Organic Shopping 101

You hear a lot about organic food and personal items these days, but how do you know which products are worth spending the extra money on? It all depends on what is important to you. If you are set on buying all of your items locally, it can be difficult to find organic products that fit the bill. Is it worth it to buy strawberries that were trucked all the way across the country?

Why It’s a Good Idea to Buy Organic

Organic farmers produce food without the use of antibiotics, growth hormones and limited pesticides. Nothing organic is genetically modified ever. Because organic food is grown in these ways, farmers pollute less and keep the water, air and soil around their farms clean.

It’s important to know where your food comes from. The earth friendly methods organic farmers use are often offset by the emissions from trucks that carry them around the country. For some people, it might be a better idea to purchase some traditionally grown foods that are grown locally. If you insist on buying organic produce, check the labels! That way you can make sure you’re buying food that is grown as close to home as possible.

The Question of Price

Shopping seasonally is very important when it comes to buying organic produce. Not only will the food be fresher and better tasting, but also less expensive than in the off months. You have a better chance of finding food that is grown near your home when you buy things that are in season too.

You don’t have to go all-in when shopping organic. Shopping strategically and using coupons can help keep costs down and pesticide-laden food out of your body. Certain fruits and vegetables are grown with especially high amounts of pesticides. These items have thin skins, high water content or a mixture of those two.

Some Fruits to Avoid:

• Berries
• Peaches
• Pears
• Grapes
• Apples

Some Vegetables to Avoid:

• Leafy greens
• Carrots
• Celery
• Peppers

What About Animal Products?

It’s a good idea to buy as much organic meat, dairy and eggs as possible. These animals have healthier living conditions such as being free range and organic feed. If you find that organic meat is just too expensive for you, try to vary the proteins your family eats.

Instead of buying expensive items like boneless skinless chicken breasts, try chicken thighs instead. Tofu is another great option. It is very inexpensive and can be cooked in as many different ways as meat can.

Everything Else

Things like cereals, crackers and other snacks are up for debate because many of them only contain “some organic ingredients.” This is another instance where reading labels is very important. Organic items like this have a much shorter shelf life than their traditional counterparts because there are no preservatives to keep them fresh. In order to have the freshest food on your plate, make sure you only purchase what you need.