Tried my first organic food product!

Sierra524 · April 2013

Yes, I am just now starting to try organic foods. I never really had a reason to before. I am pretty healthy and I dont have any issues with certain foods like many others do. Well, I cant have a lot of dairy, but I can in small amounts. Anyway, I was at Walmart grocery shopping and was really having a hard time deciding which box of mac and cheese to get. Than I saw this cute looking box, and noticed it was organic mac and cheese. So, I bought it. My logic behind this is that if I am absolutely going to eat something boxed, like mac and cheese, I should try to make it a little more healthy. Organic is healthy, right? I am proud to announce that I tried my first organic food & LOVED it. There was really no taste difference at all. There was a slight price difference, but it was only 25cents more than the other stuff. BTW, it was Back to Nature brand. What I liked best about this m&c was that it was something I usually always buy, we eat it a lot, and it didnt taste any different. I actually kinda thought it tasted better.

With that being said, do any of you have any recs on different organic foods I can try that dont really taste any different from non-organic brand? I am just trying to make some smaller, healtier and smarter decisions when it comes to the food we eat on a regular basis.

Sierra524 · April 2013

Thanks Stage! I will post it over there too.

crystaldbl · April 2013

I recently found this farm near my house that sells all kinds of stuff. I'm not sure if it's organic but I was really impressed with the straight from the cow milk. It's about the same price as grocery store milk but it tastes so much better.

emeejeeayen · April 2013

What would taste different about something organic?

Sierra524 · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_tried-my-first-organic-food-product?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:8500b256-ae84-4ffb-9a25-48aadb1c0ac2Post:1795e475-4a59-498c-afe4-75ec35807397">Re: Tried my first organic food product!</a>:
[QUOTE]What would taste different about something organic?
Posted by emeejeeayen[/QUOTE]

I dont know. I just always had this idea that organic things tasted different. Obviously I was wrong. Now that I know they dont always taste different, I am looking into different things to try.

Sierra524 · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_tried-my-first-organic-food-product?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:8500b256-ae84-4ffb-9a25-48aadb1c0ac2Post:57784c75-13bd-40b0-902a-521899583e70">Re: Tried my first organic food product!</a>:
[QUOTE]Trader Joe's has a good selection of organic foods that are reasonably priced. Most of what I eat is organic just because it's the closest grocery store to me.
Posted by HoorayForSoup[/QUOTE]

There is no Trader Joes near me, but I have heard great things. I do have this awesome grocery store called Wegmans. They have an awesome selection of organic foods. We also have a whole food co-op that is really great, but kinda pricey.

emeejeeayen · April 2013

Just go to the grocery store and shop like you normally would except buy the organic stuff instead of the isht laden with toxic pesticides. The pesticides don't have a taste, so it should be fine. Generally organic things actually taste better because they have more flavor - at least fruits and vegetables.

daria24 · April 2013

I buy a lot of things organic, especially things like pasta, canned items, etc. Most of it comes from Trader Joes but I really like the Annie's products. Do you have a Whole Foods? Their 365 brand is very good and a lot cheaper than buying organic at a "regular" supermarket.

B2Z728 · April 2013

If you're going to spend your money on organic food, I would recommend using it for fresh, organic fruits and vegetables. Most boxed, prepackaged food is so processed anyway that paying extra for organic really won't that much of a difference in the long run.

There are some fruits and vegetables more worth spending the extra cash for. Here's a good general list to go by:

http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/dirty-dozen-foods

And here's a list of some produce you don't need to worry about as much:

http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/Save-on-Sustainable-Gallery-44032808

ETA: I usually buy organic milk and eggs too, if I can. (Not sure if it was on the list)

Angelface225 · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_tried-my-first-organic-food-product?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:8500b256-ae84-4ffb-9a25-48aadb1c0ac2Post:e1cb1bc1-9937-41ac-a885-15e8cdbbf25d">Re: Tried my first organic food product!</a>:
[QUOTE]If you're going to spend your money on organic food, I would recommend using it for fresh organic fruits and vegetables. Most boxed, prepackaged food is so processed anyway that paying extra for organic really won't that much of a difference in the long run. There are some fruits and vegetables more worth spending the extra cash for. Here's a good general list to go by: <a href="http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/dirty-dozen-foods" rel="nofollow">http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/dirty-dozen-foods</a> And here's a list of some produce you don't need to worry about as much: <a href="http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/Save-on-Sustainable-Gallery-44032808" rel="nofollow">http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/Save-on-Sustainable-Gallery-44032808</a>
Posted by B2Z728[/QUOTE]

All of this, buzz and I must be sharing a brain today! I mostly spend the extra money on the organic versions of the dirty dozen fruits and veggies. I also try to avoid processed food as much as possible, although I will admit that I cave regularly.

B2Z728 · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_tried-my-first-organic-food-product?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:8500b256-ae84-4ffb-9a25-48aadb1c0ac2Post:0cc18823-1093-4a2d-b262-784767b1e064">Re: Tried my first organic food product!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Tried my first organic food product! : All of this, buzz and I must be sharing a brain today! I mostly spend the extra money on the organic versions of the dirty dozen fruits and veggies. I also try to avoid processed food as much as possible, although <strong>I will admit that I cave regularly</strong>.
Posted by Angelface225[/QUOTE]

<div>I cave a little too regularly on corn chips now that I've switched to eating GF. "Oh, I can eat these? Let me eat the whole bag!" Hahaha. </div><div>
</div><div>(sorry to thread jack Sierra)</div><div>
</div><div>Also for canned vegetables, tomatoes, beans, and chicken broth I try to buy organic if it's not way more expensive. </div>

Sierra524 · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_tried-my-first-organic-food-product?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:8500b256-ae84-4ffb-9a25-48aadb1c0ac2Post:20de5ea9-af61-4c7b-b497-3e118d629783">Re: Tried my first organic food product!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Tried my first organic food product! : I cave a little too regularly on corn chips now that I've switched to eating GF. "Oh, I can eat these? Let me eat the whole bag!" Hahaha. (sorry to thread jack Sierra)<strong> Also for canned vegetables, tomatoes, beans, and chicken broth I try to buy organic if it's not way more expensive. </strong>
Posted by B2Z728[/QUOTE]

These are the kind of things I want to start buying organic. We use these things on a regular basis, so I feel like if I have to use these things, I would rather them be a little more healthy than the stuff we normally get.

Thank you all for the feedback! I am def going to look into some organic fruits and such. We dont really eat a lot of fresh fruit in the winter, although we probably should. We always have bananas, but thats it. But now that spring is here and summer is around the corner, we will be going thru fresh fruit like crazy.

ETA: Buzz, thank you so much for those links. They were extremely informational & helpful. I will def be saving both of these & referring to them next time I go grocery shopping.

Peledreamsofrain · April 2013

I'm not big into organics, but I am big into local and fresh. We get all our produce solely from a local stand. I have a very sensative sense of taste, and I can taste the sprays on all the stuff in most stores. In fact, for years I thought I hated veggies, but it was only the sprays I was tasting.

I CAN vouch for the taste of home-grown eggs, though. Store bought eggs taste like pale ghosts compared to what my girls produce.

alaynajk321 · April 2013

People focus on the wrong things. Your organic produce can be grown in a field across the street from a field where they do spray, and you can bet the wind will carry it right on over. Besides that, those organic farmers don't necessarily use fertilizer (manure) from animals that are medicine free.

Honestly, if you really want to be healthy, start removing foods with preservatives in them. What do you think is worse-an apple sprayed to keep bugs carrying diseases out of them, or a flash frozen meal with 200+ grams of sodium?

WinstonsGirl · April 2013

We don't eat organic, but what I've heard is to focus on fruit and veg where you eat the skin, as that's where most of the pesticides have hit. Fruit and veg like bananas, you toss the peel, thereby tossing a lot of the chemicals. Just a hint I've heard if your're looking to eat organically for a little cheaper

efmcc67 · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_tried-my-first-organic-food-product?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:8500b256-ae84-4ffb-9a25-48aadb1c0ac2Post:4d10ca84-a929-4060-b18c-f85db7ba4a3e">Re: Tried my first organic food product!</a>:
[QUOTE]We don't eat organic, but what I've heard is to focus on fruit and veg where you eat the skin, as that's where most of the pesticides have hit. Fruit and veg like bananas, you toss the peel, thereby tossing a lot of the chemicals. Just a hint I've heard if your're looking to eat organically for a little cheaper
Posted by kje_[/QUOTE]

This exactly. If you're tossing the skin, the pesticide isn't as much of an issue. Keep in mind, though, if you're buying citrus and using the zest, it might be a good idea to go organic, since then you will be eating the peel. This is one that I forget sometimes. <div>
</div><div>With meat and dairy, I'm less worried about going organic, but I look for cruelty-free products. I tend to shop at Whole Foods for these items, where they actually have a rating system for animal welfare for meat. If you don't have a Whole Foods nearby, look for a local co-op.
<div>
</div></div>

Jessa617 · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_tried-my-first-organic-food-product?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:8500b256-ae84-4ffb-9a25-48aadb1c0ac2Post:17073896-c047-40d5-bcdd-08271153d1a3">Re: Tried my first organic food product!</a>:
[QUOTE]I buy half a cow from a local farmer and I buy organic carrots when my grocery store has a sale on them making them cost less than normal carrots. Does that count?
Posted by LingerLonger1[/QUOTE]

Of course it does! I'm guilty of the on-sale carrots too.

AdeleDazeem · April 2013

I highly recommend you read "The Omivore's Dilemma" before you start thinking that organic is the utmost in health and anything else is poison. There's a lot of "ideas" about food out there and all of it marketed to you. I thought that book was very fair in its presentation of all different sorts of food idealogies and was very thought provoking about how we approach food in this country. It's certainly not the end-all on the subject, but it's a nice overview.

After reading it, I'll tell you that I'm no more likely to buy organic than not. I do, however, like the locally grown movement.

manjermj · April 2013

Just because something has an "organic" label doesn't mean it's healthy. A box of Kraft Mac n cheese and a box of Organic Mac n Cheese are just as bad as the other. Try eating real food - not something that comes in a box or package that is overly processed - if you want to try something truly organic.

Peledreamsofrain · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_tried-my-first-organic-food-product?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:8500b256-ae84-4ffb-9a25-48aadb1c0ac2Post:3a0682f4-bee9-4a09-ad04-5a6be929a48c">Re: Tried my first organic food product!</a>:
[QUOTE]I highly recommend you read "The Omivore's Dilemma" before you start thinking that organic is the utmost in health and anything else is poison. There's a lot of "ideas" about food out there and all of it marketed to you. I thought that book was very fair in its presentation of all different sorts of food idealogies and was very thought provoking about how we approach food in this country. It's certainly not the end-all on the subject, but it's a nice overview. After reading it, I'll tell you that I'm no more likely to buy organic than not. I do, however, like the locally grown movement.
Posted by Joy2611[/QUOTE]

<div>This exactly. At the end of the day, organic or not, trusting big corporations to give a crap about public health is kinda silly. It's all about the $$$$ for them. If they can cut out on something that makes food safer for the public, and get away with it, THEY WILL. Guarenteed.</div><div>
</div><div>That's why I try to buy local, and have chickens that produce eggs right in my back yard, and a garden as well. I can make traditional eggnog because I know for a fact that they don't have Salmonella.</div><div>
</div><div>There's also a very interesting article published in Discover magazine last year about the coporate food industry accelerating "genetic pollution" of bacteria. They use antibiotics with gross negligence, resulting in bacteria that develop resistance. Then they wash all the animal waste down the drain and into the local watershed. There, bacteria swap DNA around like it's weed at a hippie convention. Bacteria that has no business with antibiotic resistance now have it, and are loose in the environment. </div><div>
</div><div><a style="font-size:11px;" href="http://discovermagazine.com/2008/mar/14-dna-pollution-may-be-spawning-killer-microbes#.UWbAapOG26U" rel="nofollow">http://discovermagazine.com/2008/mar/14-dna-pollution-may-be-spawning-killer-microbes#.UWbAapOG26U</a></div><div>
</div><div>It's a facinating article, and a very good read. </div>

AdeleDazeem · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_tried-my-first-organic-food-product?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:8500b256-ae84-4ffb-9a25-48aadb1c0ac2Post:f9e11acd-61b8-41e8-9945-d536d02502bc">Re: Tried my first organic food product!</a>:
[QUOTE] They use antibiotics with gross negligence, resulting in bacteria that develop resistance. Then they wash all the animal waste down the drain and into the local watershed. There, bacteria swap DNA around like it's weed at a hippie convention. Bacteria that has no business with antibiotic resistance now have it, and are loose in the environment. <a href="http://discovermagazine.com/2008/mar/14-dna-pollution-may-be-spawning-killer-microbes#.UWbAapOG26U" rel="nofollow">http://discovermagazine.com/2008/mar/14-dna-pollution-may-be-spawning-killer-microbes#.UWbAapOG26U</a> It's a facinating article, and a very good read.
Posted by Peledreamsofrain[/QUOTE]

People demanding antibiotics for the common cold/flu/chicken pox/etc are also part of this problem. Antibiotics need to be used sparingly; this includes illnesses, food industry, and cleaning products. Soap and water is all you need to clean skin, countertops, etc - really.

B2Z728 · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_tried-my-first-organic-food-product?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:8500b256-ae84-4ffb-9a25-48aadb1c0ac2Post:3a0682f4-bee9-4a09-ad04-5a6be929a48c">Re: Tried my first organic food product!</a>:
[QUOTE]I highly recommend you read "The Omivore's Dilemma" before you start thinking that organic is the utmost in health and anything else is poison. There's a lot of "ideas" about food out there and all of it marketed to you. I thought that book was very fair in its presentation of all different sorts of food idealogies and was very thought provoking about how we approach food in this country. It's certainly not the end-all on the subject, but it's a nice overview. After reading it, I'll tell you that I'm no more likely to buy organic than not. I do, however, like the locally grown movement.
Posted by Joy2611[/QUOTE]

<div>In Defense of Food: An Eaters Manifesto by Michael Pollan (same author as Omnivore's Dilemma) is also a good informative read. </div><div>
</div><div><a href="http://michaelpollan.com/books/in-defense-of-food/" rel="nofollow">http://michaelpollan.com/books/in-defense-of-food/</a></div><div>
</div><div>I see the benefits of organic produce (and buy it when I can, which isn't always), but I also agree that buying local and knowing your farmers is a better choice if you can do it. In my area we have local farmers markets that I try to visit a couple times a month. Yes, it's quite a bit more expensive than regular produce from the grocery store but I feel better knowing where it came from and supporting the local economy at the same time.</div><div>
</div><div>Linger, my SIL and brother have a large chest freezer in their apartment to hold their half cow too.</div>

MoonlightSilver · April 2013

I'm glad other posters brought up the fact that local and fresh is much better than organic. Honestly, the "organic" label isn't regulated enough for me to bother with it. I shop at our own garden, the local farmer's market, and focus on buying fresh frutis, veggies and meats over packaged, processed foods. We buy eggs from neighbors with chickens, but when they're out we buy cage & cruelty free eggs, not specifically organic ones. Same thing with meat - go for free range / grass fed / cage free. Farmer's markets are fantastic.

Peledreamsofrain · April 2013

In Response to Re:Tried my first organic food product!:[QUOTE]I'm glad other posters brought up the fact that local and fresh is much better than organic. Honestly, the quot;organicquot; label isn't regulated enough for me to bother with it. I shop at our own garden, the local farmer's market, and focus on buying fresh frutis, veggies and meats over packaged, processed foods. We buy eggs from neighbors with chickens, but when they're out we buy cage amp; cruelty free eggs, not specifically organic ones. Same thing with meat go for free range / grass fed / cage free. Farmer's markets are fantastic.nbsp; Posted by
MoonlightSilver[/QUOTE]

Unfortinately there is no legal definition for 'cage free, 'free range', or 'cruelty free'. Companies can shove 300 hens into a 10 by 5 bare dirt pen with one side open to the elements, and viola, cage free.

AdeleDazeem · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_tried-my-first-organic-food-product?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:8500b256-ae84-4ffb-9a25-48aadb1c0ac2Post:e9977979-d723-415e-b33a-c0225c65814c">Re:Tried my first organic food product!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re:Tried my first organic food product!: Unfortinately there is no legal definition for 'cage free, 'free range', or 'cruelty free'. Companies can shove 300 hens into a 10 by 5 bare dirt pen with one side open to the elements, and viola, cage free.
Posted by Peledreamsofrain[/QUOTE]

Yup.

There is also a very disparaing story about chickens sold in Whole Foods where the packaging gives you some background on your chicken. It says that Rosie was raised where she had the freedom to go outside and graze as she wanted but also come back inside, thus she was a "free range" chicken.

Turns out, the farm has about 300 Rosies all in one coop and there was a door that led outside - to an even smaller and poop filled area that none of the chickens ever went into.

Do read labels with open minds. There is very little regulation over what can be printed so these products are marketed to you in a very specific fashion to let you think you're doing good, but all you've done is read a twisted story. Just because it's labeled "organic" doesn't mean the people are altruistic.

MoonlightSilver · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_tried-my-first-organic-food-product?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:8500b256-ae84-4ffb-9a25-48aadb1c0ac2Post:e9977979-d723-415e-b33a-c0225c65814c">Re:Tried my first organic food product!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re:Tried my first organic food product!: Unfortinately there is no legal definition for 'cage free, 'free range', or 'cruelty free'. Companies can shove 300 hens into a 10 by 5 bare dirt pen with one side open to the elements, and viola, cage free.
Posted by Peledreamsofrain[/QUOTE]
Which is why we get our meat and eggs at friend's houses or farmer's markets 99% of the time. If I must go to the store, it's usually a local store, not a chain, and I can ask questions about the treatment. The few eggs I do buy at large stores I look for the labeling, which while not regulated, increases the chances that the animals were treated well.

Peledreamsofrain · April 2013

Yeah, I actually have quite a few people that buy eggs from me. I only have 5 hens, but I do what I can to undermine the corporate farms. I hate that they abuse antibiotics, overcrowd the pens, cut off their beaks, and starve them before throwing them out like trash.

Tried my first organic food product!

Re: Tried my first organic food product!

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