| Amid fears of excessive hormones, harmful pesticides, | | | | because of their tough skin. Then make your organic |
| and our declining environment, more and more | | | | choices accordingly. |
| consumers are opting for organic foods when making | | | | Shop around for best prices |
| decisions about their diet. If you're someone who | | | | Organic foods are generally priced higher than regular |
| wants to make this change too, it can be | | | | ones but the range can vary greatly - from 10% to |
| overwhelming knowing just where to begin. What | | | | 200% higher! Make sure you visit a range of stores |
| should you look for? Where should you shop? Will it be | | | | which supply organic foods to get the best value on |
| expensive? Follow this guide for the fundamentals of | | | | different foods. Visit health food stores, your local |
| shopping organic: | | | | farmer's market, shop online, or browse through the |
| Check labels | | | | organic sections of large retail chains. |
| The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) | | | | Get your timing right |
| has given organic foods a national standard. They | | | | Since organic foods do not use chemicals to help |
| state the term 'organic' means foods that have been | | | | preserve their freshness, many fresh foods have to |
| produced without antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, | | | | be consumed quite quickly after they are bought. Buy |
| irradiation, and bioengineering. But be warned, there are | | | | unripened fruit or vegetables when appropriate and |
| different types of organic products - some are 100% | | | | talk to your store owner, farmer or grocer about when |
| organic, some contain 95 -100% organic ingredients | | | | their deliveries are made so you can time your |
| and can be labeled 'organic', while others with less than | | | | purchases to get the best quality foods. |
| this percentage will state they are made with organic | | | | Get the whole family involved |
| ingredients' (70% and up) or 'contain organic ingredients' | | | | If it's not just yourself who's turning organic but your |
| (less than 70%). Make sure you check labels on your | | | | whole family too, try and get everyone involved in |
| food products carefully to know what quality of | | | | being educated about your new choices. You could do |
| product you are buying. | | | | something adventurous like trying to grow your own |
| Pick your organic options | | | | organic ingredients in your garden or find cooking |
| You might not be able to switch your whole diet to | | | | classes for kids that uses only organic ingredients. |
| organic - this option could be too expensive or just not | | | | Education will be the first step towards enjoying your |
| practical - but you can decide which foods you believe | | | | new healthier lifestyle! |
| are worth buying in the organic form. Read up on the | | | | If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to post it to |
| foods that are considered to be most affected by | | | | your site or blog and forward this link to your friends. |
| pesticides, hormones, etc. e.g. apples, strawberries and | | | | Have a great day! |
| dairy products and least affected too, e.g. avocados | | | | |