Lightweight Eats

Recently, I've been thinking more and more about purchasing organic produce. The move to our new place has helped with our budget enough that we can start to consider organics.

At our old place, we bought nearly all of our produce from the market. Much of the produce was pesticide free, although not certified organic; other items weren't available in organic form, or weren't affordable. I also felt good enough about purchasing locally that I wasn't as concerned with organics.

The local farmer's market at our new place is pretty pathetic--it's got maybe four stalls, one of which sells candied nuts and candy. Instead, I've started shopping at Farmer Joe's, our local natural foods store.



I'm still not entirely sure how much produce makes sense to purchase as organic. However, the logical side of me has a lot of good arguments in favor of organics:
It's better for the environment. It's better for the people who grow my food. It's safer. Most importantly, it's better for my body, and if I'm going to spend 2-6 hours a day training my body to be the best it can be, I should be fueling it with the best I can find.

I do have a few arguments against organics, though:
The produce isn't always high quality. (The poor organic bell peppers are always squishy..) It can cost significantly more. It isn't always available--although this is becoming less and less of an issue.

I've posted a list of the dirty dozen and the clean 15 on our fridge. I'm going to make an effort to purchase the dirty dozen as organics as often as possible. Otherwise, I think I'm going to try to start my shopping in the organic produce section and then follow up in the conventional section instead of the other way around.

I'm not sure how much of a difference it will make. Although I've never done an all-organic experiment, I have never felt a significant difference in my body after consuming more organics. Certainly I haven't felt the same changes I felt when I switched to not eating meat, or even to eating more vegetables and fruits.

I will keep you updated on my position on organics as time passes. Please, let me know if you have any thoughts on the matter!

P.S. Happy birthday, Kat!