Organic food provides more than just health benefits because the taste of organically grown food usually surpasses that of commercially grown food as well. Unlike commercial producers, organic growers do not force their produce to ripen early, and fruits and vegetables allowed to mature naturally typically have a flavor superior to that of conventionally grown products forced to ripen prematurely.
In addition, organic foods do not contain synthetic pesticides, ionizing radiation, bioengineering, or sludge, so those foods do not contribute to the health problems that can be associated with consumption of artificial chemicals. Although added chemicals may not affect the flavor of food, products grown in well-balanced soil normally taste better.
If you are interested in adopting a diet of all-organic foods, try using them in your favorite recipes, or look for interesting, new ways to incorporate organic foods into your diet. Some online sites feature advice about where to find coupons, the best places to shop and how to eat out along with other helpful information about organic eating.
When you begin buying organic foods, you will possibly notice that their prices are higher than are those of ordinary products, so you may want to find methods of lowering the amount you spend to eat healthier, tastier foods. Here are a few more tips for transitioning to an all-organic food diet.
- Shop at farmer’s markets.
- Organic fresh produce does not last as long as commercially grown fruits and vegetables last, so you may need to purchase smaller amounts of produce more often to ensure good quality. However, if you find bargain prices on produce or other foods, you can purchase larger quantities and freeze what you will not eat in a few days.
- Visit a few stores to compare prices.
- Take advantage of bulk dispensers to buy just what you need and avoid paying for more than you will use.
- Rather than buying candy bars or packages of candy to appease your appetite for sweets, choose just a few pieces of candy, or even better, organic dried fruit from the bulk section.
- Buy organic spices in small quantities because their medicinal qualities deteriorate over time.
- Save money by using coupons. Look online for organic-based coupons, or contact your favorite companies to inquire about receiving their coupons by mail.
- Prepare recipes that do not require specialty ingredients, or make substitutions for expensive items that you will not use often.
- Make snacks from scratch instead of buying expensive, prepackaged organic items, and save time by making large batches and freezing some for later.
- Serve smaller portions of expensive items like meat, remembering that one serving usually contains only four ounces of meat.
- Some farmers will process and sell one-half or one-fourth of an organically fed animal, and you can store portions of the meat in your freezer. If you prefer to share the cost and the meat, you can purchase the whole animal and divide it with your friends or neighbors.
- Join an organic food co-op or a community-supported agriculture program.
- Plant a garden with organic seeds so you can enjoy the rewards of eating healthier, tastier foods without as much expense. If you are not an experienced gardener, start with organic herbs because they are easy to grow.
Because of the distance bees travel, you have no way of knowing if they have contacted pesticides or other chemicals, so you may not be able to find organic honey.
Start your transition to organic eating by first buying the organic foods that will bring you the greatest health benefits:
- Milk, ice cream, yogurt, cheese and other dairy products
- Meat from animals fed only non-GMO, organic diets free of growth hormones and antibiotics
- Foods most likely to contain GMOs, like soybeans, corn, yellow squash, zucchini, papaya, sugar beets, canola and cottonseed oil
- Produce like celery, apples, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, hot peppers, grapes, peaches, nectarines, potatoes, sweet bell peppers, leafy green vegetables and berries
- Eggs
- Dried spices and herbs
- Chocolate
If you want to learn more about companies that offer healthy products that are organic here’s a list that I compiled:
- SunWarrior – These guys are awesome! Love their chocolate protein, all organic all raw
- Nu Skin – They actually are more organic than I imagined, they have skin products but organic
- Trivitia – Good company
- Annies Naturals – Super good food.
- Image By David Dewitt – https://thecozycoffee.com/