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
