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    Home » Featured

    Organic Produce

    Published: Jun 6, 2016 · Modified: May 11, 2023 by Dianne · This post may contain affiliate links

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    Organic produce can be just as important for your health as macronutrients, micronutrients, and calories. Look for these organic fruits and vegetables at farmers markets, farm stands, and grocery stores near you.

    Organic Produce text

    Organic Produce

    When it comes to eating healthy, the emphasis goes beyond just macronutrients, micronutrients, and calories. It even goes beyond food groups! When you make the conscious decision to start eating healthier foods, it’s important to pay attention to what’s in your food.

    Did you know that the nutritional value of most our produce has decreased over the last few decades? The food we eat no longer gives us the nourishment it used to, requiring us to seek other sources of vital nutrients. This is due to the increasingly more common use of pesticides and genetically modified foods. By consuming organic produce as often as possible and choosing foods that are locally grown, you can minimize the effect of pesticides in your diet!

    Each year, the Environmental Working Group puts out a dirty dozen and clean 15 list for organic produce. Here are the latest lists.

    two bowls of salad with strawberries, dressing, and lemon

    Beware These Foods: The Dirty Dozen

    These foods have been named as the most likely to be contaminated by pesticides. If you’re on a budget, these are the foods you want to prioritize buying organic.

    1. Strawberries
    2. Spinach
    3. Kale, collards, and mustard greens
    4. Nectarines
    5. Apples
    6. Grapes
    7. Cherries
    8. Peaches
    9. Pears
    10. Bell and hot peppers
    11. Celery
    12. Tomatoes
    one bowl of curry with rice

    Safer Bets: The Clean Fifteen

    These foods are the least likely to contain pesticides, according to the President’s Cancer Panel and the Environmental Working Group. Because of their many layers and rough outer skin, these foods are less likely to be toxic when conventionally grown.

    1. Avocados
    2. Sweet corn
    3. Pineapples
    4. Mango
    5. Onions
    6. Papaya
    7. Sweet peas (frozen)
    8. Eggplant
    9. Asparagus
    10. Broccoli
    11. Cabbage
    12. Kiwi
    13. Cauliflower
    14. Mushrooms
    15. Honeydew
    16. Cantaloupe
    Baked Ratatouille with tomatoes, garlic, parsley, eggplant, squash, and zucchini

    Buying Organic Produce

    Most foods are much better for your body, on multiple levels, when purchased organic. They’re closer to the earth and more care has been taken to ensure that they’re grown in a natural setting.

    If you’re not able to purchase organic at a grocery store, farmer’s markets are a great alternative. Local farmers aren’t subjected to the same large-scale requirements of a corporate or a farm subsidized by the government. They’re usually more likely to use fewer pesticides and more natural methods when growing foods. Often, these small farmers carry organic produce, even if the label itself doesn't say “organic.”

    It’s also easier to buy foods that are in season if you have local sources. Farmers want to ensure that their stock doesn’t go bad before the next crop comes to flower. Eating seasonally is also statistically the best way to avoid food that has been genetically altered to remain fresh longer.

    Where do you buy food in your neighborhood? Do you typically buy organic produce?

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    About Dianne

    Dianne Wenz is a Certified Holistic Health Coach, Vegan Lifestyle Coach, Plant-Based Diet Nutrition Specialist, and Plant-Based Chef, as well as the author of Truly Healthy Vegan Cookbook.

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    Hi! I'm Dianne Wenz, a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach. I empower my clients to build new habits so they can reach their healthy living goals. I love to show others how easy it is to live a vegan lifestyle as well as how to cook deliciously easy plant-based meals. Contact me today to learn more and to schedule a complimentary breakthrough session!

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