Posts Tagged ‘dirty dozen’

Your Groceries & The Dirty Dozen

In our post Stretching Your Wallet for Organics, we briefly touched on the the Dirty Dozen, the 10 produce items that get the most pesticide during growth. After further thought, we felt that this list deserves its own article to go into more detail.

Introduction:

Going raw can be expensive. It means loading up on a lot of produce, and sometimes going to the grocery store or local market more often than normal to get the freshest ingredients. In an additional effort to put only the most pure and wholesome goodies into your body, you should consider buying organic whenever you can. However, buying everything organic can be very expensive. So how do you choose what to buy organic and what to buy conventional? The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has developed a list to help you answer that question. Whether you are 100% raw or just up for preparing a raw meal, this Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides is a valuable resource.

More Details:

EWG researchers have confirmed that consumers can reduce their pesticide exposure by 80% by avoiding the most contaminated fruits and vegetables and eating only the cleanest. The growing consensus among scientists is that small doses of some pesticides and other chemicals can cause lasting damage to human health, especially during fetal development and early childhood. Scientists now know enough about the long-term consequences of ingesting these powerful chemicals to advise that we minimize our consumption of pesticides.

According to a press release from EWG, Executive Director Richard Wiles says “Consumers can’t shop their way out of being exposed to toxic chemicals, but the Shopper’s Guide can help people make smart decisions that dramatically reduce their pesticide intake. The Shopper’s Guide is a must-have for expectant mothers and parents of young children. While the government ponders pesticide risks, parents need to know which fruits or vegetables might expose their child to a handful of toxic pesticides and which will not.”

If consumers get their USDA-recommended 5 daily servings of fruits and vegetables from the 15 most contaminated, they could consume an average of 10 pesticides a day. Those who eat the 15 least contaminated conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables ingest less than 2 pesticides daily. Do you need any more convincing? We hope not! We want all of our readers to be smart consumers.

Safe Alternatives:

If you cannot purchase the items on the dirty dozen list organic, consider these safer alternatives with similar vitamins and minerals (provided by The Daily Green, see Resources for link to article):

• Peach – watermelon, tangerine, grapefruit, oranges
• Apple – watermelon, bananas, tangerines
• Bell Pepper – green peas, broccoli, cabbage
• Celery – broccoli, radishes, onions
• Nectarines – watermelon, papaya, mango
• Strawberries – blueberries, kiwi, pineapple
• Cherries – blueberries, raspberries, cranberries
• Kale – cabbage, asparagus, broccoli
• Lettuce – cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts
• Grapes (imported) – blueberries, kiwis, raspberries
• Carrot – sweet corn, sweet peas, broccoli
• Pear – grapefruit, honeydew melon, mangos

You can download the full list of the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen at FoodNews.org. A couple grocery stores actually have this list on display for customers to see, but not everyone is hip to the game. Download this list, print it out and cut it out. It’s wallet size so no folding involved. Carry it with you always so you can be in the know every time you’re at your local market. For additional information, please check out our resources below.

Resources:

Shoppers Guide to Pesticides, http://www.foodnews.org/EWG-shoppers-guide-download-final.pdf

EWG Updates the Shoppers Guide to Pesticides, http://www.ewg.org/newsrelease/EWG-New-Pesticide-Shoppers-Guide

The Daily Green: Top 10 Foods to Eat Organic http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/Dirty-Dozen-Foods

Stretching Your Wallet for Organics

Now more than ever we are being forced to take an in depth look at our spending. Often times one of the major purchases that comes under scrutiny is the grocery bill for a raw food enthusiast. ((((((STICKER SHOCK!))))) Did you just put a down payment on a car?! Nope, that’s just your groceries for the week.

All jokes aside, for some it can be a little daunting to justify their grocery bill each week or every other week, at a time when it seems like our money isn’t going as far as it used to. Our system is backwards. You can get some mystery meat on a bun that doesn’t even break down over time and provides you with little nutritional value for under a dollar. All the fast food restaurants have dollar menus, but is that really food? And what does it do for you? Yet the price tag on the good, high quality, all natural produce can sometimes have you wondering whether or not its worth it, especially if you’re a newbie!

But do not fear, we would like to offer some suggestions to help get your wallet off life support. Also, if you have some creative suggestions to share, feel free to post them as a reply.

1. Shop local. A simple search on the internet where you place your city name and the words “farmer’s market” into the search bar will yield some positive results. Farmer’s markets are a great way to load up on local produce at prices that are easy on the wallet. If you can’t find a market near you, search for organic farms near by that allow customers to pick their own fruits and veggies. Invite some friends or family members out to pick fresh produce or select fresh produce from the market, and then end it with a group potluck where you prepare a fabulous meal together.

2. Don’t buy everything from the pricey organic market. There are huge chains of market stores that offer fair trade and organic produce. We think these stores are great and are so excited to be in these stores that often times our grocery basket is filled up with way more than what we intended to buy. Instead of going to a pricey organic market for all your food needs, consider making it a treat to go once a month. And when you do go, stick to a budget (bring a calculator if you have to so you can ask yourself “can I afford that?”). It’s okay to include on your list “one new produce to try, under $3.00.” Even regular super market chains have organic produce now. They may not have the same selection, but surely it will suffice for the price and carry you over until your monthly field trip to the pricier market.

3. Don’t by everything organic. If you can’t afford it right now, then you can’t afford it! It’s not a big deal or a set back, just a little obstacle to work your way around. Have you ever heard of the Dirty Dozen? Foodnews.org put out a Shoppers Guide to Pesticides. Check it out here: http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php and print it out (it’s wallet size!). This great resource lists the produce that receives the most pesticides during growth and cultivation. If you want anything from the Dirty Dozen, it would be best to buy them organic. Then they also list the Clean Fifteen, which include produce that are the lowest in pesticides. How does your produce selection stand up against this list? Find out and adjust accordingly.

4. Plan ahead. Knowing what you will be preparing for the week or next couple days will be instrumental in your grocery shopping. Then you can make a list of exactly what you need and buy only that. This way no food goes to waste.

5. Buy smaller quantities! If you are a raw food enthusiast, you get excited in the produce section. This also ties into planning ahead, but if you only need a little of a certain produce (this is especially true for greens and herbs), then just get what you need. Remember you can always get more later, rather than have too much and have that food go to waste in your fridge.

6. Grow your own. Even the White House in Washington, DC is rockin’ an edible garden this year. And you can too! As long as you have a patio or even a window that gets sunlight, you can be growing something! Patio gardens are becoming increasingly popular, and you can grow some herbs right in your window seal. Save money and have total control over how natural your produce will be. It can be a fun project! If you grow an abundance, you can give extra produce (like cucumbers or cherry tomatoes) to friends and neighbors. Plus, nothing beats the feeling of eating something you grew yourself. Use your resources! If you have access to the internet, the answers are right at your finger tips, especially when typing into a search engine!

 In the meantime, we hope you’ll remember that you are worth the investment of delicious raw foods. By making these proactive choices now, you are choosing not to invest in the pharmaceutical meds that treat the systems of a long term diet of meats, pesticides, and processed foods later. With each dollar you spend on healthier options, you are one step closer to your personal goals for health and wellness. And, you are investing in your brighter future. So we hope you’ll use these suggestions to make it all the more easier to invest in your mind, body and spirit!