Many families these days are questioning whether organic foods are the way to go. While the prices may be a factor, it's still possible to stay within your budget and stay healthy. You've toiled over switching to organic, but the cost has scared you off. With a half gallon of milk jumping from nearly $3 a carton to more than $4 a carton--just for organic--many wonder if it's really worth it.
"Organic foods can cost 50 to 100 percent more than non-organic foods, so there is a cost involved and it goes back to that labor and how intensive that can be. The crop yields are often smaller because there aren't all these chemicals that are trying to stimulate growth," said registered dietitian Jennifer DeHart.
But if you're selective with how you buy organic, DeHart explains you can still get the best of both worlds.
"There are some foods that we call the 'dirty dozen' that tend to have a high level of pesticide residues, so those are the ones you might think of to choose organic, as opposed to others if you're going to go in that direction," said DeHart.
The "dirty dozen" includes the following fruits and vegetables: apples, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, celery, potatoes, bell peppers, and spinach.
DeHart says if you're choosy when buying foods like these, you're less likely to shell out extra money on foods that have less of a risk.
If the cost to go organic is too much for your budget, there are still ways to protect yourself from pesticides.
Remember to buy fruits and vegetables in season, trim the outer portions of leafy vegetables, and eat a wide variety of produce...all of this will limit your exposure to chemicals, and help keep you healthy.
