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Organic Foods to Keep You and Your Bank Account Healthy

Posted April 13, 2008 at 03:00 PM by Caroline Shannon

Section: Her Health, Her Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Her News

I am always looking for a bargain. But even more so, I love being able to brag about a great shopping steal. When people tell me they love my pants, it feels so nice to say, “Twelve bucks at Target—can you believe it?!”

And when it comes to food, my price preferences are no different.

But even thought I know that organic food choices are my best option, my pocketbook disagrees. The thing is I would love to be able to eat organic and keep it on the cheap side. I mean, who wouldn’t? It’s better for you, it’s better for the earth—it’s a good deal all the way around.

Unfortunately, however, organic food can be pricey, and I don’t have the dough to always be buying grocery items of the luxurious kind.

So, you can imagine I was totally psyched when I saw a recent article on MSN that discussed the Top 12 Foods to Eat Organic.

According to the article, the most important items to buy organic are as follows:

Beef - According to the Environmental Protection Agency, meat contains higher levels of pesticides than any plant foods. Even though I don’t eat red meat, I just could not believe this one.

Milk - Hormones, antibiotics . . . ewww! Switch to an organic brand of the white stuff, or buy soy or almond milk.

Coffee - Buy Fair Trade beans which ensures that no pesticides and chemicals were used, and that farm workers were treated fairly.

Peaches - Forty-five different pesticides are used on these babies!

Apples - Organic apples are chemical-free, and taste sweeter—Yum!

Green Peppers - One of the most heavily sprayed veggies.

Celery - This green vegetable does not even have a skin to protect it from chemicals.

Strawberries - FIVE HUNDRED pesticides are used per acre of this fruit crop—need I say more?!

Lettuce - This leafy green is contaminated with what are considered the most powerful pesticides used on food.

Grapes - The fruit’s skin is so thin that even washing and peeling will not eliminate the pesticides that seep into grapes.

Potatoes - Idaho’s best are ranked the highest for pesticide residue.

Tomatoes - Chemicals will eventually saturate the whole tomato, again, because of the fruit’s thin skin.

This article really made me think, and I feel a bit better knowing my options. Unfortunately, at this point in my life everything I put into my body is not going to be organic; it just does not help to balance my checkbook! But if I can eliminate from my diet some of the very obvious sources of chemicals and not break the bank, then I will be happy with that for now.

So, do you think double-fudge, chocolate ice cream is organic, too?

4 Responses to “Organic Foods to Keep You and Your Bank Account Healthy” (Leave a reply)

1. Kathleen said:
   

   Great ideas.  There’s no question that eating organic is healthier.  I have also found some great organic deals at “Big Lots”.  Low sodium organic soups - minimally processed, organic pickles, olive oil, rosemary potato chips - great alternatives to some poorer choices.

   April 14, 2008 at 10:44 AM
2. Caroline said:
   

   Thanks, Kathleen! I am so glad you enjoyed the article. And thank you for reading.

   Good tips on where to find some more organic deals—you know I am always looking for a bargain!

   April 24, 2008 at 08:28 PM
3. Offshore Banking said:
   

   Well, organic foods costs more therefore it will make my bank account skiny. Isn’t that right?

   May 28, 2008 at 12:33 AM
4. ed hardy clothes said:
   

   Good tips on where to find some more organic deals—you know I am always looking for a bargain!

   November 29, 2009 at 03:45 AM

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