BusyBeeMama.com

Most of us are aware of the importance of eating healthy.  For my part, I try to eat a balanced diet, avoid fats and preservatives, and buy organic whenever possible.  However, until recently I gave very little thought to the packaging that my food was coming into contact with.  As I’ve done more research, I realized that a lot of the “food-safe” containers that we have in our house and use on a daily basis can actually be very harmful to our health.

Think about it: most food sold these days comes in plastic packaging.  When we cook the food, we put the leftovers into plastic plastic storage containers, which we later use to reheat them.  We use plastic to wrap sandwiches that we bring to work and school for lunch.  We drink water out of plastic water bottles and feed our babies from plastic bottles, bowls, and cups. 

While it is hard to dispute the convenience of all these plastic products, but the fact is, many of them contain potentially dangerous chemicals that can leach into food.  While little comprehensive research has been done on the long-term effects of plastics on our health, some of these chemicals have been linked to cancers and other types of health problems.  (For more information on the plastics and food, see this edition of The Green Guide.)

If your personal health concerns are not sufficient motivation to stop using plastics, also consider the impact of plastics on the environment:

• Plastics are made out of petroleum, which is a non-renewable resource.
• Manufacturing of plastics releases harmful chemicals into the environment.
• Not all plastic products are recyclable, which contributes to pollution and landfills.

The good news is, it is relatively easy to eliminate, or at least significantly reduce, the use of plastics in the kitchen.  Here are some of the things that I have done to limit the exposure of the foods we eat to plastics:

• I stopped using plastic containers to reheat leftovers.  Instead, I invested in a few microwave-safe glass and ceramic containers.  While these containers may be a bit more expensive, they are also more durable, and because most are also freezer- and oven-safe, they are more versatile.
• I didn’t want to throw out the old plastic containers, so now I use them to store non-food items.
• I buy a lot of food in bulk, which uses much less packaging than individual-size portions.
• I bring my own cloth bags to do grocery shopping.
• Whenever possible, I buy products that come in recyclable containers (such as paper, glass, or metal).

Related Articles:

• When to Buy Organic Food

We all know the value of eating healthy, and with the growing awareness of the dangers of pesticides in produce and wider availability of organic products, more and more people are considering organic options when choosing their food.  For the last couple of years, I also have been trying to incorporate organic into my diet whenever possible.  Now that I’m pregnant, my nutrition and the quality of food that I eat are even more important than ever.  However, I am also more cost-conscious as we now have all the baby-related expenses to worry about, and as we all know, organic food tends to be expensive.  While it’s impossible to put a price on healthy living, do we really know what exactly we are getting when we buy organic and when does it really matter?  To that end, I have put together the following facts and suggestions that take the guesswork out of choosing organic food and enable you to make smart choices when it comes to buying organic without going broke.

1. What does ”organic” mean?  According to Wikipedia:
   

   Organic foods are produced according to certain production standards. For crops, it means they were grown without the use of conventional pesticides, artificial fertilizers, human waste, or sewage sludge, and that they were processed without ionizing radiation or food additives. For animals, it means they were reared without the routine use of antibiotics and without the use of growth hormones. In most countries, organic produce must not be genetically modified.”

2. Not all “organic” food is created equal.  Just because something says “organic” on its packaging, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it meets the government regulations for organic food.  I’ve seen some products labeled “organic” where only one or two ingredients are organic, while the rest are conventional, so be careful when reading the label and make sure to read the list of ingredients.  The only way to really know that you are buying organic food is to look for label that says “certified organic”.  Each country has its own set of standards for the way food is grown and manufactured in order for it to have organic certification.  In the US, look for the “USDA Organic” seal that identifies products with at least 95% organic ingredients.
3. Some products are worth buying organic more than others.  When you think about buying produce, the main reason why you would want to buy organic is to minimize your exposure to pesticides.  The amount of pesticides used in commercial farming typically depends on the extent to which particular fruits and vegetables are prone to pests and parasites.  The more prone they are, the higher levels of pesticides will be present, and in those cases, buying organic would definitely be a wise option.  For the produce that tends to be lower in pesticides, buying organic is not as critical.  According to this guide, the following foods tend to be the most contaminated: apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, grapes (imported), nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red rasberries, spinach, strawberries.  The least contaminated foods are: asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cauliflower, corn, kiwi, mangos, onions, papaya, pineapples, peas.  Instead of memorizing this list, I recommend printing out this handy wallet guide for easy reference when grocery shopping.
4. Where to buy organic food.  It used to be that only specialty stores carried a wide assortment of organic products, but now most grocery stores offer many organic options and even entire sections dedicated to organic food.  Here are some of the options to consider:
   • Health-food stores such as Whole Foods are still the best source for organic food and products, but they tend to be very expensive.  I do like them for buying grains and spices in bulk, which tend to run significantly cheaper than the packaged ones. 
   • Other grocery stores can vary widely in their selection, but I would recommend Trader Joe’s because they offer many organic choices at very reasonable prices. 
   • Another option is your local farmers’ market, where you can find many fresh organic produce with the added benefit of supporting your local farmers. 
   • Finally, for non-perishable items, there are mail-order and online options.  One that I would recommend is Azure Standard, which offers a dizzying array of organic products at incredible prices. 

As you can see, buying organic doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing endeavor, and as a consumer you can make smart choices that will allow you and your family to eat healthy without breaking the bank.

Related Articles:

• The Dangers of Plastics and Food