Going Organic

Picture from www.happyhourmom.com

Is it really worth the extra money to buy organic fruits and veggies?  I'm still learning about organic produce, so please feel free to do your own research, but from what I have done, it is worth the extra price to go organic.  

I have always sort of known that it is healthier and wiser to use organic fruits and vegetables but I didn't really think about it too much.  A few days ago, my dear friend reminded me the importance of organic.  After our discussion, Tom and I made a point to do more research on the subject.  Since I'm making Tommy's food, I want to make sure he is getting the healthiest food possible.  

Organic fruits and vegetables are considered organic by the process in which the farmers grow and process them (MayoClinic, 2010).  This includes the way farmers fertilize, prevent pests, and manage weeds.  Organic farmers use natural methods, such as manure and compost, insects and birds, traps, weeding, tilling and rotating crops (2010).  

So, why is this important? Non organic produce has been sprayed with pesticides, which can stay on even after washing.  No one wants to eat pesticides and there are many side effects.  Five side effects that consuming pesticides can have on humans are:

                1.) Birth defects and/or low birth weight

                2.) Neurological problems

                3.) Cause interference in child development

                4.) Cause cancers, such as leukemia, brain cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and kidney cancer

                5.) Interfere with hormone function (Grinning Planet, 2010).  

These side effects have a bigger impact on babies and children because their systems are still developing and it is harder for them to detoxify.  

Now, that we have a basic understanding that organic is much better than non, what do you do when you can't go to the local farmers market every weekend or find a natural grocery store? Many grocery stores have a small selection of organic produce. In order for a single ingredient product to have the USDA Organic seal it must 100% organic.  Tom found a chart that can be very helpful when purchasing organic produce.  It breaks down fruits and veggies that contain the most and least residual pesticide.  Some of the fruits and veggies that contain the least amount are bananas, avocados, and onions.  Peaches, apples and carrots contain the most residual pesticides.  Here is a copy of the wallet size chart provided by Grinning Planet (http://www.grinningplanet.com/2006/update-2005-05-24/most-least-chart-2006.pdf). 

THE RED ZONE . . . AVOID UNLESS ORGANIC! Peaches Apples Sweet Bell Peppers Celery Nectarines Strawberries Cherries Carrots Pears Frozen Winter Squash

SO-SO LEVELS . . . SO USE CAUTION! Spinach Grapes Lettuce Potatoes Green Beans Hot Peppers Cucumbers Mushrooms Cantaloupe Oranges Fresh Winter Squash

BETTER . . . BUT NOT PERFECT! Apple Sauce Raspberries Plums Grapefruit Tangerine Apple Juice Honeydew Melon Tomatoes Sweet Potatoes Watermelon Cauliflower

AHH . . . BEST OF THE BUNCH Broccoli Orange Juice Blueberries Papaya Cabbage Bananas Kiwi Canned Tomatoes Sweet Peas Asparagus Mango Canned Pears Pineapple Sweet Corn Avocado Onions

I know that I will be using this information the next time I go shopping, especially for Monkey Food!