Real Food For Less

I’ve been closely watching our grocery budget recently and have been trying to find ways to cut costs. The challenge is eating “real”, fresh, organic, good for us food, for a little bit of money. Not the easiest thing in the world to do! But I’m going to figure this one out! I’m on a mission to feed my family real food for less.

Knowing the Clean 15, what we don’t necessarily have to buy organic can help save lots if on a budget! And knowing the Dirty Dozen can help us to know what to just skip or where it’s worth it to splurge on organic =)

“In a perfect world, all produce would be grown organically and we wouldn’t have to worry about consuming pesticides or other chemicals. Since it isn’t a perfect world, here is the most recent Environmental Working Group’s report on the most contaminated produce, know as the Dirty Dozen, and the least contaminated fruits and vegetables, referred to as the Clean 15.

Picking and choosing organic produce

Though organic varieties of most fruits and vegetables are available, not everyone has access to them or can afford to follow a 100 percent organic diet. Experts recommend that if you can’t buy all organic fruits and vegetables, to at least buy organic when it comes to the Dirty Dozen, and be less concerned about organic fruits and vegetables on the Clean 15 list.” Dirty Dozen (Buy these organic).

The Dirty Dozen fruits and vegetables have the highest pesticides residue, based on data compiled by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Apples
Celery
Strawberries
Peaches
Spinach
Nectarines (imported)
Grapes (imported)
Sweet bell peppers
Potatoes
Blueberries (domestic)
Lettuce
Kale/collard greens

Clean 15 (Lowest in pesticides)

The Clean 15 contain the least pesticide residue, meaning if budget or availability is an obstacle to buying organic, you can buy conventionally grown varieties of these fruits and vegetables.