Something to (Chew?) On?

Just Make One Small Change, You Greenie!

“If I make one tiny positive change today, I consider myself green. It can be as simple as flicking off a light switch or buying an organic apple. My motto is one change makes a difference, and if you can make two, that’s even better!” — Sophie Uliano, author of Gorgeously Green: 8 Small Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life

Organic for the Cheapos — Like Me!

I am always looking for a bargain. And when it comes to food, I would totally love to be able to eat organic and keep it on the cheap side. I mean, who wouldn’t? It’s better for you, it’s better for the earth — it’s a good deal all the way around.

But, unfortunately, organic food can be pricey and I don’t have the dough to always be buying produce of the luxurious kind.

So, you can imagine I was totally psyched when I saw an article on MSN this morning that talked about the Top 12 Foods to Eat Organic.

According to the article, the Top 12 Foods are as follows:

• Beef – According to the Environmental Protection Agency, meat contains higher levels of pesticides than any plant foods.
• Milk – Hormones, antibiotics, ewww!
• Coffee – Buy Fair Trade beans which ensures that no pesticides and chemicals were used, and that farm workers were treated fairly.
• Peaches – Forty-five different pesticides are used on these babies!
• Apples – Organic apples are chemical free, and taste sweeter. — Yum!
• Green Peppers – One of the most heavily sprayed veggies.
• Celery – This green vegetable does not even have a skin to protect it from chemicals.
• Strawberries – FIVE HUNDRED pesticides are used per acre of this fruit crop — need I say more?!
• Lettuce – This leafy green is contaminated with what are considered the most powerful pesticides used on food.
• Grapes – The fruit’s skin is so thin that even washing and peeling will not eliminate the pesticides that seep into grapes.
• Potatoes – Idaho’s best are ranked the highest for pesticide residue.
• Tomatoes – Chemicals will eventually saturate the whole tomato, again, because of the fruit’s thin skin.

This article really made me think, and I feel a bit better knowing my options. Unfortunately, at this point in my life everything I put into my body is not going to be organic; it just does not help to balance my checkbook! But if I can eliminate from my diet some of the very obvious sources of chemicals and not break the bank, then I will be happy with that for now.

So, do you think double-fudge, chocolate ice cream is organic, too?