(This is the first of a series of posts describing simple, manageable lifestyle changes to help you and your family be healthy and tread a little more lightly on the earth.)
I’m the first to admit that my shopping and eating habits are not always the picture of sustainable living. However, they are better than they used to be. That’s a much more attainable goal than being perfect. One small change that sticks is better than grand intentions that remain mere intentions.
One of the earlier changes I made in my grocery shopping was to steer clear of conventionally grown specimens of the Dirty Dozen. These are the 12 fruits and vegetables that a study by the Environmental Working Group determined are the most contaminated by pesticides:
- peaches
- apples
- bell peppers
- celery
- nectarine
- strawberries
- cherries
- kale
- lettuce
- grapes (imported)
- carrots
- pears
If availability or finances make switching to all-organic produce unrealistic for you right now (as they do for me), these are the items that have the most impact on the environment and on your family’s health. Most major chain grocery stores have at least a small section of organic produce, or you may find these at your local farmer’s market or natural food store. Of course, if you’re so inclined, growing your own organically is a fantastic option.
Also check out the Clean 15, which are the fruits and vegetables with the lowest amounts of pesticides. I save a little money by going conventional on these. As for the ones between the Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15, it’s a toss-up for me depending on price and how much of that item we eat. For example, C eats bananas almost daily, so I buy those organic.
I can never remember what’s dirty and what’s clean (something about sleep deprivation, I’m sure), so I printed out the wallet-sized PDF from EWG and stuck it in my coupon organizer. (There’s an iPhone app, too.)
