How to vegetarians get past the bugs? HELP!

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Replies

  • NancyAnne1960
    NancyAnne1960 Posts: 500 Member
    Count them as protein.

    :laugh: Nice try!! :laugh:
  • kittyloo123
    kittyloo123 Posts: 300 Member
    at least your not finding only half a bug. I can't believe no has mentioned that yet.
  • Cytherea
    Cytherea Posts: 515 Member
    Honestly, it IS normal to find bugs in fresh produce. It comes from the ground/outside! Bugs need to eat too! I used to work at Boston Market, which was inside a grocery store, and we'd get our lettuce/other fresh produce from the store itself, and I came across tons of bugs. But that was my job- to wash everything thoroughly and make sure all the bugs were gone.

    Are they dead bugs? The ones I see are always alive. I saw it a lot more when I was working there (as we went through a lot of produce), but I've still found worms in my lettuce and celery over the years recently as well. Yeah, it is gross, and I make my husband deal with it, but it is normal, and natural, and I'm a bit concerned about all the people saying to buy your food elsewhere.

    You can use a vegetable wash if you are concerned.
  • meka325
    meka325 Posts: 47
    Uh...never had a bug in my veggies.
  • runner328
    runner328 Posts: 174
    I get a lot of fruit and vegetables. I purchase mine from, more than one major food chain, farmer's markets and road side stands. I have never come across and bugs in my produce.
  • ajbeans
    ajbeans Posts: 2,857 Member
    You're more likely to find bugs if you buy organic. So if you're finding bugs, at least you know you're not eating pesticide. Silver lining?

    But if it's a common problem, I would consider changing where you shop. What kind of worms are they? Like regular worms, or maggots? Maggots are a problem.
  • sexforjaffacakes
    sexforjaffacakes Posts: 1,001 Member
    Stop buying organic, buy the normal stuff. The health benefits of organic are greatly overrated.
  • NancyAnne1960
    NancyAnne1960 Posts: 500 Member
    I really appreciate all of your feedback. They are standard veggie eating bugs, mostly worms - no maggots. I'm guessing the veggies were just harvested while the buggies were munching away. I guess they are just a part of nature. :ohwell: I'll try to get past it!! Might have to have a conversation with the Produce Managers at both stores though. I'll try to continue on... :smile:
  • Justkeepswimmin
    Justkeepswimmin Posts: 777 Member
    Why bother talking to the produce managers, just change stores, ew. Honestly they should be begging at your feet for you not to advertise this I have never heard of such a thing!

    I shop at a standing farm market in Phoenix, Sprouts, Pro-Ranch's, Food City, Safeway, and Fry's (Kroger) and never ever had this kind of aproblem. In Ohio I shopped at Topps, Giant Eagle, Marc's and Heinene's. In CT I shopped at Big Y, Stop Shop, A&P, Price Chopper and Waldbaums. Some of these are all natural stores, some are cheapo discount stores, some are overly pricey and others' are normal grocery stores. I have shopped at farm stands and gotten produce from my grandpa's garden. I have never ever ever had a bug in my produce from a store.

    I did have one once when I ate a pita sandwich thing at Oscar's 10 years ago. (Phoenix)

    Now I guess a living bug could be a natural occurance, but 20ish??? In one bag?? That seems insane.

    Maybe find someone who lives near you and ask where they shop?
  • darla499
    darla499 Posts: 402 Member
    I'm about 98.9999% vegetarian and I've never run across the problems you have. I always break down and wash my stuff real well when I first bring it home .... but I've never seen any critters rinse off.

    As it's already been mentioned .... organic might be why you're running into such infestations. Organic is overrated. If you're still having problems, consider switching produce stores :laugh:
  • bbbbb33333
    bbbbb33333 Posts: 1,107 Member
    I've been trying to incorporate alot more veggies in my diet. But, I can't get past the bugs/worms thing. I just cut into a big red radish to find a big brown worm inside it. YULK!! In my brussel sprout, same thing, worms, except I actually found a live green worm. YULK! Then, romaine lettuce, cabbage, cut it in half, and bugs/worms!!! YULK!! Husked corn, bugs. Yulk! This is however over a 6 mo. period of time, but it's still really gross! How in the world do you get beyond the slimy little creatures eating my fresh veggies?? It's enough to turn anyone away from veggies!!! How does everyone get past this? I need help because I really need to eat more veggies for 'empty/free healthy calories'!!
    How is it I can eat almost everything else, no matter how unhealthy, but bugs really get to me??

    Bugs are high in protein....
  • SiltyPigeon
    SiltyPigeon Posts: 920 Member
    I bet EVERYONE has had a bug or few in their veggies a time or two.... they just weren't looking for them. Not like they're gonna hurt you any. Many cultures in the world consider them good eatin'! :tongue:
    Stop looking for them and you won't see them. :glasses:
  • pumpkinmoccasin
    pumpkinmoccasin Posts: 316
    This has never happened in my life, where the hell you get your veggies from?!

    O_O For real, I'd be taking that ish back to the store
  • hgellings
    hgellings Posts: 295 Member
    Stop buying organic, buy the normal stuff. The health benefits of organic are greatly overrated.

    Actually, when it comes to fruits and veggies organic is much better!


    I have only had the bug problem when getting stuff out of the garden...mostly cabbage or lettuce. When buying from the store I don't think that should be a problem so you might want to find a new place to shop. ;)
  • kayemme
    kayemme Posts: 1,782 Member
    i want to eat what bugs eat. that means that they haven't been sprayed with some kind of toxic chemical, so i'm happy to see the bugs. i just wash them off, or flick them into the yard.
  • kayemme
    kayemme Posts: 1,782 Member
    Stop buying organic, buy the normal stuff. The health benefits of organic are greatly overrated.

    you can stop buying organic... just one less person to feed in the end... i'll take a bug in my salad any day over the caustic effects of chemical runoff into our aquifers.
  • kayemme
    kayemme Posts: 1,782 Member
    further, certified organic can sometimes be a sham, so if you have opportunity please support a local farmer with a CSA subscription. it's well worth the money and i don't think i've ever run across a bug in my pick up because our farmer washes everything pretty well.

    he's not certified organic, but he concentrates on the health of the soil, which in my opinion is a far better plan than pining to the "rulles" of substandard FDA guidelines for a marketing stamp that is not only overrated, but overpriced and misleading.

    in that case, i agree with the person who said to switch to conventional. if you're buying from a grocery, organic may be the better option, but it's not always a sure-fire win.

    </soapbox>
  • Avery123
    Avery123 Posts: 4
    As previously mentioned, I've only found bugs in the organic broccoli I bought once and I've never bought organic since. No problems with the other produce I buy.
  • angie_roo
    angie_roo Posts: 55
    It's rare that I've found bugs in my veggies. I think you need to find a new place to buy your produce.
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