To Buy Organic or Not To Buy Organic

Let’s face it, buying only organic food and produce is really expensive. Although we know that eating organic is better for us it is still not feasible for most people to only eat organic food. The good news, however, is that not all your food needs to be organic. There are certain fruits and veggies that you should always buy organic for various reasons, but many are unnecessary. There is no need to go broke when you are trying to eat healthy, but it does require a bit of information to know where to start. Here I will talk a bit on what produce should ALWAYS be organic and which ones don’t really matter.

Should Be Organic

The following items are listed by the EWG (Environmental Working Group) as the fruits and veggies with the most pesticides and chemicals which are so harmful for not only our bodies, but also the environment.

1. Apples

2. Strawberries

3. Grapes

4. Celery

5. Peaches

6. Spinach

7. Lettuce

8. Sweet Bell Peppers

9. Nectarines

10. Blueberries

11. Cucumbers

12. Potatoes

No Need to Buy Organic

The following fruits and veggies consistently see fewer pesticides than their dirty counterparts, and those that are sprayed have thick skins that pesticides have trouble penetrating. However, they should still be washed before cutting so that you don’t transfer any of those chemicals to the parts that you eat. I usually don’t buy organic if I have to peel the fruit or veggie. These include carrots, bananas, and oranges which are not on the following list.

1. Avocados

2. Pineapple

3. Sweet Corn

4. Mangoes

5. Snap Peas

6. Asparagus

7. Kiwis

8. Cabbage

9. Papaya

10. Eggplant

11. Melons (Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Honeydew)

12. Broccoli

13. Sweet Potatoes

14. Onions

15. Grapefruit

If buying organic produce is out of reach for you, the non-organic options hold so many vitamins and nutrients that you will still be eating healthy and taking care of your body. There are also great options with frozen organic produce. You can buy frozen organic strawberries and blueberries for about 5 dollars and bag which are great for smoothies. Local farmer’s markets are also great places to buy produce. You will be supporting local farmers and you learn exactly how your food was grown.

It is also important to look for organic and non-GMO labels on other food stuff that you buy and because these are more abundant and common now most of these products are quite affordable.

Eat Healthy!