How to Introduce Organic Foods Into Your Diet

As more people become health-conscious, many are considering adopting an organic food diet. However, it can be intimidating for people new to the organic lifestyle to introduce organic foods into their diet. By following a few easy steps, you can make the transition from processed food to an organic diet a lot less frightening.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Time to shop and educate yourself about healthy food choices

How to Introduce Organic Foods Into Your Diet

1. First, you'll need to educate yourself on what the word "organic" really means. It doesn't mean that the food is an item that grew in the ground; in other words, not all vegetables and fruits are organic. The word is used to apply to the methods by which a product is grown or processed. Organic growers use no toxic chemicals or pesticides, and instead rely on farming methods that replenish soil fertility naturally. For meat or poultry to qualify as organic, it must not have had any hormones added or be genetically modified.

2. Look for labels that say "100% organic", or "Organic: 95% or more Organic Ingredients." These labels are issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and certify that the product contains nearly all organic ingredients. A label that reads "Made with Organic Ingredients" must contain at least 70% organic items to be certified by the USDA.

3. A good rule of thumb to follow is that the fresher a food is, the more likely it is to be organic. That means the food in the produce section are more likely organically grown than, for example, the meal-in-a-box you find in the frozen food department of the grocery store. Stocking up on fresh organically-grown fruits and vegetables is a good way to introduce organic eating into your regular diet. Shopping at local farmers' markets is a great way to get locally grown food, which is less likely to be sprayed with preservative chemicals, and it also helps the environment because it doesn't have to be shipped over long distances.

4. To switch to an organic diet, it's far easier if you transition gradually. Rather than going out and buying nothing but organic food, your best bet is to replace the five or ten foods you use the most, one at a time. Start by purchasing organic milk, potatoes, or peanut butter. Once you're used to them, move on to grains, vegetables and fruits. Finally, buy organic beef, poultry, and soy products. These items are the staple of most diets, so by replacing these with organic versions, a few at a time, fairly soon you'll be eating nearly all organic foods. By making meals from scratch, you can eliminate pre-packaged and processed items from your diet as well.

5. If going organic works for your family, you'll find that in the long run you feel better, because you're eating healthier. Not only that, you'll be contributing to the rescue of our planet, because organic farming preserves soil and resources for future generations.

Tips & Warnings

• Make your own organic baby food by purchasing organically grown vegetables and fruits, and then pureeing them in a blender. Put the pureed food into ice cube trays for freezing, and then defrost one portion at a time to feed baby.
• Don't buy into the stereotype that organic food tastes like cardboard! Organic snacks are just as tasty as their non-organic counterparts, and organic produce tastes significantly better than fruits and vegetables that have been sprayed with pesticides and wax.

Resources

• Organic.org - Ten Reasons to Support Organic Eating in the 21st Century

Who Can Help Sponsored

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[greensugar]

on 7/21/2009 We live an organic lifestyle and these recomendations are great for anyone looking to do the same (who wouldn't, right?). Nice job!