The Dirty Dozen: When To Go Organic

A key part of a nutritious diet is fruits and vegetables. Organic anything seems to be all the rage these days due to a notion that it is healthier for us, but is that really the truth? In addition to organic produce being more expensive than its fertilized counterparts, it’s not always better to break the bank for the organic stuff. In many cases, the peel or skin on the outside of fruits and vegetables protects the edible part from the chemicals we’re concerned about. As a general rule, choose organic produce based on it’s peel thickness.
 
Another important rule when shopping organic is to pay careful attention to the label. Look for the USDA’s seal when purchasing. This label will appear on single ingredient foods (fruits and vegetables), multi ingredient foods to indicate their use of organic ingredients, and foods made with anywhere from 70-100% organic ingredients (If ingredients are less than 95% organic, it will be indicated on the seal). If the product advertises that it’s “100% natural” it’s not organic, so be careful not to get the two confused.
 
Organic.org provides two lists that can be helpful when influencing items to pick or ditch. The lists are based upon contamination rates that reach the edible part of fruits or vegetable and can be very useful when working with a strict budget.

 
12 Most Contaminated Foods:
Peaches
Apples
Sweet Bell Peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Pears
Grapes
Spinach
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Potatoes
 
12 Least Contaminated Foods:
Onions
Avocado
Sweet Corn (frozen)
Pineapple
Mango
Asparagus
Sweet Peas (frozen)
Kiwi Fruit
Bananas
Cabbage
Broccoli
Papaya
 
           
Use these lists to evaluate your produce drawer. Are you spending your money on expensive organic veggies without reaping any health benefits? Cutting these expensive organic items out of your grocery bill can mean more money for you to spend on a greater quantity and variation of fresh produce! Regardless if you’re hopping on the organic bandwagon or not, always rinse your fruits and veggies to remove dirt and impurities.