When Can I Not Buy Organic?
We know you want to feed your family the healthiest and safest foods. Buying organic is a popular approach, but organic foods are often pricey. If, like most families, you have a limited budget, follow some sage advice on where to spend your dollars when deciding to buy organic or not.
Not all conventionally-grown foods contain potentially harmful levels of pesticides. Take, for example, the popular avocado. With its thick skin, the avocado is amongst the cleanest of produce available. In fact, most foods that are peeled, like bananas and avocados, have a much lower number of residual chemicals when those foods have been prepared to eat. Additionally, foods with thick rinds, such as pineapples, are also protected.
Seafood is another arena of some debate. Since the U.S. Department of Agriculture does not currently have organic standards in place for fish and shellfish, any seafood labeled organic may not be safer for you. A better approach when shopping for seafood is to select cuts low in mercury. Additionally, you can help global health by selecting seafood harvested using sustainable practices.
Quinoa, an increasingly popular ingredient in many American kitchens, is typically low in pesticides. Quinoa, when growing, has a bitter-flavored coating, making it unpleasant to most pests. Prior to packaging, the coating is removed, leaving a nutritious and tasty source of protein.
Cabbage, with its protective outer leaves, is another vegetable that you can safely purchase if non-organic. Cabbage has a natural resilience to bugs and, therefore, is low in pesticides. The outer leaves tend to shield the inner leaves from almost all toxic sprays. Simply discard the outer leaves before using the rest of the harvest.
While shifting toward organic produce is desirable, it is not always feasible at all times. When circumstances limit your access to organic produce, you can confidently purchase many conventionally-grown items if you understand how they are grown and their likely exposure to harmful pesticides.
Source: Real Simple
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