by Sherrell Dorsey of Organic Beauty Vixen
Each time I make a trip to the grocery store I test myself on how to make a meal for the week that’s fresh, healthy and organic without spending over $20 per week. Sometimes, I simply can’t make it to Trader Joe’s so I’ve been at the neighborhood grocery store, which is Red Apple, and not to mention has a pretty appalling produce section. However, there are a few organic items, a great selection of Odwalla drinks and plenty of seafood.
Save money, time and confusion by spending only on organics that are a necessity. The rest of these puppies aren’t as laden with pesticides (based on a research study done by the Environmental Working Group that you can check out here) and if you wash them thoroughly (try this great green wash I use to clean my fruit and veggies here) you’ll reduce your exposure.
Now, I still recommend that you buy organic whenever you can and when your budget will allow, but if you’re stretching those dollars (like most of us are) know that you can refrain from freaking out about the following…
- Pinneaples
- Cantaloupe
- Kiwi
- Mango
- Sweet Potatos
- Onions
- Avocados
- Sweet Corn
- Asparagus
- Cabbage
- Eggplant
- Watermelon
Here’s some additional info you may want to check out:
Sherrell Dorsey is a natural beauty expert, writer, speaker and advocate of health, wellness and sustainability in communities of color. In addition to creating OrganicBeautyVixen.com, Sherrell writes beauty articles for Tyra Banks’s beauty and fashion site TypeF.com, Jones Magazine, MySalonScoop.com and Posh Beauty. Follow Sherrell on twitter at www.twitter.com/organicvixen and connect with her on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/
Wow, very informative. Looks like the items we most often buy/eat at my house are on the dirty dozen list. ~KF519
Thank you "Anonymous," as I was about to make the same comment. It's definitely hard to do, due to the costs, but I'm a firm believer that buying food that isn't genetically modified is in investment in my health for the future.
Totally disagree with some items on your list.
Corn absolutely needs to be organic. Please do some research in Monsanto and GMO (genetically modified organisms). Corn is the number one modified food item and not modified in a good way,
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This is good to know. Buying organic is expensive but definitely worth it in the long run.
A ecofriendly and cheap way to wash produce is to simply dilute white vinegar with equal amounts of water. It's also great as an all purpose cleaner.
in addition you don't have to buy sweet corn, cabbage, broccoli, tomatoes, papayas and grapefruit organic. Those are the remainder of the fruits and vegetables that are least likely to have pesticide reside on them. ( from Dr. Joel Furman's Eat to Live: The Revolutionary Formula for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss (paperback) – ISBN 0-316-73550-7, (Little Brown & Company; revised edition January , 2011- see p 301.)
Organic milk is great! It is gentler on my stomach and it lasts sooo much longer than regular milk. When I buy my organic milk it still good over a month later!!
i would be down for the challenge because am a firm believer that all we need to battle illness is fruits, veggies, some herbs n a bit of ingenuity. i have been preaching it, but it is better that people SEE it.