Buying Organic--Is it Worth It?

Spring has sprung, at least here in West Texas! It's a perfect time to think about growing your own pesticide-free veggies. It's also a great time to plant a fruit tree for pesticide-free fruit year after year! If you don't have the space or inclination for a garden, you may think about buying organic produce.

But--buying all organic can definitely bust the food budget. How can you know when it's worth it to buy organic? Here is where to start:

1. Keep a food diary for what you and your children eat for a week. (Pregnancy and early childhood are sensitive times for pesticide exposure.)
2. At the end of the week, tally up what you eat the most of.
3. Look at where your top foods land on the Environmental Group's "Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce" http://www.foodnews.org/
4. If any of your top foods land in the top 12 worst for pesticides, consider buying organic.

For an excellent article on the topic-see "Buying Organic--Is it Worth It?" by Stephanie Wood, published in March 08, Baby Talk magazine and also found online. I'm quoted in the article: http://www.parenting.com/article/Mom/Health/Eating-Green-1201726268247

Happy Spring!

Bridget