What's the cost? Choosing to eat more organic foods

Our fridge

I saw this article posted by Food Matters, The 10 Most Toxic Fruits and Vegetables, on facebook and I shared it. (Now  keeping in mind, the toxins they are speaking of come from pesticides and conventional farming petro-chemicals).  This list is similar to the one shared by the Environmental Working Group,EWG's 2014 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce™. EWG has formulated and tested 51 common produce items and listed the from worst to best in regards to pesticide residues.


I am sharing this, not because I like it and think its important, but because it has made me think the most over the last week.

Knowing this information helps you choose wisely at the grocery store (and yes, even at the farmer's market....it's not all chemical free there, so know that you have the option to choose the organic and conventional at the same price there folks....local has more "ready", fruitful nutrients, so that is the bonus...).

Our family has a budget for groceries, and just a few years ago, that budget was half of what it is now...and we grew a garden, pillaged the neighbourhood of it's fruitful spoils (ARRRRR...no, we asked our neighbours :P ), and chose to buy superfood, ORGANIC produce so we could get the most health in our tight situation. (And chose because for a few cents difference per pound and maybe $5-$10 extra at the till, we knew we were not going to feel hungry later).

From my parent's garden....goji berries!

It's not just about price...it's good to eat food that is not only going to NOT burden you with toxins, but also that is more nutrient dense...you really are getting more health for your buck when you eat foods that have had to pull a little harder for those life-giving nutrients in happy, rich, organic-based, fertile soil.

 Makes this list your "must be organic" choices and then you can upgrade the other choices in due time (using the Clean fifteen list from EWG helps too.)....we are 9 out of 10 on this list from the blog post on the 10 most toxic..(darn cukes...) and currently we do buy organic cukes as well (in a different type...but the lunch choice has been seedless, mini cukes...for now)....and still have room in the budget for more organic choices...because we choose to.

But HOW did we make it an affordable choice to go mainly organic? We chose to cut OUT other foods that we were buying (and not necessarily as supportive)...main one that made the biggest difference...cutting out breakfast cereals and the milk to go with it...and in it's place we added about 3 times the bulk into our fridge through fruits and veggies that ALL of us could eat at the SAME cost. It took years to transition, but it was his choice to make...and he feels better for making that choice himself.

We also cut out the bulk of processed foods...but since we are mainly a dairy-free, gluten-free, etc. household, a lot has to be chosen in a way that is supportive to our health...essentially meaning, back to basics baby! Single ingredient foods! AND giving our boys the freedom at an early age to make the choices for WHATEVER brightly coloured fruit or veggie that they wanted to try really helped them to become healthy eaters (that buying freedom was GOLDEN!). Giving them access to the internet to research these foods also helped.

LOL I love the cross pollination. Yellow zucchini and acorn squash grown in same patch.

And we grow a garden every year! We are not farmers or green thumbs, but we are persistent...we chip away a bigger section out of our lawn each year to make more room to grow our own food. Zucchini made it back in the garden this year...carrots grew bigger and deeper, heirloom beets made it more to the fridge than to feed the little critters around the yard this year...we tried our hand at potatoes...and for SURE, we will be planting cucumbers next year!  It's a growing process (pun intended) and it's something we get to share with others...I have even offered to grow plants in the yards of my friends...all they gotta do is water and weed ;) That way, I have the space and we all get the food...could you imagine what we could eat (and save) if we all did this?? And we could CHOOSE to support organic growers and companies with our earned dollars, not because we have to, but because it is OUR choice to eat foods that benefit our health in the best way.

Swiss chard...I love you!

We, as a family, continue to learn the best ways to prepare the healthiest of foods and get the most out of what we eat and choose to put into our bodies. And as well, we also have those times where we do get the convenience, processed and packaged, "healthier-gluten-free-blah-blah-blah" foods (healthier of the options available) to have as a treat or because life is feeling crazy and "I just don't care", may-be-using-food-as-a-crutch moments (we try not to support big companies that show that they are not concerned for the health of the humans here on Earth)...but we, for the most part, choose to return to the goodness of good, wholesome foods. And enjoy the process of buying locally...we order local organic foods as well as frequent the farmer's markets to see the entrepreneurial love that goes into the foods and products that are available. It's family fun for all... Creating that wholesome connection with others AND your food is a priceless experience...

But all in small steps and all starting with awareness...(did I mention it taste great too?...ok, that's good for now...) Eat up the info and enjoy the flavours of choice...one food at a time.