I want to start feeding my family organic?

Question

I have just learned some very scary info about GMO's and other processed foods. Could you give me some advice? I can't do it all at once because I know it will cost more but I would like to make a gradual transition for the health and well being of my family. What are the most important foods to stay away from? How can I make this change easy for one of my very picky eaters? Are their any web sites for kids that will help them understand why this change is important? Is there a such thing as organic hamburger meat?

Answer 1

its very expensive. i would think twice about it, or just switch to some organic food, only the ones you think are the worst for you.

Answer 2

Check your area for farmer's markets and/or locally grown organic co ops for your vegetables.  If you have any yard you could start your own little veggie garden next year.

For your meat, get a freezer (I prefer chest freezers), then find a local farmer/rancher who raises beef for local sale that is grass fed, may be fed a little grain.  Buy a half beef.  I will seem like a lot of money, but it's an annual purchase so in the long run you'll probably at least break even, could save money on your meat.  (half beef averages 400 lbs and around here sells for $2.50-$3.50 a lb check the prices of cuts in the store and you'antibiotics this is a good price)  The meat will not have all the hormones and anitbiotics.  

Answer 3

I have been eating organic and natural foods and using organic/natural beauty products for 8 years now.  From what I have heard/read, the first thing to go organic with is milk and dairy, as conventional milk/dairy now is injected with growth hormones and antibiotics.  I would start there and also do plenty of research on the web about organic products.  I would bet there is some type of organic website that has something to get your kids excited and on-board.  Lastly, read all of your food labels before you make the purchase and only buy stuff that is all natural.  If you read something in the label that you can't pronounce or don't recognize as edible put it back (or at least be aware that weird stuff is in there).

In my opinion, if it is a good organic product it should be superior in taste and quality than the conventional product.  Good luck!

Answer 4

There are certain foods that it would be wise to go organic on, and other foods where it isn't quite so necessary. So I'll just give a brief guide for what would be better to buy organic and what doesn't necessarily need to be organic.

Organic:

Anything grown out of the country:

Personally, I think anything grown out of the country should be avoided completely. Things like coffee (ESPECIALLY coffee) should be bought organic, as the regulations for growing in certain places (especially Central and South america) are much more lax than elsewhere.

Dairy Products:

Recently, it has come out that even though many people claim to be lactose intolerant, there are few people who actually are lactose intolerant. In reality, these people who seem to be allergic to dairy are actually allergic to the hormones and antibiotics injected in cattle.

Anything leafy or where the fruits of the plant are out in the open:

Lettuce, Cabbage, broccoli, beans, etc, all should be bought organic. The leaves of the lettuce/cabbage, beans, and broccoli are all left out in the open to be sprayed by pesticides, so many of them wind up getting pesticides on them that could be harmful to humans. Same with potatoes, fungicides have perfect access to things like potatoes

Things that don't need to be bought organic:

Mostly, anything with a thick skin. Most citrus fruits have skins so thick that pestides don't actually get through to the fruit, meaning that it isn't quite so necessary to find them.

Frankly, NOW is the time to be switching to organic. Supermarkets are starting to recognize that people want organic produce, and they're trying to find ways to cut the prices. At the supermarket where I shop in New York (Wegmans, which is found in most of the breadbasket states), cherries can be bought for 3.99 at the organic price, which is the SAME for the regular cherries!

Answer 5

well, im 13 and im completly open to organic foods, they don't taste any different from normal hormone injected foods that americans can't seem to resist. and yes there is organic hamburger meat, its called ground beef and you hav to look at the label when you are buying it so you know if it is USDA approved meats or other foods. USDA approved foods signafy that the product is organically grown. they are much healthier than normal food, but then again if all you are eating is hamburgers then i can see why you would want to transition to organics.

really its not up to your child what they eat, because in the end you are the parent, and they get used to it quickly. its all in the head, they don't want to try something different but once they actually do they will see that it actually isn't much different from regular foods (other than it is much healthier).

if your looking for a good organic grocery store Whole Foods is the way to go. they can get pricey but its well worth it. and keep in mind you dont hav to buy EVERYTHING organic for it to be healthy.

my dad is diabetic and his doctor told him to go on a strict diet and my dad is no longer diabetic, so here are some of the foods he told him to stay away from;

sugar is a definate no-no. but you can buy sugar-free candies and chocolate that tastes just the same.

bread and wheat is also something that should be avoided but not completly, wheat bread is a better alternative compared to white bread. but i don't think this one should apply to your kids since they are growing and do need wheat in their diet.

you should try to stay away from anything greasy, and if it is greasy it would be a safer bet to cook it at home instead of going to the nearest McDonald's.

you could snack on celery and fruits because these are healthy but you have to make sure they are organic.

also, fish should be included in you diet, and less red meat.

im no specialist or profeshional on foods or anything but i do have experience with organic foods. hope i helped! :]