My husband and I, like many people, seem to always be on a tight budget. I enjoy grocery shopping, but sometimes I am really torn between buying a product with better quality ingredients and another option that is less expensive but often not as nutritious. (Although I have to say, sticking with buying more whole foods and less snack foods saves an awful lot.)
One area of the store that is continually challenging to me is the produce section. The bulk of my grocery bill is from this part of the store, and rightfully so. Fruits and vegetables should be the foundation of your diet. But I’m often torn between purchasing organic produce which is inevitably more expensive, or buying the in season fruits and veggies that are on sale. I aim to buy organic produce included on the EWG's Dirty Dozen Plus list, but those $.59 bright red bell peppers just call my name. Every extra dollar adds up towards a vacation, right?
Just to give you more of a background on organic produce; it is grown without any pesticides and herbicides and has no genetic modifications (GMOs). The benefits of eating organic foods include avoiding residual pesticides as well as reducing air, soil, and water pollution. Since it costs more to grow organic foods in terms of labor and product loss, the cost is inevitably higher.
Eating more fruits and vegetables always trumps eating less to avoid pesticide residue on conventionally grown produce. Also, no one can really even say what the outcome of eating non-organic produce years after years truly is, since it hasn’t been studied long term. So if you can afford it, choose to at least buy the dirty dozen plus in organic; if it’s really not in your budget to go organic, still stock up on plenty of produce. You’ll still be stocking up on some of the healthiest foods in the store. In terms of produce, I always choose organic berries, salad greens, grapes and apples at minimum. Thoroughly washing your fruits and vegetables (organic or not) can also rid your produce of some of the residual chemicals and bacteria.
One area of the store that is continually challenging to me is the produce section. The bulk of my grocery bill is from this part of the store, and rightfully so. Fruits and vegetables should be the foundation of your diet. But I’m often torn between purchasing organic produce which is inevitably more expensive, or buying the in season fruits and veggies that are on sale. I aim to buy organic produce included on the EWG's Dirty Dozen Plus list, but those $.59 bright red bell peppers just call my name. Every extra dollar adds up towards a vacation, right?
Just to give you more of a background on organic produce; it is grown without any pesticides and herbicides and has no genetic modifications (GMOs). The benefits of eating organic foods include avoiding residual pesticides as well as reducing air, soil, and water pollution. Since it costs more to grow organic foods in terms of labor and product loss, the cost is inevitably higher.
Eating more fruits and vegetables always trumps eating less to avoid pesticide residue on conventionally grown produce. Also, no one can really even say what the outcome of eating non-organic produce years after years truly is, since it hasn’t been studied long term. So if you can afford it, choose to at least buy the dirty dozen plus in organic; if it’s really not in your budget to go organic, still stock up on plenty of produce. You’ll still be stocking up on some of the healthiest foods in the store. In terms of produce, I always choose organic berries, salad greens, grapes and apples at minimum. Thoroughly washing your fruits and vegetables (organic or not) can also rid your produce of some of the residual chemicals and bacteria.