Eating Organic On A Budget

Foods classified as being one-hundred percent organic means they contain none of the allowable synthetic ingredients and can use the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) organic seal. Organic foods must contain a minimum of ninety-five percent organic ingredients to use the USDA organic seal. Organic foods are grown, harvested, and processed according to national organic standards limiting the number of antibiotics, hormones, and pesticides.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says organic foods cannot be treated with synthetic pesticides, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation. However, they can be treated with natural pesticides.

Why Eat Organic?

There are many reasons as to why individuals should add organic foods to an already healthy diet. For starters, organic foods can only be treated with natural pesticides, whereas non-organic foods may contain one or more of the six hundred chemicals registered for agricultural use in the United States. It has been reported Americans who do not eat organic consume approximately sixteen pounds of chemicals each year.

Those who decide to switch to organic foods benefit from more nutrients and avoid genetically engineered (GE) food, genetically modified organisms (GMO), hormones, antibiotics, and drugs. They also help reduce pollution, protect water and soil, and support agricultural diversity.

Now that you know why eating organic food is beneficial, continue reading to learn how to plan and organize your grocery list and meals in advance.