Foods to buy organic

First, what does it mean when a food is labeled “organic”? According to the United States Department of Agriculture, a food can be labeled organic when:

• Organic meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones.
• Organic plant foods are produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation.

Shopping all organic can be a bit pricey and really isn’t necessary. If you want to experiment with organic foods without breaking the bank, try limiting organic food purchases to only those foods highest in contaminants. These foods, otherwise known as “The Dirty Dozen Plus Two”, are:

Apples                                      
Celery                                         
Bell Peppers                              
Peaches                                      
Strawberries                             
Nectarines                                 
Grapes                                        
Spinach
Lettuce
Cucumbers
Blueberries
Potatoes
Kale
Green Beans

Remember, for better health you should strive to achieve 2 cups of fruit and 3 cups of vegetables every day. If you simply can’t afford to buy any organic foods, you are far better off eating non-organic produce than no produce at all! Also, don’t forget to support local farming in your neck of the woods. Check out this website for a list of farmers markets near you: http://www.local-farmers-markets.com/

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