Content copyright . Miracle Mallory. All rights reserved.
Organic foods/products started to gain popularity in the late 1990's, due to the advertising of the healthy benefits associated with organic products. First, lets begin with an overview of what are organic foods? Organic foods are grown without the pesticides, herbicides, unnatural fertilizers, and other potentially harmful chemicals. In addition, there is less chemicals that are put in the soil. Organic farming works to build up the soil naturally through companion planting and crop rotation. So doing these techniques helps to keep natural and healthy soil without the harsh chemicals. When harsh chemicals are in the soil, they do not always stay in the field. Water from rain or irrigation can run the chemicals from the fields to the lakes, rivers, and streams. So it takes all the chemicals and deposits them elsewhere. According to research, these chemicals may lead to cancer, heart disease, and other life threatening illnesses due to the fact that these chemicals has negative effects on humans.
There are benefits of organic foods and that is the nutritional value of the organic agriculture. Studies have shown a significantly higher levels of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients in organic products. Some of these various components are:
Those are just a small sample of the nutrients that are found in organic foods, so there are many more high levels of vitamins and minerals. So eating organic foods benefits is good for your body and health, but maybe not for your pocket book. Buying organic foods is expensive and you would have to decide if the money is worth it. That is the only down-side to having an organic lifestyle. So organic cooking is part of the organic lifestyle, which refers to using all organic ingredients in cooking.
When you know where organic foods are available, it is easier to find the best prices and quality. Below are some of the more common and uncommon places to buy organic produce:
Farmer's Markets- These are a great way to get the freshest produce at a decent price. Just have to ask the farmer if their crops are organic before you buy.
Health Food Stores- They provide extremely high quality and safe foods. Unlike many conventional grocery stores, Whole Foods Markets only buy the highest quality produce. The only problem with this is that very few people can afford this on a regular basis.
Supermarkets- This is the most convenient place to pick up organic milk, vegetables, fruits, and other products. Majority of big chain supermarkets are not always selective about the brands they choose, so they might not have the highest quality organic products.
Online Delivery Services- You can have organic foods delivered right to your home. You would just have to put in an online order or have an standing order. Then you can have your order be delivered to your home on a regular basis. Best thing about this is that you do not have to leave your home to buy the products.
Community Supported Agriculture Programs- If you live in an agriculture area, then CSA's are a great program for you. Most farmer's don't get paid for their crop until the end of the season; this can really stretch their wallets. With CSA's, you can pay the farmer for part of their operating costs and they give you a part of their crop. This way you can get fresh vegetables throughout the growing season.
Join a Co-op - Paying a small member's fee to join a co-op can get you big discounts. This is a great place to find local organic foods, when the farmer's market isn't open.
When buying organic foods for your cooking; make sure you read the labels carefully. A product may contain organic ingredients does not mean it is a healthier alternative. Some organic foods may still be high in sugar, salt, and ect. Also do not confuse natural foods with organic foods. Products with the USDA organic label met USDA standards. The U.S. Dept of Agriculture (USDA) has an organic certification program that requires all organic foods to meet strict government standards. If a food product bears a USDA organic label, it means it's produced and processed according to the USDA standards and at least 95% of the food's ingredients are organically produced.
By doing your research and shopping around, you can find high quality organic foods without stretching your money too far. If you find that the food is too much for your budget, try buying in bulk and then freezing the extras. Another tip is to buy food in the season; this will get you the best price for the best quality food.
If you are wanting to incorporate organic cooking into your cooking lifestyle due to the healthy benefits, it is easier these days then it was years ago. Not long ago, you had to travel all around town just to get a few organic products. Now, organic products can be found at your local grocery stores. By shopping around, you might be able to find reasonable prices that will not bust your budget. So if you are ready to start your organic lifestyle, then get out there and start shopping around.
Top of page