Convince Me to Go Organic...

You've gotten some great info from the other posters here about which foods etc. to get organic. I just wanted to make a few comments about the organic food industry and organic foods.
1. Check for USDA Organic labeling. Lots of our "organic" food is being imported from mexico, brazil etc now. It may or may not be labeled with the same standards as the USDA organic standard.
2. Local is frequently more important than organic. Go to the farmer's market and ASK the farmer whether they use pesticides etc. Lots of farmers do not, but may not qualify for USDA organic labeling for other reasons (or may not seek the label b/c it's expensive). By buying locally you reduce the transportation costs associated with your food, reduce carbon emmissions, and keep your dollars local. You can also get local food delivered to you through a CSA (community supported agricultur - check out Angelic Organics) or through Freshpicks (www.freshpicks.com).

If you're interested in learning more about where our food comes from (which, I admint, I find fascinating) I highly recommend picking up a copy of "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollen. He is a science writer for the New York Times magazine (most of this book was published as articles in the magazine over the past several years). In particular, I would read the "Big Organic" and "Local Organic" chapters. This book, more than anything, convinced me that I need to put LOCAL as my #1 priority and ORGANIC as my #2 priority

Many consumer groups also evaluate the organic practices of the big agri-businesses. For example, the Tribune published reviews of different organic dairy companies. Horizon (owned by Dean Foods), "O Organics" (Safeway), and Trader Joes (I was surprised to see) scored low. 365-Organic, Organic Valley and several others scored much higher. Lots of big corporate organic producers follow the letter - but not the spirit - of the organic standards, which is why it's nice to be able to talk with the farmer yourself. And lots of companies may have the spirit - but are not technically organic - like Brown Cow yogurt.

That said, better corporate organic than corporate non-organic.

It's tough to find "objective" articles about this as far as health benefits go (the USDA's stance has remained firmly that there's no difference). It's a very charged topic, as you can see. BUT there are clear environmental benefits, not to mention organic frequently tastes a lot better.

I think it's more important that you do research into the benefits of organic foods and make that choice yourself.

I chose to do organics for my family because of the pesticides used on foods. I also have heard that the hormones used in foods causes problems in people, as well.

I don't buy organics from the store as the FDA has passed a few "laws" that allows big business to stamp "organic" on their foods, even if they are not organic (meaning, if they use such and such a pesticide or if they use less than a certain amount of pesticide, they can claim the food is organic). To me, it's either organic or it's not. I thin it's also important to avoid foods that use Trans Fats (hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils). The FDA has also passed a "law" stating that as long as the food contains less than 0.045% trans fat, the food can be labled as "0% Trans Fat". If it has no trans fat, they can label it, "Trans Fat Free". Read your labels!!! Do some research into Trans Fat...it's not good for you in any amount.

I buy my meat, fruit and dairy from a family share farm program. It's not that much more pricey than going to Whole Foods and it's much faster to put in my order and just go pick it all up at one time as opposed to dragging two kids to the store and buying all of this stuff.

I have read that dairy is the No. 1 thing to switch because of hormones added to cows. Of course it is also expensive. I recently switched our dairy because I now have a daughter and have read that there is concern that girls are starting puberty so early as a result of the milk. Who knows if that is true but we decided not to risk it! With your fruits and veggies well there are chemicals on your food that you can't just "rinse" off. You actually need to wash with amild soap. I read that on average we injest 40lbs of pesticides a year from the chmeicals in our food. CRAZY. We switched to organic and found that tcforganics has a FABULOUS service and saves us a ton of time. They deliver a box of fresh fruit and veggies for $27! It lasts us all week sometimes two, and nothing goes to waste or spoils and I have not had anything that tastes bad/old. They have a website that lists reasons etc. www. tcforganics.net I have also read that switching to organics can help allergy symptoms and certain other ailments.

As far as cleaners, our family tried going organic however we are back to the smelly stuff. I simply found that I like the "smell" of a clean house and I haven't found anything yet that I think cleans as well. Of course I have heard that that smell can be quite toxic. If you happen to find an "organic" cleaner that smells great and cleans well (No dust appearing an hour later or your floors looking dingy once dry) let me know!!! Good luck in your search

From the limited research I've done I believe that dairy is one of the most important organic foods. Some doctors believe that the hormones fed to dairy cows are causing early pubescence in young girls. I have two boys, but I'm still buying organic dairy in case it turns out there's a tie to boys, too.

Fresh Picks is another great local organic delivery service, they work with local organic farmers and they deliver to your home, which is a huge boon. You can select how much and how often, and it's easy to change your order as needed. www.freshpicks.com.

I concur with those emphasizing the importance of organic dairy. It's unrealistic to think you can eliminate non-organic foods from your child's life completely, but you can minimize the exposure. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence - for example, the increasingly earlier onset of puberty - to indicate that the amount of hormones we are ingesting are affecting us.

I do a little research on the major organic providers - for example, Horizon does not have a good reputation. Stonyfield Farms and Organic Valley are much more reputable. But if you can, you're better off going local, and then you're supporting independent farmers as well.

My family has been eating as much organic, preservative free, chemical free no AGED steaks for about a year now. Non-organic milk is pushing girls into early puberty, my friends 2nd gr twins were proof of that.

Fruits and vegetables last ALOT longer when they arent riddled with pesticides. Meat tastes way better and I cant stand meat, so it must taste good if I say that. We will NEVER again eat aged steaks. Aged steaks means the meat is allowed to hang until it develops green slime and mold and then its considered aged and fed to you. GROSS!!!!!!!!! I am about to go on a kosher kick also. The treatments of these animals is disgusting, even if they are being raised for food, they dont have to be butchered like they are. Studies have shown, the less stress an animal goes thru, the less crap in your food. The more stress, the more crap in your food from adrenal glands and the like. I dont want my family eating that.

My migraines have been great, my asthma and allergies have been great, I have more energy since we stopped eating out, stopped eating so many foods laden w./chemicals, preservatives and red dyes. Even my 8yr old wont eat mcdonalds and that IS NOT from us brainwashing her. She has admitted the food just tastes gross. And let us not forget about the chemical the food manufacturers put into our foods to make us crave more and more.

Of course its all a personal choice and while organic may cost more at the present, in the long run it will work out. I havent spent $100/mo in 6 months for my prescriptions for allergies and migraines. Thats huge!!!!!!!

K.
www.arkparties.com

I agree that its hard to avoid all things that are not organic, but there are certain foods that you should buy organic.

Do a google search for the dirty dozen of organic foods. There are certain foods (esp apples and strawberries) that the chemicals begin inside the fruits while they grow and there is no way to wash it off.

There is a TON of information out there on the top things to buy organic. I always buy these "dirty dozen" foods and then the others when they are on sale.

I would also encourage you to look into environmentally friendly/non-toxic cleaners. I use Shaklee cleaners (featured on Oprah's Earth Day show) and know that none of the products will harm my family or the earth and they do a great job cleaning - better than the store bought stuff we used to use. I can give you info on these products if you are interested.

You are doing a great job by looking into organic for your family. Great Job!
B.

T.-

My family has been organic since 2000. Being organic (and kosher, for us) takes some effort but we feel we are doing the right this for us and for the environment. Since going organic, we have been less sick and when we have gotten sick we usually don't get as sick as other people we know. Also, we have noticed that we are now more sensitive to pesticides etc. For instance, the other day we had conventional strawberries and I had a bit of an allergic reaction.

Anyway, I think it is a personal choice and it requires effort but I hope you give it a try.

C.

I didn't read all of your responses, so I don't know if this was covered or not....
I just recently switched all of my household products to organic ones, I found a wonderful company called Melaluca. Their products are awesome, way better than I was expecting. The laundry system is so gentle on clothes and the window cleaner is amazing- smells good and No STREAKS!! I joined as a wholesale member to get a discount and it is a little more expensive up front, but all the formulas are so concentrated that a little goes a very long way. I havn't ordered laundry products since the end of June and I do a TON of laundry. Visit their site, www.melaluca.com. I know two consultants that would be happy to give you more info. One is in Round Lake and the other in Lake in the hills.

Here is my take, and then I will go read some of the other responses.

When you think of the amount of chemicals that touches the food you put into your child, it gets quite terrifying. If you read the labels of some of the stuff we consider "normal" kid food.

Hot dogs/turkey dogs have TONS of nitrates, very bad. You can get non nitrate ones at Trader Joes and Whole Foods.

Fruits and veggies, if what YOU are eating (peel) is exposed to fertilizers, etc., it is a good idea to go organic, so in other words, bananas aren't high on the list because they have a thick peel and you don't cut into it, mixing the chemicals throughout the fruit like you would a cantelope.

Dairy: There is a lot of research out there on the amount of Hormones and Antibiotics used for cows and how it gets into your food. This is another one I don't mess around with, although I will admit the for me, I drink regular because I figure the damage has been done on me after drinking the stuff for 30 some years. I go all organic for the kids though.

Meats: I go organic when I can. Ideally this is something you always go organic with. The same hormones and antibiotics are used on your meat as well. Also there are quite a few nuerologists (and a few that I even know) who have stopped eating meat all together because they are convinced there is a link between mad cow disease and the meat that we eat, and that cases they have referred for confirmation are neither confirmed or denied. That is enough to scare the bejesus out of me. In reality though, organic meat is really expensive and not nearly as easy to find as dairy and produce. I need to do better on this.

A lot of my information I got from parents magazine, also AOL did a piece on organics, if you search it on google, my guess is you will get lots of resources you can check.

Thanks,
Jen

My cousin knows much more about this than I do-- you might check out her website: wholesomeharvest.com Sometimes she posts articles on pesticide residue, etc. It is also a good source for organic meat. You can order right over the internet. She and her husband left the business world out East to start farming in Iowa, and she founded wholesomeharvest.

Since I started staying home, we've been on such a tight budget that I didn't want to think too much about this myself, but I'll definately think harder after reading the postings about milk!

Milk was the first thing we changed. Then it led to other dairy products. We don't use all organic all the time, but we try to choose organic meat and dairy.

You got a lot of responses on this already, so I won't reiterate them. However I am surprised that no one mentioned growing food yourself as an option. Maybe because it is the end of the season.

I love my garden and I know everything is organic since anything that has touched it I have put on it! I use manure compost at the beginning of the season and that is it. I grow my own tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, eggplant, peppers, lettuce, herbs, beans, beets, zucchini, raspberries and blueberries. It tastes much better than anything I have bought in a store, be it Whole Foods or Jewel.

I do not have a huge garden by any means. I live on a city lot and use the few feet on one side of my house. I do not spend a ton of time weeding. Check out the book Square Foot Gardening if you are interested for next year. Honestly it is so cheap and easy.

I know that organic is good to eat with everything, but I honestly don't have the money to do that, so, our family gets organic beef and pork in bulk (1/2 beef and whole pork) about every 1 1/2 yrs. It is very good and doesn't have the hormones or other stuff. It actually ends up being cheaper than getting regular meat at the store in small amounts. We paid $2.40/lb for the beef and $2/lb for the pork. That includes ribs and ribeyes and all the really expensive choice cuts of meat. Email me if you would like more information on the meat. I have been eating it for my whole life (my grandpa used to raise them). People can't believe how good it tastes.

H.

I would start with Milk and dairy in general, meats (chicken and ground beef for sure), produces that absorve a lot of pesticides 9like tomatoes, greens and strawberries)

As some of other postings said, we cannot possibly buy all organic, but we try to avoid Dirty Dozen and buy organic as much as we can. We always buy organic/free range/anti-biotic free eggs. We don't drink much of milk and don't eat meat, so we don't have to worry about them, but we try to buy organic grains (especially wheat/flour). The Whole Foods' bulk section is the most cost efficient one for organic grains and herbs inspite of the fact Whole Foods is thought to be an high-end grocery store.

It is important for us not only to consider our health, but to consider the health of our planet by supporting organic farmers as well.

If you live in Chicago, try Stanley's at North/Elston for their organic produce. It is the cheapest (but not freshest) organic produce around in town.

Good luck.
--M.

Mostly great advice here for you.
Also, check www.ewg.org
They rate pesticide levels in different foods, as well as other items. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries are some of the worst. Bananas usually show less pesticide. If your budget is tight, start with substituting the more harmful foods. Lastly, VERY IMPORTANT, there are wonderful, SIMPLE recipes for green cleaning (ALL home products), personal products etc. Just google "Green Cleaning" or DIY+green clean,
green beauty products, natural cleaning recipes, words like that. Huge number of recipes. Use up existing "chemicals" and reuse the plastic/glass containers. I used a heat gun (on low) and take the labels off the opaque bottles/containers, although you do not need to do that. The "glass cleaner" bottles melted when I tried this, so I don't do that anymore.....however, now that I think about it, you could put a cloth between the label and the heat gun and that HAS worked for me in other cases. By making your own (which works as well or better than store bought....green or otherwise) you reduce the need for more containers that have to be recyled, packaged, labeled, shipped etc. In a nutshell, you will find that with Baking soda, borax, vinegar, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, salt, vegetable oil, ammonia, water you have 99% of what you need for ANY cleaning/laundry/diswasher.
Sorry, one more "lastly". IF you find yourself kind of "addicted" to the "toxic chemicals" :) you can ease away from them by first diluting that solution by 50/50, then maybe 75%/25%...you get the picture. I have been using all the above and frankly was a little sceptical about whether the dishwasher recipe would work. It DID and was amazing.
1/3 borax
1/3 baking soda
1/3 bought dishwasher detergent
ALso, vinegar in the rinse compartment, or mix 50/50 or 75/25 with vinegar/store bought

Buy a few organic products and take some taste tests...you might be surprised at how much better organic milk and chicken taste. The fruit and veggies are good too!

Read "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, a year of food life" by Barbara Kingsolver. You've got the time, it's worth a read.

You can find a great article on when to go organic here:

http://mamaspeaks.typepad.com/reviews/2007/07/when-to-go-...