The demand for organic food is gaining momentum with a lot of people (myself included!) choosing organic foods for the betterment of our heath and the environment.
The issue is that, while organic simply does taste better, it is expensive and it can eat into your budget pretty quickly. What are some easy tips in sourcing and affording organic food?
Read on!
Great benefits to eating organic
When it comes to packaged, processed foods, an organic label ensures products don’t contain anything artificial, like colour, flavor, preservatives and additives – ingredients our bodies can definitely do without!
Research also suggests organically-grown food, like fruits and veggies, could contain higher levels of vitamins and minerals, like vitamin C, iron and magnesium (all good for you!). Beyond this, organically grown food has fewer pesticides and lower pesticide residues than conventionally grown food. Choosing organic food can help in reducing our intake of harmful toxins.
What’s great is that nowadays many supermarkets have expanded their organic food selections given the increased demand, and as more of us choose organic it’s safe to assume the supermarkets will continue to offer even more varieties and products.
You can stay on budget
Buy food in season, and buy a lot of it in bulk. That will save you a few bucks at the cashier. Also, while it sounds romantic to only eat organic and local food, it’s not always the most practical.
You don’t have to buy ALL organic fruits and vegetables, but I typically avoid buying the “Dirty Dozen” (as they’re called) when they’re not organic. They are: strawberries, spinach, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery, potatoes and sweet bell peppers. Allegedly, all of these have the most pesticide contamination according to the Environmental Working Group report, published each year.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions
Whether you choose to buy food directly from the farmer (which, admittedly, who has time for?!) or at our local supermarket, don’t feel shy in approaching the store’s managers about whether products are certified organic, grown using organic methods, or produced locally. The more informed you are, the better decisions you can make for you and your family.
You don’t have to buy ALL organic fruits and vegetables, but I typically avoid buying the “Dirty Dozen” (as they’re called) when they’re not organic. They are: strawberries, spinach, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery, potatoes and sweet bell peppers. Allegedly, all of these have the most pesticide contamination according to the Environmental Working Group report, published each year.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions
Whether you choose to buy food directly from the farmer (which, admittedly, who has time for?!) or at our local supermarket, don’t feel shy in approaching the store’s managers about whether products are certified organic, grown using organic methods, or produced locally. The more informed you are, the better decisions you can make for you and your family.