Organic foods have become less expensive and easier to find, folks, in the last few years. While they are still more expensive than their non-organic counterparts, it’s not as difficult to buy organic foods today as it was before. However, there are some common mistakes people make when buying organic food. Check them out below so you avoid them!
Don’t live by the label
It would be pretty great if all you had to do to guarantee you were eating healthy, nutritious food is buy products with a “certified organic” label, but that’s not how it works. Many people assume a food is healthier simply because it’s organic, and that’s not the case.
Processed foods and frozen foods can be certified organic, but that doesn’t mean they are any healthier than their non-organic counterparts. A certified organic frozen dinner, for example, still likely packs the same sky-high level of sodium as conventional frozen dinners. When you buy snacks and other processed foods with an organic label, all you’re doing is raising your grocery bill. Instead, try to avoid processed, packaged foods entirely.
Don’t buy every single thing organic
Unless you have money to burn, it may not be worth it to buy everything organic. Some produce can be washed properly to cut down on potential contaminants. Things like apples, greens and strawberries should be organic as these tend to be exposed to higher pesticide amounts, but produce such as avocados, pineapples and oranges, which are peeled before you eat them, tend to be less exposed.
Don’t ignore store brands
There are now natural grocery chains that have their own lines of organic options, but many people skip the store brands because they believe they are inferior to name brands. If your main reason for eating organic foods is to avoid things like pesticides, the store brand is just as good as the niche brand in that regard.
Don’t miss the farmers’ market
Many areas have farmers’ markets, and at these markets, you can often find farmers selling organic produce at a much lower price than you’ll get at the store. You may also discover a greater variety, depending on the organic in-store offerings near you. You’re essentially cutting out the middleman, so if you haven’t checked out farmers’ markets near you for organic produce and foods yet, it’s time to do so.
