When it's Worth it to Buy Organic
Most of us look for opportunities to save money whenever possible. We sometimes wonder if the extra expense to buy organic is actually worth it. Then there are those of us who are committed to buying organic but find ourselves in a grocery store that does not offer an organic version of what we are looking for. What to do?
Thanks to the good folks at Calton Nutrition, there is an easy solution to the organic food dilemmas. They call it "The Fab 14" and "The Terrible 20."
"The Fab 14" are the fruits and vegetables that are okay to eat even if they are not organic - that is to say, even if they are conventionally grown. Examine the list closely and you will probably see why these items pose the least amount of risk to your health. Many of them have thick rinds, so the pesticides don't penetrate into the part of the food that we eat.
So save a buck or two by purchasing these items grown conventionally and don't worry about it.
- Onions
- Pineapples
- Avocado
- Cabbage
- Sweet Peas (frozen)
- Asparagus
- Mangoes
- Eggplant
- Kiwi
- Cantaloupe
- Sweet Potatoes
- Grapefruit
- Watermelon
- Mushrooms
Now for the other list, "The Terrible 20" which is a compilation of the foods that are most affected by pesticides and cause the greatest amount of risk to your health if eaten after being grown conventionally. So by all means, make every effort to purchase organic versions of the foods below or skip them entirely.
- Apples
- Celery
- Sweet Bell Peppers
- Peaches
- Strawberries
- Nectarines
- Grapes
- Spinach
- Lettuce
- Cucumbers
- Blueberries
- Potatoes
- Green Beans
- Kale/Collard Greens
- Sweet Corn
- Hawaiian Papayas
- Zucchini
- Yellow Crookneck Squash
- Cherries
- Hot Peppers
A good idea might be to print these two lists and keep them in your purse or wallet to have handy when you are shopping. Or better yet, download the wallet-size version of the lists from Calton Nutrition.
And while you're there, check out the other information on the site. You can also learn everything you need to know about which foods to eat and which ones to avoid in the book, Rich Food, Poor Food, by Jayson and Mira Calton.