A couple of weeks ago, I shared the 2017 Dirty Dozen / Clean Fifteen…foods with the highest and lowest levels of pesticide residue…as identified by the Environmental Working Group. If you missed that post, you can read it here.
I was thrilled to hear from many of you saying you were glad to learn about these lists. Now you want to know how to use the lists to your advantage when shopping for produce.
All of us are faced with decisions about where to spend our money. Daily living expenses, saving for retirement, saving for a child’s education, entertainment, clothing, travel, transportation…all of these interests and necessities take a chunk of our hard-earned dollars.
So where does spending money on organic food fit in? Is the extra $0.30 or more per pound worth it?
I view prioritizing food dollars as part of my health insurance. Because I want to maintain an active lifestyle and feel my best in the process, doing what I can to protect my body from unnecessary toxins is important to me. While it may be a bit more costly on the front end to buy organic versions of the Dirty Dozen, doing so can result in huge health savings down the road.
That’s where the Clean Fifteen list offers guidance, too. When the cost of buying food has a direct impact on your wallet, consider the foods for which the conventional version is less burdensome on your body. Notice how many of the Clean Fifteen have a thick outer layer or an outer layer that we don’t typically eat…avocado, pineapple, melon, kiwi, grapefruit. This outer layer protects the edible portion of the fruit or vegetable from absorbing pesticides at a high level, or the food is grown in such a way that pesticides are less readily absorbed.
Don’t be fooled…conventional versions of the Clean Fifteen may not be completely free of pesticide residue. But because their toxic load is much lower and less burdensome than the Dirty Dozen, they can be good alternatives when adhering to a food budget is critical.
Today I encourage you to commit to putting your health first without breaking the bank. Keep the EWG’s Dirty Dozen / Clean Fifteen Shopper’s Guide handy when selecting your produce at the grocery store. You have a choice. And you’re worth it!
Here’s to your health and vitality!
