The Babble List: Organic Buying Guide
Foods to buy organic; foods to stop worrying about.
by Allison Pennell
March 3, 2009
12 Foods to Buy Organic
Apples
Bell Peppers
Celery
Cherries
Grapes (that means raisins and juice too)
Lettuce
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Potatoes
Spinach
Strawberries
Plus: eggs, meat, poultry, dairy, baby food, rice.
According to research by the Environmental Working Group, you can reduce pesticide exposure by 90% by eating organic varieties of these 12 fruits and veggies.
12 Foods You Don't Need to Worry About
Asparagus
Avocado
Bananas
Broccoli
Cabbage
Eggplant
Frozen Sweet Peas
Kiwi
Mango
Onions
Pineapples
Watermelon
Plus: highly processed foods like pasta, cereal, oil, canned fruits and vegetables, bread, as well as fish, which is never certifiably organic.
For a downloadable pocket guide to reducing pesticide exposure you can take along when you shop, log on to organic-center.org.
Rule of Thumb: The thicker the skin, the less likely a food is to have high pesticide levels. Anything with a soft skin or that you eat skin-and-all, go organic. (And keep in mind: even peeling an apple doesn't mean there aren't pesticides that have penetrated the flesh.)
Keeping it Cost-Effective
Food coops, buying clubs, farmer's markets, Trader Joe's, and CSA's (Community Supported Agriculture programs) have sprung up all over the country and are a good way of buying organic without going broke. If you want to pay less, buy what's in season, buy local and shop smart. The organic label means nothing when it comes to fish, for instance. And grass-fed beef that's not necessarily organic can be healthier than one that carries the organic label alone. For coupons, look under "organic" at either of these sites: shopnatureoasis.com or couponmom.com.
©2009 Babble
About the Author
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Allison Pennell is a writer on all things kid. She lives in Brooklyn with
her often disobedient but always lovable offspring, husband, dog, and
morbidly obese cat. Oh, and 14 fish. |
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