Conventional vs. Organic. What's the difference?  In Chef Lisa's infinite wisdom.....

If you're standing in the produce section of the supermarket, what's the difference between the shiny red apple in your right hand, and the identical organic red apple in your left?

Well, methods of conventional vs organic, when we use the terms towards food, differ drastically as it refers to how farmers grow and process our nourishment. Conventional farming uses chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth, practice recombinant DNA technology (Genetically Modified Organisms or GMO's), which alter the genetic makeup of seed to make the product more susceptible to growing conditions, they spray pesticides to get rid of pests, use chemical herbicides to manage weeds and give animals antibiotics, growth hormones, and medications to spur growth and prevent disease, which is usually brought about by poor living conditions and grain feed that is not easily digested naturally by the animal. On the other hand, organic farming employs manure and compost to fertilize the soil, they turn to environmentally friendly insects, birds, mating disruption, or traps to control pests, rotate crops, hand pull and mulch instead of spraying poisons to keep weeds at bay, house animals in clean, uncrowded environments with plenty of sunlight and feed them grass/hay as well as giving them the freedom to roam, forge and graze from the earth, thereby providing foods that their biological systems were meant to digest.

Making the choice to buy organic vs conventional is also a moral decision. Especially when confronted with the health and well being of livestock. Each time you choose to take an organic piece of produce or meat product over conventional, you are telling the food industry that you want to be responsible for sustainability and your own well being since you prefer to know that your food is being grown as close to nature as possible.

But all of this also has a cost. Organic produce is typically 30% more expensive than conventional. That adds up to quite a bit on your weekly food bill. But, when you think about some of the harmful things pesticides/growth hormones/GMO's can do, such as cause low birth weight and birth defects; interfere with child development and cognitive ability; cause neurological problems; disrupt hormone function and cause a variety of cancers including leukemia, kidney, brain cancer, and non-hodgkin's lymphoma, paying more for organics seems to be the only health insurance that is worth its cost. In addition, overexposure to toxins (pesticides and growth hormones) which we take in from our food as well as many other sources, can be the underlying reason we have so much trouble loosing weight. Now that apple on the left is looking pretty good.

If cost is still an issue, then only purchase the organic fruit and vegetables that have the highest amount of pesticides. Below is a list of the worst or most heavily sprayed fruits and vegetables. When making the choice, always try to purchase these items in the organic state:

Peaches
Celery
Cherries
Grapes
Baby Food
Apples
Nectarines
Pears
Lettuce
All Meats
Bell Peppers
Strawberries
Spinach
Potatoes
Milk/Butter
Kale
Carrots
Tomatoes
Eggs
Coffee

Another way to help cut costs is to menu plan. When you have a concrete plan walking into the grocery store, you are less likely to impulse buy. You also will utilize the produce and items you purchase rather than throw them away because they have a purpose to fulfill within the menu plan structure. A menu plan should only take an hour or two of your time given that you are aware of what your families favorite foods are. Keep it formulated and simple. An example would be Monday: chicken, Tuesday: beef, Wednesday: vegetarian, Thursday: pork/veal or lamb, Friday: fish, Saturday: take-out, Sunday: leftovers. Planning a least one or two meals that do not require meat will also help cut costs. Working with beans and grains can provide a hearty meal at a fraction of the cost. Lentil tacos, bean burritos, italian lasagna, risotto, miso soup with buckwheat noodles and seasonal greens, bowls of brown rice or wheat pasta in a hearty vegetarian sauce . . . there are endless possibilities and all good and good for you as well as satisfying the most demanding of meat eaters.

Menu plans can even be a whole family event if you designate everyone to pick a meal for their favorite day of the week. Get the children involved in the planning and grocery shopping for the meal they pick. Provide them with their own grocery list and cart. They will enjoy being pro-active, learning about healthy food choices and helping with the weekly chores. They also may enjoy helping with the preparation of the meals. Educating our children at home about healthy food choices will profit dearly as they go through life and start to make their own decisions about the food and what they put into their bodies. Teach your children well and they will prosper. It all starts with simple, good food and that shiny, red apple on the left.

Chef Lisa has generously offered Suzy readers a FREE first consultation and $50 discount on the first week of in home service (restrictions apply).  Check out the full details on our deals page