The Dirty Dozen: 12 Foods You Should (and Shouldn’t!) be Buying Organic
Hi all my lovely Simply Savor readers!! Just an FYI, these next 2 weeks are going to be pretty crazy for me with school, so each day I’ll be posting interesting facts, headlines, fitness moves etc. If you have any health-related questions, I’d love to incorporate a daily Q&A so feel free to shoot me an email.
So to begin, I thought I’d give some quick info/tips on a somewhat confusing and very controversial topic: ORGANIC FOODS.
While research polls show that organic foods are typically viewed as healthier, most people don’t know what classifies foods as actually being organic or not.
According Organic.org: Simply stated, organic produce and other ingredients are grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, or ionizing radiation. Animals that produce meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products do not take antibiotics or growth hormones.
So if organic food is so great for us, why aren’t we all eating it? Well to start, organic foods can be much more $$expensive$$. The good news? Not everything we eat has to be organic!
Here is a list of 12 fruits and vegetables with the highest levels of pesticides and therefore, should always be bought organic
The Dirty Dozen
Fruit
- Apples
- Cherries
- Grapes, imported (Chili)
- Nectarines
- Peaches
- Pears
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
Vegetables
- Bell peppers
- Celery
- Potatoes
- Spinach
The Not-So-Dirty Dozen: Save $$ on these foods that DON’T need to be organic
Fruit
- Bananas
- Kiwi
- Mangos
- Papaya
- Pineapples
Vegetables
- Asparagus
- Avocado
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Corn
- Onions
- Peas
Other resources:
EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides (plus IPHONE application!)
Natural Vs. Organic Products: A Confused Buyers Guide to Eco Friendly Products
Organic foods: Are they safer? More nutritious?
The picture of the man wearing that awesome “organic” shirt at the top of this post was taken here in Barcelona Spain at Mercat de la Boqueria– one of the best markets in the world! (PS, he had no idea i was going to take this picture, I was pretty sneaky about it) 
Hands down, one of the most memorable places I visited during my entire 6 months abroad. Wish I had one of these markets near me back in the States!
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON BUYING ORGANIC??
I love the idea of buying organic, but I admit that when it comes down to it, my wallet usually just says to buy the less expensive stuff. Now that I know not everything has to be organic, I feel better about splurging for a few extra things. It’s kind of like what the experts say:”If you’re not spending the money on nutritious foods now, you’ll be spending it on doctor’s visits in the future.”
interesting post oh i love that market In Barcelona
Super helpful! Thanks!
Great info, I have been wondering if I reallt needed to spend money trying to buy all organic produce. I usaully end up getting all my fruit organic. grapes, apples…whatever is on sale.
I have that list in my purse, it’s handy to have it when doing groceries shopping. It’s kind of expensive sometimes, but I think it worths the money in the long run!
That is my favorite market! We spent at least 3 hours in there
I try to buy organic when I can, it is easier at the farmers market!
So crazy!!! In class this morning my prof put up both of your lists of food and we had to guess what the list is for (she does this regularly –so we guess “foods to prevent cancer” or “foods to reduce inflammation”). Today it was “foods most likely to be contaminated” (so we should buy organic) and “foods least likely to be contaminated”.
Great post, Kristen! I constantly have the organic debate with myself–and like you, I tend to try and strike a balance with foods that really should be bought organic and those that aren’t necessarily “healthier” in their organic forms. I think a lot of people are misinformed when it comes to buying organic because of the many marketing ploys the food industry has put out. I try to resist buying things like graham crackers organic just because they are in cute, healthy-looking packaging (haha)–and stick to keeping the dirty doz as clean as possible
Good luck with your school stuff!
S
great post! i was curious about this!
This is good to know! I am supportive of organic foods when they have real health benefits but not able to afford buying totally organic. It’s good to see where I can cut back!
I try to buy as much stuff organic as I can unless it is super expensive. Even if it’s not something that you really “should” buy organic, I still think it’s better because of the environmental impact of non-organic stuff. But, I’m not crazy about it and think paying $2 for a banana a little much. Although, when you think about it, it’s still cheaper then buying a bunch of processed, packaged food, and much better for you!
I don’t necessarily buy organic because I think an organic apple is much healthier than a non organic apple, but I think that everything we do has consequences. Pesticides used on fruit and vegetables rinsed off in our sinks may seep into our water eventually. Plus pesticides sprayed on the trees will wash off into the ground water that way. So it’s not just the healthier to eat option, but the healthier environment option.
Cost makes it a more difficult decision. Not everything I can afford is organic.
Great post! I constantly struggle with this at the grocery store. In a perfect world (and one where money grew on trees), I would buy everything organic. But because the world isn’t perfect, it’s nice to be armed with the knowledge we need to make the right decision. Thank you for such an informative post!
I carry this list in my purse! I really try to keep my budget small by only purchasing the organic foods I can’t live without… ie, spinach, grapes, apples. Do I like bell pepper? Yes. But do I need to buy it every time I grocery shop? Nope, I’d rather have extra spinach. I also try to buy what’s on sale, unless I’m making a specific recipe.
Great post : )
so siked that I can save some dollaroos on my beloved bananas considering I eat them like a monkey. Very interesting list, thanks for sharing madaam!
I think the slow food movement is great and I’m all for local, organic and ethical food. However, it’s not a realistic scenario for a majority of Americans. Let’s face it. It costs more to buy organic and locally. For 1 WF onion, you could probably buy 2 at Kroger. Is the taste and quality usually better paying extra? Yes, but a lot of people don’t care or can’t afford it even if they do care. Also, sometimes organic doesn’t taste better. Organic bananas don’t taste better than regular bananas and its somewhat hard to justify buying them.
I’m fortunate enough to have parents who understand, believe in organic foods and fund me for such pleasures. I ALWAYS buy cage-free or local eggs. The difference between those and regular eggs are like night and day. The shells are thicker and the yolks are perkier and stronger.
It’s a tough dilemma especially in a college town like I’m in. Trying to persuade a fratboy to spend an extra couple dollars on cage-free eggs instead of low-grade beer is next to impossible.
Great information. I have that list hanging in my kitchen cupboard. I try very hard to eat as much organic as I can and being on budget. Sometimes I will splurge one week and get a lot of organic produce but then the next week I cut it back to those few staples that need to be organic. I hope one day that organic product is more affordable so more people can enjoy the benefits!
I miss the Bocqueria! Let’s make another trip for some of those delicious fruit smoothies! Enjoying your blog!
xo