Eat organic. Eat local. Avoid chemicals and preservatives. This is all good advice, but let's be real. For many, staying healthy means being wealthy, and some of us just can't afford it.
Buying organic isn't cheap. A $1 conventional food item could cost twice as much in the organic version, forcing many of us to decide what we should feel guilty about...eating bad or spending too much money? Well, we don't want you to choose. We want you to eat healthy at a reasonable cost to you. So, we've done some research - you can thank us later - on when you should buy organic.
When to Buy Organic
According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), if you can only afford to buy some organic items on your grocery list, these are the ones to buy: apples, strawberries, grapes, celery, peaches, spinach, sweet bell peppers, imported nectarines, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, imported snap peas, and potatoes. Collectively known as the "Dirty Dozen," these are the produce, that when tested repeatedly, show the most chemicals used during growing.
When to Skip Organic
You can skip the organic aisle on the EWG's "Clean Fifteen" -- the produce that is least likely to have pesticide residue: avocados, sweet corn, pineapple, cabbage, frozen sweet peas, onions, asparagus, mangoes, papayas, kiwis, eggplant, grapefruit, cantaloupe, cauliflower, and sweet potatoes.
Prioritize your grocery list. Decide to buy organic when purchasing from the Dirty Dozen group, and buy conventional with the Clean Fifteen.
Equal Housing Opportunity Lender