No chemicals. No pesticides. No hormones. No antibiotics. Wouldn’t it be nice if this was the definition of all foods we consumed? Unfortunately today most of our foods here in the US are sprayed with, or injected with something made in a lab. Unfortunately, a lot of pesticides that are sprayed on our fruits and vegetables are so toxic farmers cannot be around them for long. They can be required to wear special suits and face masks even when spraying them. If that doesn’t scary you then I don’t know what does. So why would I want my kid, let alone myself eating these things? If you look at the rise of allergies, food sensitivity and health issues over the past few decades it’s staggering. So let’s all buy organic. Well, we all know it’s not that easy because first and foremost it can be very expensive! I totally get it! We all don’t have endless amounts of cash to be spending on organic foods so where should one begin?

There is of course the famous coined “dirty dozen.” These are the top 12 fruits and veggies that are sprayed with pesticides. Some say these are the foods you should always buy organic due to these harsh chemicals.  Every year you will be able to find an updated list, but below you will find the top 12 for 2019:

1. Strawberries
2. Spinach
3. Kale
4. Nectarines
5. Apples
6. Grapes
7. Peaches
8. Cherries
9. Pears
10. Tomatoes
11. Celery
12. Potatoes
13. *Hot Peppers

https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php

Strawberries for the past few years have been at the top of the list, maybe blame it on the fact that Americans want their strawberry year round. Let’s be real we want all produce available year round, but this is not normal. Of course we can import things from other climates but that can be very costly and quite often someone in the USA says they can do it for cheaper. Cheaper or not, I still find this list to be a great guide to start.

My next suggestion when it comes to organics has to do with what you consume a lot of or use often. I cook with a lot of olive oil, onions, and garlic. These items I use all the time is small quantities. You might thing this is not that big of a deal then but I saw the contrary because if you look at how much of that is digested in your system over a week, a month or a year it has up to be a lot. I like to make sure these items and other commonly used staples in my kitchen are organic.

Meat however is something I don’t mess around with. I’m sure many of you have watched documentaries that have showed the nightmares of raising poultry, beef and pork. I like to head to my local butcher shop to get my meats. There my butchers are able to tell me how they are raised and where. I understand that some towns don’t have local butcher shops. Try to look for organic and humanly raised meats and eggs. Always look for sales. I will soon be posting about the differences between organic, humanely raised, pasture raised, all natural, etc.

Farmers markets can be a great place to find organic produce. Not only are you supporting local farms and businesses but I’ve been able to get certain produce that is far superior than anything I can find in the grocery store. We, as the consumer can also get to know more about how your food is grown. Quite often I will speak with various farmers who do not have certified organic farms but follow organic practices. You have to understand for many small farmers getting certified by the government can be way to costly for your local mom and pop farmer. Therefore, be sure not to skip out of these markets.

Shop the sales! Yes that’s right, I’m all about a sale! If I see organic peanut butter is on sale, two for the price of one, I’m all over it.  Learn to stock your pantry and refrigerator when you see these deals. You will also notice more deals when certain produce is in season. At times I can find some great organic berries on sale. If I have a lot, I may freeze some on a flat sheet tray, and then transfer them into a freezer bag when they have frozen. Don’t be shy to clip coupons and stock up on the deals when you see them.

When it comes to buying organic hopefully this has helped. Trust me you can eat organic on a budget. Everything you buy doesn’t have to be organic you can start the dirty dozen and your most frequently used foods. Farmers markets can be hidden gems when it comes to quality produce. Buying locally and seasonally can be a great way to find deals. And when you see sales, stock up!