Some Clarification

Since posting a recent entry here on the blog, I feel that some clarification and further explanation is in order.

In this post about what we eat at our house, I make a point to explain that we largely eat naturally and organically grown/produced foods.

I realize there is great debate around this issue, with interesting and intellectual viewpoints and scientific evidence on each side.

For example, a large independent study has found that on average, organic foods are not more nutritious than conventional foods.  Also, we all are familiar with the idea that they all pass and meet minimum EPA standards for chemicals, etc.  There are of course, also arguments that organically produced food is not plenty enough to feed the world.

On the other hand, scientific study has proven that people consume rather significant amounts of chemicals, hormones, and antibiotics along with their conventionally produced foods.  Additionally, “safe” levels of these chemicals are not known and the actual impact of these chemicals on our health is unknown.  Supporters on this side have some very good evidence that conventional farming practices actually create food shortages and create the need for the chemicals.  There is also suggested evidence in negative health effects for the land, water, and farmers.

For more information than you would ever want or need, I’ve done a basic search.  However, just open the daily paper or turn on the news for something related to this debate.

These are about how organic foods are not any more nutritious:

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Food-Snob---Is-Organic-Food-Worth-It?&id=3965231

http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/article/7222/

This guy tries to cover some of the key issues, like taste, cost, and environmental impact but ultimately gives up and encourages readers to join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) C0-op or grow food in their backyard.

Here is a NPR Intelligence Squared debate for and against the motion that “Organic Food is Marketing Hype”.  Ultimately the group debating “against” this motion “won” the argument.  Meaning that after hearing the arguments from both sides, more listeners voted that they DID NOT think Organic Food is Marketing Hype.  Interesting information from all viewpoints.

Basically, to do a comprehensive “study” of these issues and debates could take a lifetime.

For me: I’m just basically all about health and playing it safe for myself and my family.  This issue became more of a priority whenever I was pregnant and nursing and realizing that I was passing on whatever I consumed to an innocent life.

While yes, realistically, buying organically produced food is more expensive, I actually think I spend less on food than many other similar households.

This might be hard to believe whenever I am paying sometimes twice as much for similar products at the grocery store.  But, these are some of the things we do to balance out the costs:

• We belong to a local CSA Co-op where we get seasonal vegetables and fruit every week.  I freeze and can quantities that are abundant and we eat them in soups, stews, casseroles, and baked goods throughout the winter.
• The base of about 95% of our meals comes from beans and lentils, which I buy in bulk.  A pound of beans yields about 5 or 6 servings and costs about $1.70 organic.  Compare that to a pound of beef, which costs about $2.50-3.50 per pound for quality cooking beef.  Chicken may run about $2.50 or higher for breasts per pound.  Eating only 3ounces would also get you about five meals or a little less.  So- there just in the numbers, you can see that even buying organic beans is cheaper than meat.  And the prices I used were conventionally produced.  Grass fed/ free range would cost at least $4 per pound.  (go back to this post for more about why I do not eat meat)
• We only very rarely eat out.  I bring leftovers in my lunch every.single.day to work.
• We eat oatmeal every day, which we also buy in bulk. 
• We buy brown rice, grains, raisins, nuts, sugar, flour in bulk- drastically reducing the price.
• Our grocery store purchases are limited to peanut butter, bread, coffee, eggs, cheese, pasta, tortillas, crackers (when needed), and very few other items on an as needed basis.  Not buying soda, packaged drinks or juices, or processed foods saves tons of money.
• Grocery store purchases are often generic brands, which are now offering their own organic lines.

I’ve never taken the time to really look at what I might be saving, but I have a feeling it is more than enough to “justify” spending a little more in some areas in the spirit of the cleanest, most healthy foods.

Bottom line: I’m going to chose whatever is most healthy for our bodies, the environment, farmers, and the local economy.

I’ve posted before about www.localharvest.org but want to reiterate that that is where we found the farmer that feeds us. 

See this post for more about why local food is awesome!

 

Please HELP me!

p.s. I’m putting alot of opinions and personal beliefs out there.   Give me some feedback: Do you hate this stuff and just want to see more baby pictures?  Do you like the recipes?  I’m just wondering if I need to start a separate blog and have one for Geneva updates and daily life and another for recipes, healthy living, and soapbox manifestos.

Bring on the criticism- I have thick skin :)