All organic, nothing processed, or who cares...

goodforallcoffee

So I am curious, how many people care about something being organic verses non-processed, or do some of you not care. I am currently trying to not buy fast food and all processed foods while adding some organic items at times. I find it much easier in the warmer months when the farmer’s markets and veggie stands are plentiful. So what are your thoughts? Organic, non-processed, or whatever is easy and cheap?

BOGmama2010

I go for both - organic and non-processed for the most part. I do indulge in a protein bar now and then that aren't organic, but that's not every day. I try to stick with my eggs, milk, chicken and beef and the dirty dozen for fruits and veggies being organic.

DrBorkBork

I can't afford organic, so I concentrate on eating clean, with as little processing as possible.

aflane

I don't tend to aim for strictly organic. However, I try to go additive free, as much as possible.

merrillfoster

I don't care. I try to go (as of lately) for non-processed, but as far as I care, a veggie is a veggie, organic or not...

cmriverside

I use whole foods almost exclusively. So, nothing that is processed except bread and milk, yogurt, cheese.

Organic is a little different. I'm not sure I even believe the claims of "organic". So if the prices are comparable or not tooooo much higher, I buy organic. But if it's twice as much, forget it. I'm gonna die of something.

AmeMahoney

The least processed amount is most important, then organic, then I grow my own (organic) in the months that I can. I figure why should I pay someone when it's just as easy to do it myself?

heyitsmekatie

i eat out a lot so i honestly eat all kinds of garbage. i buy organic milk because i prefer the taste, but that's about it.

So_Um_Yeah

I would eat organic if I had the money and patience for it, but as it stands its just too big of a hassle. I try to buy organic or non-processed as much as I can, but I'm not one of those people who sees it as the only healthy option. Its hard enough to find food that goes with other dietary restrictions, and would go crazy if I limited myself like that, but it really seems to work for a lot of people.

That_Girl

50/50. I try to get all natural, but sometimes it can't be helped. Soon, I'll be growing a lot for myself!

radicalreader

There is a list available of the "dirty dozen" (12 produce items with heavy pesticides) that you should buy organic and the "clean 15" (15 items that have the least pesticide) that you are probably ok buying regular.
http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php
They have a printable list and an iPhone App.

dawniee

I would stay away from anything processed....it's usually full of things that cause cravings.... higher levels of sodium, sugar and fat...especially trans fat or saturated fats.....I do only buy organic when I can for the most part but fresh is always best!!!!! Think of it that way, you know exactly what your putting into your body. Although they're maybe be times when you have to stop and pick something up at a fast food, so try to go with the healthiest options, but make this NOT the norm as you really should focus on " this is going to be hard" to preparing your own foods is key to being successful at weightloss!! Good luck!

amycal

I definitely try to eat well, not just low fat or low cal or whatever. I buy organic when feasible but not everything is. I try to eat as little processed food as I can. Some things at Costco are a better deal and are organic ie the huge tub of baby greens for $4 versus small bags of the Dole lettuces that are like $2.50 at grocery store. Regular 1/2 and 1/2 is $2.50 for tiny thing at grocery store but $4 for 64 ounces at Costco. I have heard that organic dairy contains more CLA which can help weight loss so I try to buy organic yogurt but organic milk is quite a bit more than regular so I don't usually get it.

sarahliftsUP

Honestly, I only buy organic when it's on sale otherwise it's really expensive where I live.
I tend to go for locally grown produce though when I shop.

And I definitely don't opt out for processed foods.. I try to limit them though when I can.

susioryan

I am an organic, local, in season type of gal. Non processed kinda goes without saying. I buy meat from local farmers, frequent winter farmers markets for veggies, cheese and bread, grow greens in a cold frame. I have not found processed food cheap- it seems to me that you pay for it in many ways, it makes you feel like crap, you get bloated, it raises your blood pressure, it makes you fat, it has chemicals that in the long term can kill you, and you end up paying for it through medical bills. Besides, we shouldn't be buying a ton of food anyway. When you eat less, you buy less, so you should be able to buy better quality.
Just my thoughts and lifestyle.

sptsimone

I stock up on organic when its on clearance or there's a weekly special. Otherwise, I focus all my effort on no fast food and no processed foods. Those two things alone make a HUGE difference. And if you cut back on meat, you'll find there's more money available to buy organic.

WTFitness

I can't afford organic, so I concentrate on eating clean, with as little processing as possible.

Ditto.

Robin1117

I try to buy organic when I can, but if it's a choice between local fruits and veggies vs. organic, I would take the local ones because where I live the farmers need our support. Thankfully where I live many are both organic and local..... If nothing local or organic is available, I would go the grocery store and choose seasonal fruits and veggies and wash them really well.

For things like crackers and breads and cereals and dairy, I think it's more important to know what the ingredients are when you read them on the labels and avoid anything w/ weird chemicals--so I guess "all natural". Have you read Michale Pollan's food rules?? Super quick easy read but I think a great philosophy (at least in my opinion) on being a food consumer.

Jaynequ

I believe organinc is generally 'twice the price for half the quality' so don't buy it unless there is nothing else. I cook everything from scratch, using the cheapest ingredients I can find. I never wash any fruit, or peel any veg, and refuse to ever drink bottled water (so bad for the planet).

My family is the healthiest I know, none of us are ever ill, so don't think the non-organic is doing us much harm.

Ral263

Well, "processed" and "organic" aren't really comparing the same thing: Something can be highly processed yet still be organic, and unprocessed foods are very nutritious even though they might not be organic.

I eat ALL unprocessed foods save for Fiber One and Special K Protein Plus cereal (both of which have pretty minimally processed ingredients).

However, I don't really care about whether food is organic or not-- sure, I'd love to have less pesticides on my strawberries, but not if it means I have to pay twice the price for the exact same calories and nutrients.

I think people are obsessed with the "health halo" that surrounds organic foods-- this does NOT mean that the food is good for you. For example, a cookie can be organic, yet still have 400 calories and 20 grams of fat. You'd be much better off having fresh fruit, even if it isn't organic.

egbkid

Fresh veggies are expensive enough around here, never mind the organic stuff. I have a hard time getting any fresh veggies at all, just because of the cost. About the only thing i can afford are potatoes and carrots, which are better than nothing, i suppose. I usually try to buy frozen veggies, though, since i am on my on a 4 dollar bag of peas last me a few weeks. Even though canned veggies are cheap, i can't stand the taste of them, so i stear clear of those.

CARNAT22

I wish I had the time and money to shop only for organic, locally grown produce. But I don't so I have to compromise..

Also I work full time, commute an hour each way so sometimes need a cheat (potato croquettes, oven chips and M&S ready meals are my staple 'cheats' - they are all pretty low in calories and help me out when time is of the essence!)

ajbeans

I try to stay away from processed foods, but where I live organic is hard to come by. Small town, small grocery store, and I don't feel the need to drive an hour to the city to shop at Whole Foods. I think organic is better, but I'm not willing to spend the extra money and effort for it. Right now, staying away from processed foods is good enough for me.

backinthenines

I'm more particular about some things than others.

I always buy good lean meat, never the cheap processed stuff like cheap sausages etc.
I don't buy eggs from battery hens and also buy free range chicken.
I buy mainly in season... but sometimes I succumb to having raspberries in the middle of winter, but then feel guilty about the thousands of miles they were flown to my supermarket.
I'm 50:50 about organic vegetables. If they are offered at a similar price or at least not too inflated I will prefer organic.
I try to support local business to the best of my ability and prefer to buy from farmers markets, local fruit & veg stalls etc instead of large supermarkets, but sometimes time is a factor.

Oh, and I haven't set a foot in something like Mc Donalds or Burger King in over 20 years.

Nigel99

I don't buy the organic fruits and veggies, but I do go for the fresh stuff whenever possible. Though I still eat processed food, I eat a lot less of it than I once did. We usually have a lot of food on hand as we stocked up during sales, and have lots of easy-to-fix foods (that aren't really in my new food plan any more). I still mix some of those in every so often as we have to use it sometime, and the gf still wants to eat what we have.

I do try to go for fresher/un-processed foods most of the time, and limit how much processed food I'm eating.

yoghurtand

I'm bad enough with calorie counting - I don't need to add another obsessive thing into my life. I'm not really fussed about where my food comes from. Maybe it's because I'm young and don't get to buy my own. I'll probably care when I'm older.

melsinct

I mainly avoid processed foods and eat organic where it matters, e.g. the fruits and vegetables that really "suck in" pesticides. These include peaches, celery, potatoes, spinach and bell peppers. Peaches and celery I know have tested highest in pesticide residue. Organic doesn't mean "healthier" as in less fat and more nutrients, but it does mean less man-made bug and weed killing chemicals being ingested by me.

I know I am fortunate that I live in an area and have the means to buy just about anything I want in organic form. I also cook a lot of food from scratch, including bread, which pares down the grocery bill.

PNCTink

I try not to eat processed foods, but I don't obsess over it either. We do buy some local produce, but we have a really strict budget so it's not often. Not to mention my husband is a produce manager in a local supermarket so we try to keep his job by supporting where he works. If organic is on sale then we buy it, but if not we don't. This summer I will be having a garden so I won't have to worry about it.

Val_from_OH

I buy organic when the price is about the same. I don't think there is too much of a health benefit difference, but I do believe that persistent pesticides are generally harmful to the earth, so I prefer to give my money to the farmers who make better choices. I try to go for non-processed foods, but this is not a strength of mine. Clif bars are quick for breakfast, and deli-meat makes a great lunch. Dinners are mostly unprocessed, but we do eat bread, pasta, butter, etc.

Grokette

So I am curious, how many people care about something being organic verses non-processed, or do some of you not care. I am currently trying to not buy fast food and all processed foods while adding some organic items at times. I find it much easier in the warmer months when the farmer’s markets and veggie stands are plentiful. So what are your thoughts? Organic, non-processed, or whatever is easy and cheap?

Unprocessed Whole foods for me. Some organic and most not organic.

In fact, in the winter time the only organics I buy are thin skinned fruits and veggies that I would eat the skin on. Grapes, bell peppers - things on the "dirty dozen" list that are most contaminated by herbicides and pesticides.