Pesticides

Recently we blogged about the top three: Onions, Corn, Pineapples. Here are the rest. Avocado, Asparagus, Sweet Peas, Mangoes, Eggplant, Cantaloupe, Kiwi, Cabbage, Watermelon, Sweet Potatoes, Grapefruit, Mushrooms.* Feel comfortable feeding these to your family without buying organic. Just watch out for imports from South America and Asia. I try to buy one avocado and one mango a week. These will help feed a family when you cut them into little pieces and add to salads or use as a side. We eat a lot of sweet potatoes and cooked onions. You will usually find a pineapple or some watermelon in our kitchen at any given time. Peas are a weekly must. The others are woven into our monthly menu though we have been staying away from cantaloupe lately. This list is your budget saver group. Ask your store’s produce manager when they are going on sale, really  -  make him your “best friend.”

… for the health of your family,
ellen

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Number One “Cleanest”

Onions, Corn and Pineapple, in this order, are the top three “cleanest crops.” (foodnews.org)  Cleanest indicates they contain the least amount of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and other unwanted chemicals.  It also means you can feel comfortable buying and eating commercially grown, avoiding the extra expense of organic. Notice how each has naturally protective skins.  That helps.  What they also have in common is they have nutrients that feed your brain.  Fuel you family economically with fresh onions and pineapple, and,  fresh or frozen corn all year round.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

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It's fresh tomato season!  The good news is that this fruit, commonly referred to as a vegetable, is filled with nutrients that feed your brain, ears, eyes, hair, heart, lungs, mouth, teeth, muscles, and nerves!  It is a high performance food, one which most kids say they don't like.  I think this is because commercially grown tomatoes found in grocery stores are mealy and tasteless.  This is due to their poor growing environment and the fact they are picked before ripened.  The sun sweetens red tomatoes. Find a Farmer's Market.  Buy locally sun-ripened tomatoes or better yet, grow your own!  Organic ones are tastier because they have been grown in mineral rich soil.  To meet your budget needs, buy local or organic and cut it into small pieces, making one tomato go farther. Remember, in a nutrient-packed food, a little goes a long way.  Thank heavens kids love tomato sauces.  This absolutely is a great way to go.  Yet, please, keep introducing your kids to tasty fresh tomatoes.

…. for the health of your family,
ellen

Apples have moved to the top of the Dirty Dozen list.   This is because he USDA found pesticide residue in 98% of apples tested.*  Here is the complete list starting with the worst: Apples, Celery, Strawberries, Peaches, Spinach, Nectarines (imported), Grapes (imported), Sweet bell peppers, Potatoes, Blueberries, Lettuce, Kale/collard greens. Sad to see strawberries as number three.  Fortunately, apples, celery, spinach and lettuce are readily available as organic without staggering prices.  Do you best with the others. 

… for the health of families,
ellen

    * Scott Kilman, "Pesticide Residue Taints Apples," Wall Street Journal, 6/13/11, p. B1.

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Twenty seconds with a little soap and water can reduce your family's chances of becoming sick from food.  "Consider it (food) contaminated when you bring it in the house." *  According to a survey by the International Food Information Council, fewer people are washing their hands before handling food at home.  Prevention is so simple.  Washing the food and handling it with care is also important.  But at least wash your hands!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

*Nancy Donley, President of Stop Foodborne Illness

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