The question is, what do you eat that is conventional versus what do you eat that is organic? Chances are, if you haven’t given it much thought at all, you could be rolling your eyes at me thinking “who cares?” and that all this organic talk is just a bunch of hodge-podge.
Organic foods are slightly more expensive than conventional foods but here’s why I choose to buy certain items as organic. Foods that are non-organic are known as being conventional. These foods are subject to farming practices that can include being grown in pesticides and chemical solvents. Foods covered in harmful pesticides that are being consumed by the individual can create many health issues. Farmers that are exposed to those pesticides have had higher incidences of cancer (like Hodgkin’s Lymphoma) and other chronic diseases but is it surprising when they spend their entire day with firsthand exposure in a field of chemicals? Those pesticide residues can remain on the food that is being ingested, and also reduce the nutrient value compared to naturally grown foods. Those chemicals also seep down and degrade our soil, water, and our earth in an unsustainable practice of growing food.1
Another issue is that non-organic foods can be GMO aka “genetically modified organisms”, which are foods grown as part of chemical agriculture. It refers to an organism, in this case food, that has its genetic structure artificially modified in a lab. The organism is either altered to become resistant to pesticides and/or is modified to become toxic in order to kill insects and pests once ingested. There is one major agrochemical biotechnology company in North America that dominates the corn and soy crop market, that produces patented Roundup Ready seeds. If Roundup sounds familiar, it’s because it’s a commonly used pesticide. The main chemical is glyphosate, which is toxic and can accumulate in the organs, causing disease, primarily in the liver and kidneys. The majority of GMO crops are corn, soy, canola, potato, squash, and cotton.2
Organic foods are made without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers, are not radiated, and have no synthetic additives. Foods that are certified organic have to follow legislative practices of farming and production. The natural production of food means higher nutrient value of the food, sustainable food production, less soil degradation, less harmful environmental practices, and are non-GMO.
In my household, we choose to buy certain items as organic: the majority of our produce, meats and eggs, some herbs and spices, oils, dairy products, and any other products available as organic that can be bought in bulk.
Here are some items that we always buy organic:
Root vegetables that grow in the dirt (onions, potatoes, carrots, beets, garlic)
Leafy green vegetables (spinach, kale, salad greens)
Tomatoes
Bell peppers
Mushrooms
Herbs (cilantro, parsley, mint, basil, etc.)
Fruits (like berries, apples, pears, peaches, etc. that aren’t in a peel or skin)
Chicken and beef
Eggs
Paprika
Ghee (clarified butter)
Yogurt/milk/cheese
Gluten-free grains (rice, quinoa, buckwheat, oats)
Coconut oil
Olive oil
Coffee beans
Cacao/chocolate
Success Strategies to Buy Organic Items Without Breaking The Bank:
1. Check Environmental Working Group’s (“EWG") annual Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 lists to have an idea of what you should aim to buy as organic and what is safe to buy conventional. The Dirty Dozen list states the top 12 foods that contain the highest pesticide residues, and the Clean 15 list states the top 15 foods that contain the fewest pesticide residues.
2. Buy in bulk. Even if you’re grocery shopping for just yourself, invest in a bulk warehouse membership because the cost savings are great for eco-friendly and organic items. Costco offers large sizes of the following organic items:
Coconut oil
Extra-virgin olive oil
Chicken
Berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
Vegetables (salad greens, mushrooms, tomatoes)
Quinoa
Chia seeds
Hemp hearts
Eggs
Coffee beans
Dried, unsulphured fruit
Steel-cut oats
Raw honey
Maple syrup
3. Determine your non-negotiable organic items and go elsewhere for your other items. Check out your local Whole Foods, farmer’s markets, or specialty grocers for organic produce, meats, and dairy. Everything else you can purchase from various other grocery stores.
4. Check out your local health food stores for cheaper prices on dry organic foods, beauty items, and household items. Healthy Planet is a great source for lots of organic and eco-friendly picks!
5. Grow it! For produce that you eat all the time, grow it during the summer season in your backyard, in baskets, or hydroponic garden towers. This includes fresh herbs like mint, parsley, cilantro, dill, and basil or produce like cucumbers, tomatoes, and lettuce.
6. Eat with the seasons. Buying berries in Toronto during winter when they’re not in season and being imported from South America is extremely costly. Organic foods are affordable when the foods are in season. When they’re not in season, buy frozen (no sugar added) fruits and vegetables.
7. Eating meat? Use the whole animal to save more and waste less. Instead of paying a premium for items like chicken breast, buy a whole organic chicken and use the bones to make bone broth (which is super easy to do by adding water and veggie scraps and boiling it for a few hours to make a delicious and healing broth).
8. Buy from your local farm. Even the most densely populated urban cities have local farms on the outskirts. A weekend drive can be a great chance to stock up a few months’ worth of produce and meats that can be frozen. Get to know your local farmers and ask questions about their farming practices.
References:
Mie, Axel, et al. “Human Health Implications of Organic Food and Organic Agriculture: a Comprehensive Review.” Advances in Pediatrics., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 27 Oct. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5658984/.
Myers, John Peterson, et al. “Concerns over Use of Glyphosate-Based Herbicides and Risks Associated with Exposures: a Consensus Statement.” Advances in Pediatrics., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 17 Feb. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4756530/.
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