Author:  Ella

To go organic or not to go organic?  That is the question.  Every which way I turn I am hearing about someone else that is “going organic”.  This brings all kinds of questions to mind.

What does “going organic” mean? Most people stumble here.

What are the benefits to “going organic”? I often hear, “It’s healthier.”  So you’re not sure are you?

Where do you shop?

Can anything I cook now be made from organic products?

Is it hard to make the switch?

Does the food taste just as good?

Is that a McDonald’s bag in your passenger seat?

I want to examine the pros and cons.  I don’t know the benefits and I don’t think that most people really do.  If I am wondering why this is becoming so popular then I am willing to bet that others want to know as well.  This is not a question I can answer in one post.  In researching this “movement” I am certain that this will present even more questions and even more for me to research.  I am going to do it though.  I will post my findings here on this site.  I ENCOURAGE, BEG, and PLEAD that anyone that knows anything to please share it with me.  I will sincerely appreciate it.  You can reply to a post or send me an email (ella at chattywife dot com).

Author: Ella

If you read my previous post, Why Organic, you know that I am exploring new territory.  Really, I think I knew as much as the next person about going organic.  I knew there were less chemicals involved and that it was “better” for us.   As for what the “better” stuff really was, I didn’t know.  Sure, I could guess how it would be better but now I have done my research and that gives me confidence.  First, prior to figuring out what “going organic” would mean for my family, I needed to have some background information.  This is the ammunition I need before I walk into the grocery store or market and shop for organic alternatives.  In this article, I want to share what it means for a food to be classified as organic.  I’ll go over the benefits later on.

Since there are evil companies in the world that would slap a label on packaging just to sell it without basing their claim in truth, the US Dept of Agriculture stepped in.  The USDA has developed standards on how foods are grown and processed to be deemed “organic” and to get the “USDA Organic” label.  To meet these standards, organic crops must be produced without:

• conventional pesticides (including herbicides)
• synthetic fertilizers
• sewage sludge
• bioengineering
• ionizing radiation  (what??)

Organically raised animals must be given organic feed and kept free of growth hormones and antibiotics. Organic farm animals must have access to the outdoors, including pastureland for grazing.

Whew.  That was a lot to take it in.  I understand if you want to take a break and possibly reread that last bit.  In addition to those requirements, the food must contain at least 95% organic ingredients and the farm has to be inspected by the USDA.  Let’s hope this government agency takes its inspections far more seriously than the folks verifying Medicare claims.

Here is what the USDA Organic label looks like.

USDA Organic Label

This label is something that I must remember to look for because some companies are misleading us by calling their products “free-range,” “hormone free,” or “natural” while not meeting the USDA organic standards.  Since I rarely get to shop without kids, I am just the distracted shopper that will fall for those claims.

Now we are starting to sound like we know what we’re talking about.  We know what it takes to earn the label of being organic and what the USDA Organic label looks like.  Next, I will share the benefits of “going organic” with you.

Author:  Ella

After much consideration and lots of research on “Going Organic,” I have determined a change in our food purchasing that I am happy with.  I think it’s fair to say that I have done more research on this topic and put more thought into my plan than the average person.  With that knowledge, I have decided to purchase USDA Organic meats and produce when I can.

My goal is to lessen the amount of steroids and chemicals that my children ingest.  Eliminating them would be near impossible.  I am not going to take away my daughter’s Cheerios or my son’s Tyson’s Dino Chicken Nuggets.  However, I can change the hamburger or grapes that I bring home without them noticing a thing.  I am still learning which stores around me have what and where I can shop for items without going out of my way.  I would like to continue to shop my usual spots.  With that being said, I might not always be able to readily purchase organic or go to restaurants offering only organic meats and I am at peace with that.  Again, I have accepted that I will be lessening not eliminating steroids and chemicals.  My closest grocery store offers plenty of options so that’s a blessing.

This is not auto-pilot yet.  I still have to think before I reach.  I am used to blindly grabbing the strawberries, asparagus and steaks as I walk past them.  Now I will walk a few steps farther to shop my stores organic selection.  One change that has come quickly for me is a lowered feeling of guilt.  Simply put, I feel better about what I am bringing home and feeding my children.  It all goes back to that one statement I told you about earlier…

The chemicals (such as steroids, pesticides and antibiotics) put into the animals and plants that we eat may be small amounts to our grown bodies but they are significantly higher amounts in the small bodies of our children.

Whew, for now that’s one less thing to lose sleep over.  Regrettably, I will replace this fear with something else very soon.