Organic? Processed? No-Name Brand?
 

I'm just wondering what kind of groceries everyone here is buying. I'm very skeptical of the whole organic food trend, and I am wondering just how concerned I should be with what I'm putting into my body. Is the organic food movement just some sort of bobo lifestyle choice or is something bad going to happen to me if I continue to eat non organic foods? Are the new technologies used by agribuisness becoming increasingly hazardous to our health or are we just more aware of diseases now?

So tell me, what are the pros and cons of buying organic vs. non-organic? What types of food are you buying: organic? non-organic, but not-processed? processed? help!

Organic where it matters, such as grapes. Natural where it matters such as chcken and beef (I pick Auzzie beef). Veggies locally grown as much as possible.

I think often organic veggies taste better. They may not look better though.

Big subject, organic. I think the term "organic" is changing. The big corporation growers are into this and are defining what "organic" can mean on labels.

Nonetheless, I buy my flaxseed from an independent farmer (certified organic) in North Dakota. So I grind it myself and use it in my smoothie.

Non-organic vegetables are better then processed food any day. Sometimes, organic can make a huge difference in taste. Sometimes, very little difference.

There is also the environmental factor. Organic is supposed to be more environmentally friendly. However, if this is a motivating factor for you, also pay attention to local. Non-organic local is better for the environment then organic from 1,000 miles away, usually...

Organic eggs (Omega-3s for example) are hugely different in nutrition. Nitrates are definitely carcinogenic, and are a staple of non-organic meats (to keep the red color). rBGH (bovine growth hormone) is worrisome to many, and you can look for dairy products without them (Trader Joe's doesn't stock any dairy with rBGH). To me, those are no-compromise items.

Local produce. Try to stay away from processed foods as much as possible. Bad ju ju. Trader Joe's rocks!

read the omnivoires dilemma for a fascinating look at the modern food industry, including organic foods:

http://www.amazon.com/Omnivores-Dile...1627154&sr=1-1

thanks for the recommendation. I've heard of the book, and I'll definitely check it out.

I've actually a found a really helpful guide to buying organic.

The “Dirty Dozen”: Must-buy organic foods
Fruit

* Apples
* Cherries
* Grapes, imported (Chili)
* Nectarines
* Peaches
* Pears
* Raspberries
* Strawberries

Vegetables
* Bell peppers
* Celery
* Potatoes
* Spinach

Other organic foods worth considering:

* Milk
* Beef
* Poultry

No need to go organic with these foods:
Fruit

* Bananas
* Kiwi
* Mangos
* Papaya
* Pineapples

Vegetables

* Asparagus
* Avocado
* Broccoli
* Cauliflower
* Corn
* Onions
* Peas

Other
*seafood
*cosmetics

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13737389/page/2/

Although I'm still not sure if a little bit of pesticides are going to kill me...

I'm with this guy. I only eat processed food rarely and choose my lunch meats carefully. The only thing white I eat is milk. Pasta, rice, and bread better be brown. I don't eat potato chips or french fries, but I will eat whole grain corn chips smothered in cheese(I know all cheese is processed),meat, beans, avocado, and sour cream (go figure).

For fruits and vegetables I go by flavor. Most vegetables that aren't organically grown (i.e. using nitrogen fertilization rather than crop rotation) have very little flavor. For fruit, the same, except you don't crop rotate orchards of course, especially with trees that have deep roots of their own. This is not to say that all organic produce is excellent, only that the excellent stuff tends to be organic as well simply because flavor follows cultivation techniques. But vegetables grown too densely on poor soil, or shoddily cultivated, don't necessarily taste much per se regardless of whether they're organic.

+1. Best book about food I've ever read, and I've read a couple hundred.

I eat organic produce from small local growers because it's better for the environment, although there's laboratory evidence that it has more nutrients, especially phytochemicals.

I eat local organic meat for ethical reasons. Animals raised on small farms have better living conditions while they're alive.

So the agribusiness farmer says, "How 'bout I pay you $.60 to eat the poison I've included with your pound of broccoli?" Most folks say, "Sure, gimme the $.60, I'll take it." Doesn't seem like a good deal to me.

Ach! BEat me to it. Good book. I just finished it.