Organic Vs Not

Dh and I have been reading and researching benefits of Organic foods. I didnt realize how much more they cost and how hard they are too find. For those who do organic foods why do you use them and how do you find them without having to go to 3-4 stores? I live in a farming community and thought it would be easier to find around here but its hasnt been. I am also curious why others are doing organic foods too. Thanks for any input I get!!

 

I do more produce and meat than anything else. I do produce for the pesticides and poultry for the steroids. Yes, it is more expensive. Yes, you have to make special trips to stores, but I figure that as much as I can avoid the "junk" in their food, the better - as long as we can. The babies eat better than DH and I do.

 

95% of their food is organic. We have a locally owned organic store that sells everything only 20 minutes away and that is where we go. I do it b/c 1. they are free roaming (for livestock) 2. no antibotics or growth hormones 3. pesticide free 4. grown in an all natural soil.

I buy mostly organic Gerber baby food (as much as I can find), they get all organic fruits like peaches, apples, mangos, bananas, and their veggies like green beans, carrots, peas, etc are all organic. I buy organic meat at the store.

 

Fortunately around here even the major supermarkets are carrying organic produce (both fresh and frozen).

I've been feeding the boys organic produce, eggs and milk just because it is healthier for them without any pesticides or hormones plus I want to support that type of farming/livestock raising as it is beneficial not only to the earth but to the animal as well.

 

I should list my own reasons we are going to use organic foods. We decided start useing organic because of all the pesticides, and hormones in produce. I was amazed by all the hormones they put in everything. I have had ALOT of female problems, so have my sisters. I read in my research that some of the health problems in children now are caused by all the hormones and pesticided used. I cant do anything about any problems they inherit but can do my best to help avoid health issues from food and stuff.

 

We buy organic milk exclusively and when I buy fresh meats to cook I buy only organic/free range.
I don't mind about organic fruits/veggies as much.

 

I buy try to buy as much organic as I can. Fortunately, my local supermarket has a very large organic selection. Makes buying it easy. But I still do frequent our local health food store about 2 or 3 times a month for more specialized items.

I choose to do this because not only do I believe it's healthier for my girls, but I also believe organic farming is better for the environment, and kinder to animals.

 

I do organic as well. I usually shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, and all baby food I buy is organic, the cereal, the jars and any crackers/"cheerios" this is because I don't want to give their developing bodies any genetically engineered ingredients, hormones or pesticides... as well as the milk and some fruit and veggies, it depends on the item, they say these are the most heavily contaminated:
* Apples
* Bell Peppers
* Celery
* Cherries
* Grapes (imported)
* Nectarines
* Peaches
* Pears
* Potatoes
* Red Raspberries
* Spinach
* Strawberries

And the following are the least so I buy them non-organic:
* Asparagus
* Avocados
* Bananas
* Broccoli
* Cauliflower
* Corn (sweet)
* Kiwi
* Mangos
* Onions
* Papaya
* Pineapples
* Peas (sweet)

My kids eat bananas everyday so I buy them regular, but if I buy strawberries they're usually organic. I live in the LA area and we have locally grown strawberries that I do buy at farmer markets or the side of the road that are not organic but they are so ripe and fresh (when in season) I can't resist!

 

We do a little bit of both. I buy baby food organic when I can find it, but usually it's slim pickings. And, it's also usually either bananas or applesauce, which I try not to buy b/c of Zoe's tendancies to get extremely constipated.

I just discovered a new store that's close by that carries a lot of organic foods. Fresh foods I'm trying to buy more organic. Canned fruits, I just can't afford yet. Luckily, it's getting closer to summer & more stuff should be in season.

Milk is something we definitely want to keep organic. A friend of mine just emailed me an interesting article on organic milk & some companies claiming to be organic apparently selling out.....it was interesting. http://www.newstarget.com/021763.html

Since we raise sheep & my husband hunts, most of our meat I don't have to worry about. We rarely have to buy meat, except chicken. He also fishes in the ocean a lot, too, and he's very good at knowing how to keep it fresh for freezing.


My mom buys a lot from this company: www.azurestandard.com She has a little co op group that she orders with; I don't know if you have to, or if you can place an order yourself.


Also, if you do a search on google there are a lot of companies now doing something called "Organic Box", where you sign up for their services and they will deliver fruits & veggies to you every week.

 

I do as much organic as I can, particularly the list mentioned earlier of the fruits/veggies with high pesticide levels. And dairy - I buy organic milk for all of us now, as well as yogurt and cheese when I can. It's more expensive but I really would like to minimize the girls' pesticide and hormone exposure. If they have organic at home, I feel less bad about the crap they are going to eat later on when they start begging for Happy Meals and stuff.

 

We have started to try and buy mostly organic. We usually shop at Meijer's though and the organic selection is very limited. We are lucky to have a Whole Foods and Trader Joes right around the corner. Like PP the pesticides and hormones that are in "regular" food really freak me out, and if I can start my girls out eating healthy it might just stick when they are older.

 

We are in the process of switching to organic, mostly because of Isabel's anger outbursts, and it has helped tremendously. I started with organic milk and eggs, then yogurts and yogurt drinks and bread. Now we're on to snacks, cereal and canned goods and juices. The meats will have to wait a whil, until our big freezer is empty.

Our local grocery store (HEB), is getting more and more organic food in each week it seems, and it is a lot cheaper than going to the local health stores (Central Market and Whole Foods). Thankfully, Costco carries a great variety of organic food as well. I've also considered buying in bulk online, once I tried out a brand of food and I like it. It seems like a lot of online stores will sell in bulk, and it will be cheaper.

 

It's not really an option for me in Ecuador. Just about all fruits and veggies are available year round, but they are mass produced for exports and the local markets have the leftovers.

But I think I prefer local over organic. There is no benefit to the planet if your organic produce is shipped 3,000 miles to your supermarket. When we return to the US, we think we'll join a farming coop kind of thing. You pay a flat fee at the beginning of the season and a local farmer delivers fresh produce for a set number of weeks. They are not often organic because the small family farmer often cannot afford to go through the certification process - even though the techniques are organic. Plus it's all local and extremely fresh, as opposed to the organic grapes shipped in from Chile during the winter.

 

I try to do as much organic as I can.....but there are things I will ALWAYS buy organic...milk and eggs
I buy mostly organic produce....but there are some things I buy regular....like bananas!
I also try to buy free range meats!

I just like the idea of no pesticides or chemicals....if there is a way for me to control just a little bit what goes into my kids bodies, then I am going to do it! (for now anyway!)

 

I was going to make the suggestion that Mellizos alluded to. If you live in a rural area, try to find out if there is a community supported farm. Many have a deal where you pay a set monthly rate and they deliver (or you go and pick up) a weekly basket of what ever if fresh that week. Oregon should be a major area for this kind of thing. It might cost more, but you will know exactly where your food is comming from.
In my community I have the choice of buying produce from the large farms in northern Mexico, sold by middle men at the market, or from small local producers who sell their own produce in the same market as the middle men. I try to buy at least 80% from the small producers. That means I can't buy the same things all year round. But I know the people who produced it and can talk to them about their lives and farming methods.

 

We try to buy things organic that the girls eat a lot of (like bananas -- even though they're on the not-so-bad list).

Now that more local produce is going to be in season, we'll try to get that too (and most of it is organic, because that's what kind of farmers we have in this area). I do believe in it, but it is so much more expensive at the farmer's market. I know they have to make a living, but I can't help feeling like I'm getting ripped off, paying $5 for a bunch of spinach! (Sorry, vent.) Fortunately our Safeway does carry a lot of stuff organic.

We joined a farming co-op one year, and it was a fun experience, but also kind of a pain to have to pick the stuff up and then figure out how to cook it. That was before we had kids; maybe I'd be more motivated now.

In general I buy organic when I can, but I don't make special trips to other stores for it. I also don't worry about packaged foods (cheerios, etc.). I try to keep my focus on feeding them whole foods rather than packaged foods anyway. We did buy organic baby food.

I also need to clip the list of the most- and least-contaminated foods and stick it to our fridge until I memorize it.

We buy organic eggs and organic (or at least hormone-free) meat -- mostly from Costco. We get our milk from a local dairy that says they follow organic practices, though they are not certified.

It's complicated! I figure it's a process -- we do what we can, and we keep working on it.

 

I want to also add that I've always read that Canteloupes are one of the foods that soaks up the most contaminates, and in Mexico it is common practice to irregate large farms with wastewater. So even if it's pesticide free, it may be highly contaminated, in the US it is best to buy caneloupes (and other melons?) only when they are locally in season.

 

I actually have strong feelings on the subject. I dont think there is anything wrong with going organic at all , and I also think its great, but I have a friend and cousin who barade me everyday about why I should go organic. First off its expensive. My cousin spends 400 a month alone on snacks for her kids.

I have done some things organic...like eggs, salads and yogurts. I think you should do what you think is best. I just dont understand why they keep shoving it down my throat, almost making me feel bad about the things I feed them. It gets to the point where she knocked me down for feeding my kids cheese nips becasue they have too much hydrodginated oils in them...

I just hope your not being bullied into it!!! LOL.

Good luck on your choices.

 

No I am not being bullied into it. But I have been around people who "preach" about the benefits and try and get the people they talk to do it. I never thought about the benefits or understood why people did itall until I watched a tv show I think it was Nip Tuck and the 9 year old daughter got her peiod really early and it brought up how so many foods are pumped with hormones to increase size and how that can affect a childs developing body. I started mine that early and the thought of having 2 daughters with their periods that early it got me thinking and I started looking up stuff about it then. It wasnt until about 4 months ago I really started looking up the benefits of organic foods. Its a process and every shopping trip I buy a little bit more and investigate where to buy them more. I am mostly doing fruits and veggies right now and this month switch our dairy and chicken over. Hopefully this summer we can buy a local cow and then be set on our red meats too. I just didnt realize it wasnt going to be so easy to find, but we do have a local farmers market in June, I have started a garden in my own back yard so this summer I know it will be easier and I can buy and can and freeze stuff to have for the winter.

Thanks everyone for all your input and ideas!!!

 

I think that its a good thing your doing it based on your own research. I may end up doing it eventually too....I am having another baby and may do the organic baby food. I am also living on one income. I think its rediculous the amount of money they charge to do something thats supposed to be more natural. ardon: Makes no sense to me!

I have seen some programs on it. I guess I figures I was raised on regular food, and I turned out okay. Ill be researching it more too.

Ive had the same people preach to me about breastfeeding (even though I did it!), and almost shoving down my throat of how invaluable it is, and why I should do it. I dont make people see my way of living as a necessity for them, so I dont get why people do that to me. She keeps wanting to come visit too, but there is a part of me (maybe the hormonal pregnant part) that doesnt need to listen to it the whole 3 hours shes here. :clapping: LOL..

 

QUOTE(mandylouwho @ Apr 16 2007, 08:08 PM) [snapback]222342[/snapback]
I guess I figures I was raised on regular food, and I turned out okay. Ill be researching it more too.


I think what has happened since we grew up is that food has become a lot more processed and imported more, so it's not the same food we were brought up on. I do understand the problem with the expense - I'm on my own with my twins - so though I buy organic milk, eggs, cheese and produce for the girls, I also use coupons and make our meals as much as possible. I also avoid snacks and food with transfats (which is easy to do these days because there has been such a backlash against them that there is always another option) and corn syrup.

This is a great discussion - I love everyone's suggestions!

Best,
Mia

 

QUOTE
I think what has happened since we grew up is that food has become a lot more processed and imported more, so it's not the same food we were brought up on


Ijust had this discussion with my mom yesterday. I have started making home made bread, I made my daughters curtains for their room and my mom said I have turned into " sally homemaker". I told her how much things have changed since I was growing up. Not only do my daughters live in such a scary world but even the food they eat is scary. I breastfed, made my daughters babyfood and have been very big about giving them fruits and vegetables. Ithought I was doing such a good thing and I was but I guess there is always more to do. My girls eat ALOT of fruits and vegies. there are times when they wont eay anything else on their plate but the veggies, wont touch anything else. Since I have become a mom I am always looking for ways to improve our lifestyle for them. I dont push what I feel or what I beleive on others. It bugs the heck out of me how "preachy" people get about what they believe. Everyone does what is best for THEIR lives and family, who am I or anyone else to tell them different.

 

That makes sense I have to agree. In trying to make things better, they are just hurting us more. My parents are always saying the kind of milk they drank as kids, experts would say should have killed us...its amazing how your bodies adjust to your environment huh?

I wonder if organic food has anything to do with wieghtloss? Have you seen any research on that?

 

I havent seen anything weightloss related but I think I will see what I can find. I have been wanting to make the switch for my daughters mainly, now I am interested in seeing if I can find anything about weightloss and organic foods.

 

I buy organic milk. Considering hormones are stored in fat, it only made sense to me when they were on whole milk. Now, we are buying organic meats too, when available. I feel the meat tastes better, and again wanting to protect us from the hormones and antibiotics. I feel that animal products are loaded with too many chemicals we don't need. Now, I know there are plenty of reasons to buy organic fruits and veggies, and if I can find them at reasonable prices then I will get them. But, it seems that most of my fruits and veggies are non-organic. I feel I can save a little on my grocery budget here. Maybe I will switch someday to all organic.

As for purchasing the products, I am able to find organic milk at most grocery stores in my area. Yes, it is 2-3x more expensive than regular, but I feel this is important to do, so we do it. I buy other organic goods at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. I am thinking about checking into a local farm that ships produce to your house - organic, of course. Do you have one of those in your area? What about a local co-op? Those would be some resources that I would look into if you are looking for more places to buy organic food.

HTH.