Do you try to buy mostly organic or all-natural foods?

[hatmouse]

I buy what i like.

 

[mhsjax]

I have never been on the "organic "bandwagon. However, for some reason I was out one day and I decided to do a little test. First purchased bananas (organic) They were the best bananas I have ever eaten and my family thought so too. Then I tried apples, same thing, they were fantastic. I decided to try milk. That was the final test. We buy fat free and hubby can't stand it. Well the organic I bought looked and tasted more like 2% milk and really tasted good.(This from someone who can't stand milk). Also that darn stuff takes forever to go bad.

So anyway, yes I am slowly buying more organic stuff, but the one thing I will never go back to is regular milk. I will pay the difference.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

I try to buy as many foods as possible with no HFCS and more natural ingredients. That does mean I buy a lot of organic brand items, but that isn't all I buy. Sometimes you just have to buy the national brand because there isn't a good substitute in organic.

For the graham crackers, Keebler now uses only sugar and a small amount of regular corn syrup. Still not the best, but better than the other brands. http://keebler.com/ServeImage.aspx?bid=50790&md5=15e42ae7d26f72efe96cfb8ded828569

I have noticed when looking at some of the more national brands again, I find more and more that are using regular sugar again. I think that speaks volumes that they are paying attention to consumers that used to buy their brands but switched to brands that do not use certain ingredients and they are making changes.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

First purchased bananas (organic) They were the best bananas I have ever eaten and my family thought so too.

I also find that the bananas last longer so I can buy a larger bunch. DD eats a lot of banans and before I could only buy about 4 or 5 at a time and then would end up going back the store a few days later to buy more (and we all now that means buying more of other stuff too, making the grocery bill higher ). But, now with the organic I can get double and they last all week. Well worth the extra 10 cents a pound more I pay.

 

[mhsjax]

I also find that the bananas last longer so I can buy a larger bunch. DD eats a lot of banans and before I could only buy about 4 or 5 at a time and then would end up going back the store a few days later to buy more (and we all now that means buying more of other stuff too, making the grocery bill higher ). But, now with the organic I can get double and they last all week. Well worth the extra 10 cents a pound more I pay.

I will have to try and buy more. Those bananas didn't make it 2 days here,lol my family loved them that much.

 

[ford family]

When I can't get organic fuji apples I buy them from a local grocer that gets them from local orchards. They may not be pesticide-free, but they are local and wax-free and taste so much better than a waxed apple from Washington state! Once I read that there are like 50 some pesticides used on green beans, I only buy organic. We also never buy farm raised fish.

Interesting comment.
We were at Mote Aquarium in Sarasota last month and did the eco boat tour. Talking to one of their marine biologists I discovered that Mote have a research establishment east of I75 that does a great deal of work on improving the quality of farmed fish. They raise many varieties of fish which they sell to some local fish markets and restaurants. He named one, Captain Brian's by Sarasota/Bradenton airport, that was already one of our favourite fish restaurants.
Good to know that their farmed fish comes from such a prestigious source!

ford family

 

[ogreenlee]

Seasonally, I can buy a bag of Fuji apples in my organic section of Publix.

I hate waxed apples. We also buy organic bananas.

 

[mhsjax]

Seasonally, I can buy a bag of Fuji apples in my organic section of Publix.

I hate waxed apples. We also buy organic bananas.

Those organic Fuji apples are soooooo good.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I always buy organic milk, eggs and meats. My grandma orders a part of a cow from an organic farm every year and gives some of it to me for free.

I try to buy items that are organic that I feel are important to be organic rather than not such as lettuces, spinach, apples, tomatoes... etc, basically anything that doesn't have an outter layer to peel away.

More important to me is buying things that are high fructose corn syrup free, that stuff is NASTY and it's in a lot of foods.

 

[2girlsmom]

There are some things I will buy organics, like milk, as I prefer not to have the hormones, etc. However, I work in the grain industry and just have to tell you that eating organic vegetables is generally LESS healthy than the alternative, as they have a higher risk of salmonella and other micro-organisms in organic, non hydroponic vegetables than is in standard. Also, I agree, in this country anyway organics doesn't necessarily mean much, as there is not oversight.

 

[Wall-E1]

I buy a combination of organic and all natural foods. My son only drinks organic milk. I drink Silk. I completely buy into the hormone concerns of regular milk. Organic and all natural diets are better for the body than all of the processed foods out there. Anytime you can reduce the amounts of chemicals, artificial flavoring and ingredients that you cannot pronounce from entering your body, it is a plus. Many food manufacturers these days tailor their food products to become addicting, without regard for the health and safety of the consumer. They make nutritional labeling very misleading. Anytime I can find a food alternative with only three or four ingredients over a comparable food product with twenty different ingredients that have foreign and strange words, I always choose the more natural one. If available in organic, I lean that way also. I don't want all of the extra hormones they pack into food getting into me. I have no desire to hit menopause early.

 

[npmommie]

There are some things I will buy organics, like milk, as I prefer not to have the hormones, etc. However, I work in the grain industry and just have to tell you that eating organic vegetables is generally LESS healthy than the alternative, as they have a higher risk of salmonella and other micro-organisms in organic, non hydroponic vegetables than is in standard. Also, I agree, in this country anyway organics doesn't necessarily mean much, as there is not oversight.

It is not accurate to say that eating organic veg is less healthy.
the reason I would think there is higher incidence of pathogens is because organic farms rely on animal manure for fertilizing rather than chemicals.

I don't think it is fair to assume eating those foods is less healthy, I think food borne illness has come from conventional farmed foods as well.

I think its important to buy local first, organic or not, then if you want organic to use farms that are certified since they have guidelines to follow