Photo: Alan Cleaver
When I met my husband, he prided himself on his healthy eating habits. Boneless/skinless chicken breasts, steamed veggies and brown rice. All from Costco, bulk, conventional food. Huh? Costco? Now nothing against Costco, there are plenty of things I can use in bulk, paper towels, toilet paper, tampons (yes, I went there). Bulk broccoli is not on the list. I know I can be a purist when it comes to organic food (read: neurotic) but I choose to vote with my dollar when it comes to supporting farmers who are growing whole foods without pesticides. So needless to say, before my husband knew what was happening we were bypassing Costco on our way to Whole Foods or the farmer’s market. Once Kula Baby was born I was even more adamant about organic food in the house. What, you can’t afford to shop at Whole Paycheck Foods everyday? How on EARTH are you going to feed your child HEALTHY food!!!!!??????!!!!!!
Before you sedate your anxiety with a handful of M&Ms, know that not all conventional produce is grown the same. Some fruits and vegetables are more heavily sprayed with pesticides than others. If you are working with a food budget, consider buying the most heavily sprayed produce items organically and buy conventional produce items that are not as heavily sprayed. The Environmental Working Group has a great list on foods highest and lowest in pesticides. You can find it here.
But if you don’t want to jump over to the EWG website (I know, it’s SO TIRING exploring the internet!) here are some highlights:
A Parent’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce (Environmental Working Group)
Buy these Organic (highest in pesticides):
Peaches
Apples
Sweet Bell Peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Pears
Grapes
Spinach
Lettuce
Potatoes
Lowest in Pesticides:
Onion
Avocado
Pineapple
Sweet Corn (frozen)
Mango
Asparagus
Sweet Peas (frozen)
Kiwi Fruit
Banana
Cabbage
Broccoli
Papaya
