I blame Cosmopolitan for starting the trend of using attention-grabbing numbers in headlines — you know, as in, “84 Ways to Drive Your Man to Ecstasy.” We’ve all had the experience of standing in the supermarket checkout line, glancing over at a magazine cover and thinking, I hate myself for this, but I REALLY want to read that article… and hey, why only 84? Where’s number 85?
These days countdowns and numbers are commonplace (I’ve used a few on this blog), and particularly ubiquitous in articles on health and nutrition. Editors love their numbers: “The 10 Most Unhealthy Fast Food Meals,” “15 Super Vegetables,” “8 Foods to Burn Belly Fat”… When I see headlines like those on a website, I’ll admit I get suckered right in and click the link.
So of course I was drawn to this The Daily Green headline:
“The New Dirty Dozen: 12 Foods to Eat Organic”
You can click on the link to read it; basically, the article lists the foods that contain the highest pesticide residue and should be bought organic. Fairly disconcerting stuff if you’re like me and the bulk of your diet is fruits and vegetables, with many of your favorites on the list.
I am glad the article does recommend alternative foods that are safer to eat. For me personally, it’s just not feasible to buy 100% organic. That’s way too expensive. On the other hand, it’s also going to be expensive if I have a second head growing out of my neck by the time I’m 50. So some sort of middle ground needs to be reached here.
What are your thoughts on this — are you a 100% organic shopper? 50%? Not at all? Which foods do you buy organic, and where do you buy them?
2 Comments
This is an endless debate playing in my own head, particularly as the mother of 2 young children. I stick to organic milk and dairy products, for the most part, and try to buy organic produce when it’s feasible. But even organic standards seem all over the place, making me wonder sometimes if I’m paying a premium for something that isn’t really organic. One item that always makes me say, “Organic — really?” is the “organic” frozen edamame that’s grown in China!
Good point. After reading Omnivore’s Dilemma, it was clear that “organic” doesn’t always mean what we think. I agree with you about milk and will definitely start buying organic, since it’s something we consume so regularly.