Why and when organic?

The conventional food production is using a lot of pesticides, insecticides and herbicides. So when it comes down to pesticide sprayed or conventional produce there are a few things to avoid, especially produce that aren’t protected by some kind of a thick peel or skin.

The most contaminated foods and the foods that absorb pesticides easily due to the Environmental Working Group are:

  • Peaches
  • Apples
  • Sweet Bell Peppers
  • Celery
  • Nectarines
  • Strawberries
  • Cherries
  • Pears
  • Grapes
  • Spinach & lettuce
  • Potatoes

Things that are OK to get conventional are:

  • Onions
  • Avocados
  • Sweet Corn, frozen
  • Pineapples
  • Mangoes
  • Asparagus
  • Sweet peas, frozen
  • Kiwis
  • Bananas
  • Cabbage
  • Broccoli
  • Papayas
  • Melons

Finally keep in mind that organic food is more nutritious because it’s grown in better quality soil, which results in produce that has a higher nutrient content.

Ideally buying all organic is the way to go but you can still get the benefits of conventional foods if organic is too pricy. Fortunately, there’s a way to reduce the exposure to pesticides and bacteria that are found on produce by washing them with a water vinegar mixture. Experts found that a water vinegar wash kills up to 98% of the bacteria and removes pesticides. Simply fill a bowl with 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar, place your fruits and veggies in the bowl and let it soak for 15 minutes. Then rinse it with water.   Another thing you can do is fill a spray bottle with water and vinegar (3:1), spray your produce, let it soak for 5-10 minutes and rinse them with water.

Meal Plan Day 5

Breakfast: 1/2 of a large Watermelon or 1-2 Santa Clause Melons

Lunch: ~2 lbs of grapes

Dinner: Rice with a Sweet & Sour Sauce

PS: Peel & slice a bunch of bananas and put them into the freezer for tomorrow!