Have you ever been overwhelmed at the price of some health foods when shopping at your local grocery store? It can be a little daunting to look at the price difference between that all-natural snack bar and the generic granola bars.
One thing that a lot of people get caught up on is the term organic. It feels like "organic" determines whether something is healthy or not. We're here to tell you that this is not the case at all!
The term organic actually just means that the product has been grown or made without the use of any pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, GMOs (genetically modified organisms), antibiotics, or growth hormones. Now, of course, we are not saying that organic is a scam; organic is better for your body, but that doesn't mean that everything you buy at the grocery store has to be organic (namely, the all-natural snack bar or those organic tortilla chips).
Focusing your money and energy on organic fruits and vegetables is more realistic and affordable. Even amongst produce, there are certain fruits and vegetables which are more likely to be contaminated by pesticides and synthetic fertilizers than others. The EWG (Environmental Working Group) is a nonprofit company that studies the fruits and vegetables being produced each year and measures the pesticide residues found in and on them. The EWG has generated a Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen which list the top contaminated and clean produce items. This guide has served us well and we want to pass on the knowledge to you! So here's our Buy This, Not That organic guide. Let's make eating healthy affordable!
1. Strawberries, Not Pineapple
2. Spinach & Kale, Not Broccoli
3. Hot Peppers, Not Avocados
4. Potatoes, Not Sweet Corn
5. Tomatoes, Not Onions
6. Celery, Not Asparagus
7. Apples, Not Kiwis
8. Grapes & Cherries, Not Cantelope
9. Peaches & Nectarines, Not Honeydew
10. Pears, Not Peas
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