Let’s make something clear from the get-go. I believe in buying the best quality food that I can afford and if that means organic spam, then organic spam it is. Organic bacon? Hell yeah! I love my bacon and spam. We all know the saying “you are what you eat”. I guess I’m essentially a pig. An organic pig.
Look, I’m not an organic smug. Actually I am. Nah, I’m not. I swear I’m not. I don’t go around telling non organic eaters that they’re filling their bodies with pesticides and antibiotics on a daily basis. I merely just think that aloud in my head. No, no really. I’m nice. I don’t judge. I do eat non organic food. I go to food trucks and restaurants. I go to friends’ and families’ homes and community events that serve non organic food and I do eat them. Happily. Really. Seriously!
Since I make meals at home 80% of the time, I have control over the bacon and spam along with the rest of the ingredients in my meals. Because of that, I don’t really sweat the remaining 20%. In that 20% period, I’m relaxed. I go with the flow. I’m a stickler for good food, but it doesn’t have to be organic.
So in terms of grocery shopping, there are some things that I try to only buy organic, while other things don’t have to strictly go the organic route.
What I buy organic:
1. Most Meat & Eggs (Free range, grass fed, organic)
2. Milk and its by products – Yogurt, Tofu, Cheese, Butter
3. Corn
4. Fresh herbs
5. The dirty dozen:
a. Apples
b. Berries: strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries
c. Grapes
d. Celery
e. Peaches
f. Nectarines
g. Spinach
h. Lettuce
i. Bell Peppers
j. Cucumbers
k. Cherry Tomatoes
l. Potatoes
m. Hot Peppers
n. Zucchini
All animals are injected hormones & antibiotics. So chickens and eggs have them. Cows, milk and all its byproducts have them.
The dirty dozen contain the highest amount of pesticides – between 30 to 90 different pesticides on any given surface of each food item.
What I may not buy organic:
a. Fruit: Pineapple, Mango, Papaya, Tomato, Avocado, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Kiwi, Lemon, Lime
b. Vegetables: Okra, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Eggplant, Cabbage, Asparagus, Lotus Root, Asian Greens
c. Others: Mushroom, Onion, Ginger, Garlic
d. Seafood: I try to only buy wild caught ones
Some of the above I still may buy organic. I go with whatever is available or inexpensive. These are the ‘safer than the dirty dozen but still contain pesticides’ food items. At least I know I have a “only buy organic no matter what” list that I’m keeping myself safe. I’m flexible like that.
Organic and non organic dry and packaged goods I buy:
| Organic | Non Organic | |
| Rice, Flour & Grains | Dry Herbs & Spices | Dark Soy Sauce |
| Beans, Nuts & Seeds | Coconut Milk | Oyster Sauce |
| Cooking Oil | Cereal | Hot Sauce |
| Soy Sauce | Chocolate Bar | Asian Noodles |
| Hoisin Sauce | Ketchup, Mustard, Mayonnaise | Tamarind |
| Worcestershire Sauce | Pickles | Canned Tuna |
| Rice & Balsamic Vinegar | Hot dog & Bacon | Canned Sardines |
| Cornstarch | Ham & Sausages | Korean Condiments |
| Tea | Broth | Other Chinese Condiments |
| Maple Syrup | Goji Berry | Cocoa Powder |
| Agave & Honey | Granola | Chocolate Chips |
| Molasses | Dried Fruit | |
| Brown or Cane Sugar | Chips, Popcorn | |
| Pasta Noodles | ||
In terms of canned, bottled and packaged goods, generally, if organic ones are available, I’d choose them over non organic ones just because I don’t have to scrutinize the ingredients so closely. I’m lazy that way. But not all have their organic counterparts so sometimes I just grab whatever’s available.
For non organic items, I’d look at the ingredients more carefully. Most likely, I will not purchase them if the ingredients are not comprehensible due to the chemistry-sounding names like titanium dioxide or sodium nitrate (The rare occasion of the organic processed meats that I buy don’t contain sodium nitrate).
I do make exceptions perhaps 5% of the time if I can’t help it. Think Calbee shrimp crackers and Dark Chocolate Digestives biscuits. I’m pretty sure they both have chemistry sounding name ingredients. If I could find their organic equivalent that tastes exactly the same, I may buy those, but for now I’m enjoying my Calbee and Digestives.
PS: I’m still in the hunt for organic spam.
Everyone has a different approach when it comes to organic & non organic produce and food purchases. Share yours.
