The Dirty Dozen, The Clean 15

This title you have read, I'm sure, many times over the last few years, as the Food & Drug Administration and environmental groupies or health fanatics have scrabbled to put together some guides to help consumer make educated choices when it comes to the produce they eat.

And, if you're like me, you struggle a lot with the concept of "organic" vs. "conventional" (and whoever determined that "conventional" should be the opposite of "organic," as if it is out of the ordinary to eat fruits and veggies the way they were meant to be, without pesticides and other substances harmful to people and the environment.. *phew* this is a really long parenthesis!)

So at the end of the day, when it's just you and those piles of brightly-colored, mouth-watering strawberries and, say, grapes, cherries, avocados, tomatoes and cucumbers,... and the only thing standing between you and them is your shopping cart, what do you choose to put in it? Do you always reach for the organic? Organic produce is often 100% more expensive than regular produce.  If you can't always afford organic, where do you compromise? But, most importantly, does organic matter or make a difference?

Last week I got in the mail a pamphlet that somewhat answered some of these questions. Turns out, organic does matter, although not always. I do not claim to know or understand these things very well, as I am still struggling myself with all the terms used (organic, natural, conventional, etc.) and what they really mean. For example, "natural" is not a term verified by the FDA; it is used loosely and does not mean organic. And yet, it certainly sounds more appealing than "conventional," doesn't it? :)

But the reason I am posting this is because reading it has changed the way I eat and think about food (well, that and the movie Food, Inc.) and I'm hoping that by sharing it, I can at least provoke some thought in others as well.

Please read more on this topic from sources that seem reliable to you - or read all sources you can find and decide what you think is the truth.  Information about the "Dirty Dozen, Clean 15" is available on many Web sites - all you have to do is google it. Read about the methodology of research and who conducted the research. Read about what farmers have to say. Learn as much as you can and care about what you put in your body. At the end of the day, you are your best doctor and the best way to stay healthy is to prevent disease in the first place. And believe that, even when you make little choices such as picking between organic or conventional strawberries, you are still playing a huge part in how our economy is shaped. Believe that you can change what becomes affordable and what doesn't by choosing what is right to eat and not necessarily what is cheap.

All this wisdom talk has made me really hungry! I'm off to make some vegetarian Lentil Hazelnut Burgers! :)

(List courtesy of the Environmental Working Group; broccoli mugshot :P courtesy of Oregon Live.com)