So, the illustrator and I have been talking a lot lately about food. I have always focused on healthy choices and how foods work with us to make us better. For my own personal reasons, I do not eat meat. My family does and I completely respect that choice. I cook meat, so I am sure some that goes against some code. However, I think we all need to do what works for us as individuals. I would love to say that we eat all organic, but quite frankly, we can't afford that. We do what we can for us to make the best out of our food choices. I prepare most things from scratch so that I can keep an eye on the fats, preservatives and overall nutrition of what we eat. Besides, it is a lot more cost effective for our family. That is not the case with everyone, but it is what works for us. The illustrator has recently taken a huge interest in eating more of the same things. Let me repeat...I do not judge or push my views of food on anyone. The illustrator has asked that I start preparing more vegetarian meals for our family to eat. This is shocking, but it is comforting since I don't feel so alone in my food journey anymore! He also emailed me the dirty dozen list today. For those that don't know it...
The Dirty Dozen
Celery
Peaches
Strawberries
Apples
Domestic blueberries
Nectarines
Sweet bell peppers
Spinach, kale and collard greens
Cherries
Potatoes
Imported grapes
Lettuce
The Clean 15
Onions
Avocados
Sweet corn
Pineapples
Mango
Sweet peas
Asparagus
Kiwi fruit
Cabbage
Eggplant
Cantaloupe
Watermelon
Grapefruit
Sweet potatoes
Sweet onions
I do know it, but am guilty of purchasing my favorites knowing they aren't clean. After really talking about it, I realize that the amount of fresh produce I eat means that I eat a lot of chemicals. For some people this may not be enough to think about. I am going to start making a change at this point. I need to be more mindful of everything and try to eat more seasonally too in order to save money on this list. I was really surprised when the illustrator told me again that he was concerned since I eat a lot of the stuff from the dirty list (apples and lettuce) on a daily basis. So, after this round of pesticides is done, I am moving forward to go the organic route, at least on the things I eat on a daily basis.
Do you eat organic all the time? If not, do you try when you can or do you figure if you are eating healthy it doesn't really matter.
I'd like to see the paycheck of anyone who can always eat organic, haha. The ones I make sure are organic in my house are tofu, potatoes, sweet potatoes, apples, plums, and peaches. I also try to have only grass-fed beef, and all hormone free animal meat. Besides that, I'll try to cut costs.
ReplyDeleteI hear you, darlin'! There are many different kinds of people in this world. You never know who you will fall in love with, and who you will give birth to! It's important to respect everyone's eating styles. Espesh when you are in the kitchen, serving it up!
ReplyDeleteMy boyfriend eats meat. He usually chooses fish, which makes me happy. But ultimately, I have to shut up and let him eat what he wants. He is really sweet to me, eating the food that I cook, when I cook, even though it's not his first choice. That's how we respect each other.
Glad to hear you are going organic. It's not cost efficient, but I don't think the extra is so much that it will break your bank. (Who am I to say, right? But you know what I mean.) This way, you will know you are being safe!
The Illustrator is super sweet to be looking out for your health! :)
If I could afford it, I would always eat organic. Always. But alas, I'm sort of poor and living on my own... so I try to eat organic when it's important (stuff like spinach especially) or when I can get a good deal (hello Trader Joe's). It just depends...
ReplyDeleteAnd it's awesome your family embraces your choice to be vegetarian!
That is really awesome that the illustrator is taking such an interest in organic and more vegetarian dishes. The day Andrew asks me to make more veg. dishes and buy more organic I think I might just faint! haha! ;) It's awesome though since you don't eat meat that you'll be able to eat more of the same things. I do have to say that when I went veg. for a few months, Andrew was very supportive and he fixed veg. meals for both of us. Maybe I'm a little too hard on my guy... ;)
ReplyDeleteIt really is funny when you think about food preferences. I too hated bananas as a kid, but now I crave them. My husband does eat meat outside of the house, but I don't cook it. I just can't stomach that one. I agree that everyone must do what is right for them and not do something just b/c others see it as some "code." I am definitely guilty of eating those dirty items almost on a daily basis. I am most definitely guilty of not buying organic.
ReplyDeleteHey Sarena! I was just thinking about this yesterday at the store. I try to buy organic spinach, carrots, berries and milk but its sometimes hard when the price difference is nearly 2 dollars! It definitely adds up quickly. I think that if I make an effort in some places, its still better than eating all non-organic. I think its pretty sad that we have to think about this. :(
ReplyDeleteI rarely eat organic because I really can't afford them. So I guess that just leaves me with trying to eat as clean as possible, with minimal non-organic "dirty" items...but argh, so hard to give them up!
ReplyDeleteI don't believe in judging how otheres eat, because then they would have the right to judge me! There are so many factors involved, that I don't think one diet is right for all by any means.
ReplyDeleteI eat a lot of produce, so I do follow the dirty dozen pretty strictly. Actually, I checked out the whole list a while back and try to buy the top 20 or so organic, since they are still relatively high in pesticides and over the years those top 20 seem to juggle in and out of the top 12. Since I'm also frugal, this usually means I don't enjoy a few of those foods on the top very often at all. Of course, we go for local when possible, but that can be hard too. Luckily my Tony is like yours and he is on board with trying to "eat clean," so he tolerates the slightly higher price sometimes.
Oh, and I love mushrooms!
We tried for a while to eat the "dozen" in organic but it's hard when you're shopping at Kroger and Publix. It's getting easier to find them now, so I should try again. Budget yuck though.
ReplyDeleteI religiously get organic carrots, milk and yoghurt because they are a lot better tasting.
My problem with mushrooms is texture and taste.
Cat Story
i like the conversations you two have!! its true, eat for health and in terms of what 'health' is to each person- thats whats important. and although it will vary, it usually boils down to natural whole foods for each of us :)
ReplyDeletebtw im so-so on mushrooms .. might be the only one on the fence..dont love them dont hate them. but most ppl i know are totally one sided ;)
xoxo
I really wish I could afford to eat all organic, but I'm not in the point in my life that I can. I DO however always make sure that when I buy chicken or beef that it is hormone free and preferably grass fed
ReplyDeleteApples and lettuce are actually the two things I try to always buy organic because we eat them more often than other things.
ReplyDeleteI am still definitely a work in progress on being more aware of my food choices. I know I eat a balanced, mostly healthy diet, but there are still things that I don't worry about that I know I could be more cautious of.
I try to eat organic when possible, but really, more often than not - it's not organic. Like you, I'd really like to change that. It's just such a huge price difference! I know, I know - it's worth it, it's for my health, etc. But I just can't do 100% organic, unfortunately. That said, I also love making my meals, snacks, etc. from scratch. A money saver AND delicious.
ReplyDeleteI do try to buy local as often as I can, though, as well as in-season. I know that doesn't necessarily mean organic - but it's at least less miles the food has traveled, right?
I try to organic when possible, but sometimes money is tight. I think as long as people try to make an effort when they can, and yes I buy the dirty dozen organic!
ReplyDeletethere are certain foods that i'll buy organic, and if it's on sale i'm definitely buying it. i try to eat healthy all around so even if it's not organic, i know i'm taking care of myself.
ReplyDeletei buy 0 organic. You read that right, the high raw vegan who buys nothing organic..unless of course it's like TJ lettuce which its the same price for org or not. Or if there is a sale on org produce and it ends up cheaper to buy org than conventional, yes. I dont care that i am eating pesticides. I mean, i do...BUT, i think it's alot better to eat pesticides than it is to eat cows, cheetos, diet coke or dairy ice cream. And since i dont eat any of that, I eat pesticides on my non-org food and am just fine with it :) well, ya know...
ReplyDeletegreat post!!
as for your comment to me about lifting heavy...somehow i sorta knew some of that about you, but not all of it..OMG!!??! Wow. I have newfound and total respect for you and everything you have accomplished.. you go girl!!!!!!!!!!
I can't afford to eat all organic. There's no way you can avoid every little germ in this world anyway. I just wash everything very carefully and eat. I'm not dead yet, so I think I'm okay :)
ReplyDeleteI definitely try to buy organic when it comes to the dirty dozen, although I can't always find them in organic form.
ReplyDeleteHaha I cracked up when I saw the "expiration date" on your "milk carton" is December 2007.
I don't eat all organic. But I do try to get the dirty dozen organic but other than that I don't. Hey anything is better than nothing right?
ReplyDeleteThere's no way I could afford to eat purely organic as much as I'd like to. I do try to buy organic with the "dirty 12" if I can but a lot of times the grocery stores don't carry them in their organic forms so I have to make due. Maybe one day it'll become more popular and the prices will lower..hopefully :P
ReplyDeleteI would love to eat 100% organic. I know it is better for me and I don't know if the cost would be ridiculous, but I know that shopping and cooking meals are time consuming. I think that buying organic would only increase my time in the kitchen. Maybe I'm just making excuses, I'm not sure.
ReplyDeletei try to always buy organic chicken and steak, but fruits and veggies, I just can't afford it all the time!
ReplyDeleteI actually have this list in my wallet but I find it hard to follow. Like you said, a lot of can't afford to always eat organic and most of the time I want to go with the better deal.
ReplyDeleteI eat organic milk and eggs, but with veggies, I really don't. Honestly, it's out of laziness (and lack of funds) for the most part. My Kroger's organic produce just never taste good.
ReplyDelete