mouths, the healthier we will all be. We have to be picky when it comes to our health. We have to demand better, and use our wallets to "vote" for the best products.
So, why not spend more time in your organic produce aisle? It could change your life.
Here are some prior posts which might be of interest to you:
By the way, not all sunscreens are equally safe and effective, either. Here's EWG's 2010 Sunscreen Guide. Yes, parents have a lot to worry about. But if we accept any old product, we're only hurting ourselves in the long run.
