This question will likely not ever end.

To some, food is like a religion, with people adamantly arguing on one side or the other.  The "low carb" people vs. the "low fat" people.  The "organic" vs "conventional."  It seems as if there’s no room for balance.  It’s good or evil.  Black or white.  There is no gray.  No middle ground. 

We look around to see if people are "on our side" — make sure others support us (social proof is often more important than scientific proof). Pick your sides, join forces with your "people" and stand behind what you believe.  

But here’s the question.  Why isn’t there a "gray" area? Does it have to be black and white?  Case in point.

Organic Foods.  Always "supreme" and worth the extra cost?

I

This picture is one I captured on a recent trip to Canada.  Organic fries.  Really?

Do we really think that is the issue with fries?  That they’re not organic… it has NOTHING to do with the trans fat or loads of sodium.  Of course, it’s how the potatoes were grown. 

So maybe there is a gray. 

Just because it’s organic, certainly doesn’t make it better.  Organic junk is still junk!

Here’s our take on the topic as a whole.  While some will debate that studies show organic foods have MORE nutrients than conventionally grown foods, there’s certainly not a definite conclusion on this front. 

Sure, some studies DO support that.  Others do not.

But there is more to it than just the nutrients.  Organically grown foods use LESS pesticides.  While we don’t really know how this affects our bodies in years to come, it certainly makes sense that the less of those we can have in our bodies, the better.

Plenty of data does show that farmers who work on or near farms that use a lot of pesticides have higher rates of certain diseases.  The other side of this "argument" is that these are extreme cases, where most people eating the conventional fruit/veggies aren’t getting nearly the dose.

At the end of the day, though, the less we can have overall, the better.

Let’s consider some other points, though.  

Data suggests adults eat around 2 servings of vegetables TOTAL per day.

We’ve had people say to us “I can’t afford organic produce, so I can’t eat more than I’m already eating each day.” 

But our goal is to first get people to eat MORE produce, whether organic or not.

Conventionally grown produce is certainly better than NO produce.  Similarly, maybe outside of the organic vs. conventional debate — we prefer local over organic.

A conventionally grown apple picked the day you eat it is certainly going to have a lot more nutrients than an organic one that has been flown 3000+ miles to get to your grocery store weeks after it was picked.

Take Home Points.

1. Eat MORE veggies and fruits.
2. Eat MORE local veggies and fruits
3. If you’re picking and choosing what foods to buy organic, use the list below.

The list of 12 fruits and veggies below are the list of the *most* contaminated … it’s published by the Environmental Working Group and is called it the “Dirty Dozen”

Very simply, if you’re going to spend more on organic foods, you should focus on THESE 12 that are most commonly contaminated (they are in order from highest to lowest, but they suggest buying organic for any 1 of these 12)

   1. Peaches (most contaminated)
   2. Apples
   3. Sweet bell peppers
   4. Celery
   5. Nectarine
   6. Strawberries
   7. Cherries
   8. Kale
   9. Lettuce
  10. Grapes (imported)
  11. Carrot
  12. Pear

*NOTE: The entire list of 47 foods can be found here:

There are a lot of factors in this organic vs. conventional debate – more to come as we continue to learn.

Post a comment — is organic worth the money in your mind?  Hopefully not if you’re deciding between conventional and organic fries. 

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Last year we published a blog about The Environmental Working Groups "Dirty Dozen" list … well, they’re at it again with an update … with the 12 fruits and veggies you SHOULD make sure to buy organic, as these 12 are highest in pesticides.

We’ve talked about organic vs. conventional foods in previous blog posts. 

Basically the "Dirty Dozen" list are the 12 foods that have been found to be highest in pesticides when a random sample is taken from a the grocery store shelves.  In other words, since these are highest in pesticides, it’s suggested that if you’re picking and choosing which foods should be organic, focus on these 12 first. 

This shouldn’t come as a surprise with the recent headlines suggesting the pesticides in foods, namely many berries, like blueberries, are linked to ADD in children. 

That being said, here is the updated Dirty Dozen list of foods from the Environmental Working Group.  Again, these are the 12 foods you should go organic with if you’re picking and choosing.  As an easy rule of thumb, notice all of those are ones you’d eat the skin/leaf. 

As a general rule of thumb, if you peel it (banana, avocado, melons, etc) there’s less concern over pesticides since you’re not eating the part that would be sprayed. 

1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches
5. Spinach
6. Nectarines – imported
7. Grapes – imported
8. Sweet bell peppers
9. Potatoes
10. Blueberries – domestic
11. Lettuce
12. Kale/collard greens

Maybe even a MORE important message, though, even more than focusing on those 12 higher pesticide foods … is that conventionally grown fruit and veggies is STILL better than none. 

Next, if you ARE picking and choosing organic or not, focus on these 12 to spend the extra money.

Do you choose organic?  Let us know!


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It’s the time of year when everyone is making lists. 

Lists of what they need to accomplish in 2010.  Lists of what will be accomplished in 2011. 

Usually on top of the "resolution" list is to lose weight.

But rather than just tell yourself you want to lose weight, we have a REAL Challenge for you.

Losing weight is the endpoint goal.

Rather than looking at the endpoint, though, what about the process it takes to get there?

What we call "Process Goals."

And we’re putting out a process goal challenge for you — not just to lose weight, but completely change your life by giving you more energy, decreasing how often you get sick, allowing you to focus more, your skin will improve and much, much more.

Seriously.

It’s not a magic pill or potion.

It’s eating REAL FOODS.  Crazy, right?

What does that mean?

Eliminating packaged junk.

Going through your kitchen and tossing out processed food coloring that is sold as "food" (think chips, candy, etc)

Not drinking liquid sugar, more commonly called soda (or any other sugary drink loaded with calories).

Instead of those, Real Foods are:

• Foods that fuel your body
• Foods that have very few ingredients and are ones that you can actually pronounce

Foods that make the cuts include nuts (all types), veggies and fruit, wild seafood, beans, grains like quinoa, free range eggs and chicken, grass fed beef.  Ideally a lot of these will come from a local farmers market — of course that’s dependent on where you live and the climate — but the more local, the higher the nutrients, so aim to take advantage of Farmer’s Markets when possible. 

Does this mean you’ll have to cook some?  Sure does. (Pick up a magazine like Eating Well for ideas or consider our friends new cookbook with 134 unique recipes that fit our "real food challenge."

Does this mean the drive thru won’t be a regular stop for lunch or on the way home anymore?  Yup

Does this mean you’ll save a TON of money because eating out is expensive?  For sure.

And you know what else — you’ll feel like you’ve never felt before.

It has nothing to do with what the scale says — sure, that may move in the direction you want it as a results of eating REAL FOODS — but it’s not the goal of doing this.

Taking action is how you will achieve whatever it is you want.  Until then, success will be a struggle.