Switching to Organic Foods

Organic food has increased about 20 percent since 1997 in all major supermarkets. They sell everything from cereals, to dairy products, to meat, to vegetables and fruits. Organic foods are guaranteed by the USDA to be free of toxic pesticides, fertilizers, hormones, antibiotics, and modified organisms. Environmentally, organic farms are also better since they use less energy.

If you have been thinking about switching to organic foods, here are several things you should take into consideration.

Reading the label

Learning to read foods labels is the most important thing. Keep in mind that not all “100% natural” means organic.

1. 100 percent organic: means containing only organically produced ingredients.
2. Cage-free: means animals are not kept in cages, and the USDA has no regulation on what the animals are fed or time spend outside.
3. Farm fish: means fish raised in pen, and the USDA has no organic standards for seafood.
4. Free range: means the animals spend at least half of their lives outside and is regulated by the USDA.
5. Grass-fed: means farmers’ food sources is grass, and not regulated by USDA.
6. Made with organic ingredients: means having at least 70 percent of organic ingredients.
7. Natural: means no artificial ingredients, or added colors.
8. Organic: has at least 95% organic ingredient.

Making the switch
It is best to make the switch to organic foods moderately, and it is also help you keeping track of your favorite ones.

• Week 1: start with dairy products such as milk, cheese, and egg.
• Week 2: fruits, and vegetables.
• Week 3: meat, chicken, fish, and nuts.
• Week 4: pasta, rice, and bread.
• Week 5: beverages.

The Dirty Dozen

Pesticide is reduced by 90 percent by eating these organic varieties, known as the “dirty dozen”.

1. Apples
2. Cherries
3. Nectarines
4. Peaches
5. Pears
6. Strawberries
7. Grapes
8. Red raspberries
9. Celery
10. Bell peppers
11. Potatoes
12. Spinach

Switching to organic foods take times, persistent, and commitment. Check out your local health food stores, farm stands, and supermarkets. The cost for organic food is a bit higher than conventionally grown and produced foods, but they reduced the potentially harmful chemicals. Keeping your family’s diet natural and free of unhealthy ingredients is worth the switch.