Is shopping organic a con? Yes and no. Bear with us – the benefits of eating organic are well documented; not only does research show consuming organic fruits like peaches and apples benefit our health through reducing pesticide exposure, it’s also good for the planet.
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But – there’s no getting around it – buying organic food is expensive. A large avocado from your local supermarket, for instance, costs £1.00, while you would pay £1.80 for a – much smaller – organic Hass avocado. Is it worth it, for an avo that barely covers the surface area of a slice of wholemeal?
Ahead of Organic September 2017, we’ve explored the foods you really should buy organic – and the ones you probably can get away with buying regular versions of (spoiler alert: you can now enjoy your non-organic avocado on toast with a clear conscience).
Here are the expert recommendations:
Your organic shopping list
Buy organic
These are the fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide residue, according to the Environmental Working Group’s annual ‘dirty dozen’ list.
- Apples
- Celery
- Strawberries
- Nectarines
- Pears
- Spinach
- Grapes
- Cherries
- Peaches
- Tomaoes
Also! Buy organic milk and dairy, as vitamins, minerals and levels of omega-3 are higher in organic varieties.
Don’t buy organic
These come under the list of the ‘clean 15’, ie fruit and vegetables with the least pesticide residues, so you can buy conventional varieties and save precious pennies:
- Avocados
- Kiwi
- Cauliflower
- Sweetcorn
- Pineapples
- Cabbage
- Sweet peas
- Onions
- Asparagus
- Papayas
- Kiwis
- Aubergine
- Honeydew melon
- Cantaloupe melon
- Grapefruit
Beware: the ‘organic halo’ – just because something is organic doesn’t mean it’s healthy. An organic fruit smoothie might contain as much sugar as a can of soda, while cereals can still be low in nutrients and high in calories.
Do you buy organic food, or not? Tweet us or tag us on Facebook and Instagram – we love to hear from you!