Just Cook It: Organic foods
I take my columns very seriously, but at the end of the day they are just columns.
They are words printed on a page in a specific sequence designed to, hopefully, brighten your day and give you some fun ideas that you can use in your everyday kitchen life. They are very important to me, but in the grand scheme of things they really aren’t important at all.
I say this because I feel it is not only important, but also necessary to begin today’s column by recognizing the relevance of the events that occurred 13 years ago on today’s date.
No matter where you were or what you were doing at the time, we will all remember the tragic events that occurred and the courageous heroes who took action to save lives and return things to as normal as they could be.
I personally remember that day very well.
I was in high school at the time and ironically was in my Honors U.S. History class.
I remember watching on television as the events unfolded and knowing that we had just witnessed one of the most tragic events in United States history.
It was a sad day, and it really put a lot of things in perspective. I hope my columns bring you value and joy on the subject of food and cooking, but before we start discussing that today please take a moment to remember what’s really important and thank those who sacrifice every day to keep us safe and protect us as we go about our everyday lives.
In today’s column, I’d like to talk about the month of September.
The month of September is known for a few things, the official beginning of fall being one of them, but the one I would like to discuss is National Organic Harvest Month.
I’ve written a couple columns over the course of the last couple of years about healthy cooking and eating habits.
Organic foods, and more specifically knowing which foods to buy organic, are a very important part of eating healthy in today’s world.
A lot of people are skeptical when it comes to purchasing organic foods, and in my opinion, this mainly evolved from their price.
Organic foods are a bit more expensive while not visibly showing a huge difference in appearance or taste as compared to their non-organic counterparts.
When there’s not much visible difference and the price is higher, it’s natural for some people to be skeptical.
In any case, buying organic is important when it comes to certain foods, and I’ll give you the bare bones reason why. I could write a 20-page dissertation on this subject, but for the sake of this column, I’ll keep it simple and try to give the important facts that you should know.
First, what is organic food? That, in and of itself, is a loaded question.
The simple answer is that organic foods are produced using methods of organic farming. In many countries, producers are required to obtain special certification in order to market food as organic.
Organic food production is a heavily regulated industry, and is much different than private gardening.
Organic food is produced in a way that complies with organic standards set by national governments and international organizations.
The organic standard is defined differently in different places. In general, organic farming integrates cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.
That’s a fancy way of saying that organic food is produced in a way that is more natural and better for both the environment and the people who consume it.
A very important aspect of organic food production is that synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers are not allowed.
Certain organically approved pesticides may be used under limited conditions.
Also, in general, organic foods are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives.
The less synthetic ingredients and chemical pesticides that are used on our food the better.
I’ve always believed that since most of our food naturally comes from the environment it should remain that way.
I also believe that the practices for producing it should remain as close to the way nature intended them to be as possible.
While it might be hard to notice just by looking at a food if it is organic or not, buying certain foods organic is something that I do and something that I recommend to everyone who wants to try to eat clean and achieve a higher level of health and wellness.
I’ve mentioned in the past that if you visit www.ewg.org (the Environmental Working Group website) you can find a list called “The Dirty Dozen Plus” and another list called “The Clean Fifteen.”
I like and use this list personally because, let’s face it, as mentioned above purchasing organic can be expensive.
I personally don’t mind paying a little extra for food that is healthier and produced more naturally without chemicals, but it’s always nice to be able to make an educated choice.
If buying all organic food is not possible, it’s good to know which foods you should buy organic and which foods you don’t necessarily have to buy organic.
This information can then be used to, at the very least, make some progress in the area of clean eating.
The Dirty Dozen Plus is a list of 14 fruits and vegetables that you should definitely buy organic.
The EWG found the fruits and vegetables that are included on this list test high for pesticide residue making the organic version the best way to go.
A few of the foods on this list include: apples, strawberries, grapes, celery, spinach, bell peppers, cucumbers, and potatoes.
The Clean Fifteen is the opposite of the Dirty Dozen Plus. The fruits and vegetables on the Clean Fifteen list tested on the lower end for pesticide residue meaning that if you can’t find them or afford to buy them organic you don’t necessarily have to.
A few of the foods on this list include: avocados, sweet corn, cabbage, onions, asparagus, grapefruit, and cauliflower.
I always advocate buying organic.
It will never hurt you and it also supports better growing practices for the environment. If I find the foods I am looking for in the organic section of the supermarket then those are the ones I personally purchase.
Again, you can get the full version of both lists at www.ewg.org.
Check it out and do what’s best for you and your family. When organic is an option, it’s always the best option in my opinion.
Mario Porreca of Belle Vernon is a food personality, entrepreneur, author, and the host of Just Cook It Radio on WMBS Radio 590 AM.
He can be reached via his website at: www.MarioPorreca.com. Twitter: @MarioPorreca