Over the past few years, it seems that eating ‘healthy’ has somehow become synonymous with eating ‘organic’. While organic foods are often lower in pesticide residue, are better on the environment (in terms of production) and may offer up more anti-oxidants, you don’t necessarily always have to buy organic to get the nutrients your body needs.
I’m all for investing in organic fruits and vegetables and supporting local farms whenever possible, it’s just, unfortunately not always feasible or practical.
In these cases, I have come to rely on the amazing work by the EWG or the Environmental Working Group. Their whole mission is to ‘empower people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment…through educating… consumers to make safer and more informed decisions about the products they buy and the companies they support*.’
If you haven’t heard of this group or visited their site before, I highly recommend clicking through here to read and learn more about their work.
The EWG has been part of countless research initiatives, from what’s in your tap water (which is semi-terrifying) to what toxins might be in your day to day household items. They are probably best known, however, for their ‘Dirty Dozen’ and ‘Clean Fifteen’ lists.
What are these you might ask?
These are guides that are updated every year, which rank the pesticide contamination of the most popular fruits and vegetables we consume. So while you should always try to buy organic or sustainably grown strawberries, spinach, nectarines, and apples, you could save a few bucks by buying conventional avocados and pineapples; as these foods historically show low signs of pesticide residue when prepared.
Regardless of whether you’re buying conventional or organic goods, always be sure to wash your fruits and vegetables prior to consuming. Even if you wouldn’t eat the skin, as with an avocado, residue (such as salmonella and
*https://www.ewg.org/about-us
Photo by Barry McGee on Unsplash
