Do we really need to eat organic? If we could, we’d eat organic all the time…but let’s be real!
GMB Nutritionist Melissa Fine shares the lowdown on which fruit and veg are better off eaten organic. As it turns out, for some produce, it makes very little difference whether or not it’s organic.
Organic produce isn ’t always at our fingertips, and when it is, it typically comes at a premium price.
What you might not know, is that some fruits and vegetables – ‘The Dirty Dozen’ - contain higher levels of pesticide residues than others. Chemical laden pesticides aren’t exactly what we want to put into our bodies, and it’s a shame that wholesome fruit and veg can be tainted with the stuff…which is why the produce listed in The Dirty Dozen is best eaten organic.
Meet The Dirty Dozen:
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Nectarines
- Apples
- Peaches
- Potatoes
- Sugar Snap Peas
- Grapes
- Celery
- Capsicum
- Cucumbers
- Cherry Tomatoes
But then there’s ‘The Clean 15’ – fruit and veg containing skin or peel that’s inherently bug-repellant, which means there’s less of a need for pesticide application during cultivation. There’s no need to spend money on organic varieties of these, their conventional varieties are clean enough!
Hello Clean 15!
- Onion
- Sweet Potato
- Asparagus
- Avo
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Eggplant
- Grapefruit
- Kiwi Fruit
- Mango
- Papaya
- Corn on the Cob
- Sweet Peas (frozen peas)
- Pineapple
- Cantaloupe
So if you’d like to eat organic, but can only afford to do so some of the time, it makes sense to make a point of purchasing organic varieties of The Dirty Dozen, and conventional varieties of The Clean 15. Pro-tip: You may find organic varieties of The Dirty Dozen for a reduced price at the farmers markets, and in the clearance sections at the supermarket.
Organic Brands We Love:
- Honest to Goodness:
An Australian owned company since 2002, they have an impressive track record, being voted Australia’s Favourite Organic Brand (2015-2017) in the Organic Consumer Choice Awards three times, supplying 1000+ organic and natural products including a highly extensive retail pantry range AND they are also a Certified B-Corp - reflecting how they use business as a force for good!
Their canned Organic Cherry Tomatoes come complete with a BPA-free lining, and because the tomatoes are canned when they’re at their prime, these babies have the perfect amount of firmness and sweetness that’s perfect for homemade pasta sauce. A justifiable purchase seeing that cherry toms fall under The Dirty Dozen!
- Planet Organic:
This reputable Aussie-owned brand is all about organic tea, herbs and spices. Read why you might like to switch to organic tea here.