What do you buy organic/hormone free/etc.?

ttara123 · 02-05-2007, 01:29 AM

I know some people only shop for organic produce and hormone-free meats, etc. I can't do that - it's way too expensive! But there are a few things I do make a special trip to Whole Foods or the organic section of my regular grocery store for, and I have to admit that I'm not sure how I decided what was worth the extra money.

Currently, I buy organic/hormone free:
-red meat
-whatever produce I can from the organic section of my normal grocery store (the selection changes every week)
-eggs
-yogurt

When I make a trip to Whole Foods, etc. for these products, I usually pick up other random things, too, just while I'm shopping. I'm not exactly sure how I decided to buy these certain items organically and not others. It definitely wasn't founded on any research. It was more like I just bought what I felt would be better without hormones, and didn't base my decision in any kind of logic or knowledge! I would definitely like to get organic milk, but it is just way too expensive where I shop.

Anyway, I'm just curious: What, if anything, do you buy organic? How did you decide to buy those products as opposed to others?

sinnie · 02-05-2007, 12:48 PM

I saw a study on the Today show, about organic foods and they show that they spoil a LOT faster and have a lot more bacteria in them that could cause GI infections and illness. I don't have a preference one way or the other though.

I stop at Super Target and they only carry frozen chicken breast (lean) that are organic. No problems there. But a lot of the fruit they carry that's organic spoils in just days.
I wouldn't buy them if I didn't have to. I hate shopping at Walmart and just go to Target because it's less stress, better selection, better prices, etc. I just hate the organic fruits they have due to the spoilage!

I've tried organic eggs and milk, no real difference there, but the milk I got did spoil a day before the date printed on the label... so I don't buy it anymore either.

ttara123 · 02-05-2007, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinnie

I've tried organic eggs and milk, no real difference there, but the milk I got did spoil a day before the date printed on the label... so I don't buy it anymore either.

I've definitely had milk spoil before the date printed on the label... I always thought that the date on the label was a "sell by" date. Since I usually get my milk about 2 weeks before the sell-by date, and my understanding was that you can use it for about 7-10 days, I've had milk go bad before the date printed.

I think a friend just told me that, though, so I don't know how true it is! That's what I've always gone by, though...

sinnie · 02-05-2007, 04:52 PM

Well, I frequently have milk go bad by the day printed. I think for milk that is the "use by" date however sometimes it will last 3-4 days after that date. Just depends I guess! I guess we can call it the "smell by" date and just smell it on that day, if it's rank, throw it out :-D

quizzicalxx · 02-05-2007, 06:01 PM

ttara123,

Here's a good article on what organics are worth the money:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13737389/

Hope this helps.

Deb

Ammaarah · 02-05-2007, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinnie

I saw a study on the Today show, about organic foods and they show that they spoil a LOT faster and have a lot more bacteria in them that could cause GI infections and illness. I don't have a preference one way or the other though.

I stop at Super Target and they only carry frozen chicken breast (lean) that are organic. No problems there. But a lot of the fruit they carry that's organic spoils in just days.
I wouldn't buy them if I didn't have to. I hate shopping at Walmart and just go to Target because it's less stress, better selection, better prices, etc. I just hate the organic fruits they have due to the spoilage!

I've tried organic eggs and milk, no real difference there, but the milk I got did spoil a day before the date printed on the label... so I don't buy it anymore either.

The Today show things sounds a little like anti-organic propaganda and I wonder if they based it off a study sponsored by conventional farm organizations. (I am a conspiracy theorist, LOL.) I do think organic stuff can spoil quicker sometimes, but I think it's maybe because it doesn't fly off the shelves as quickly as the conventional, cheaper stuff.

BTW, I read that it's not worth it to buy organic produce if the organic stuff is on sale right next to conventional produce, because the pesticides and crud from the conventional stuff get transferred onto the organic.

I buy organic milk and kefir at my co-op whenever possible. It's somewhat cheaper there, even cheaper than Super Target.

As for what veggies and fruit I buy organic, it's usually whatever's on special at the co-op or at the grocery store I go to that has a seperate organic cooler. This quote from the MSN article is also helpful:

Quote:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has found that even after you wash certain fruits and vegetables, they still contain much higher levels of pesticide residue than others. This includes apples, berries, grapes, spinach, and potatoes. On the other hand, that's not true for bananas, mangos, or corn.

Basically, I'm more comfortable with veggies and fruit with thicker peel that I remove. I would like to buy organic for everything with an edible peel but I don't yet!

Jes317 · 02-05-2007, 06:37 PM

I would love to be able to buy more, but currently these are the only things we can afford to buy organic.

Milk
Eggs
Bananas (simply because they taste better)

We also buy whatever we can on sale.

ttara123 · 02-05-2007, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quizzicalxx

ttara123,

Here's a good article on what organics are worth the money:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13737389/

Hope this helps.

Deb

thank you!

quizzicalxx · 02-05-2007, 07:57 PM

ttara123,

In re-reading my post, I realized that I gave you the article but didn't answer your question. Here's what I buy that's 100% organic/hormone free:

-- all meat
-- all fruits except bananas
-- all vegetables
-- yogurt

I'd estimate that I get 80% of my groceries at Whole Foods and the rest from a regular grocery store.

Deb

Wendy M. · 02-05-2007, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quizzicalxx

ttara123,

Here's a good article on what organics are worth the money:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13737389/

Hope this helps.

Deb

Thanks for posting that link. That article was very interesting to read.

sinnie · 02-05-2007, 09:30 PM

I was reminded, organic bananas ARE AWESOME! They taste SOOOO good. I haven't had a problem with them spoiling any faster then normal ones either.

KilikinaP · 02-05-2007, 10:12 PM

We buy as much as we can of organic food products because we like the quality of those foods better than non-organic foods. I think you can tell the difference. It does get expensive, but I think for us, it is worth it. The list provided in the article is interesting, but it surprises me that they don't emphasize buying meats organically. With PCOS, I would imagine the additional exposure to hormones from meats can't be healthy. And the article did suggest hormones in meat could increase antibacterial resistance. Why risk that?

Wendy M. · 02-05-2007, 10:49 PM

I have never bought Organic Fruits & Veggies but I have been reading alot lately about it. Do you ladies feel alot better when eating Organic Fruits & Veggies? and how much more is the cost for the Organic? I see they have some stuff right in my local grocery store but I never bought any or looked for prices.

02-05-2007, 10:55 PM

we buy organic milk and yogurt. we have never had it spoil too soon on us...plus, it only comes in half gallons here and especially with the whole milk for dd - she goes through it pretty fast.

i've tried organic grape tomatoes a few times and they were tastier, but i will have to try the bananas to see if i can tell a difference.

nicole

KilikinaP · 02-05-2007, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wendy M.

I have never bought Organic Fruits & Veggies but I have been reading alot lately about it. Do you ladies feel alot better when eating Organic Fruits & Veggies? and how much more is the cost for the Organic? I see they have some stuff right in my local grocery store but I never bought any or looked for prices.

I was skeptical at first that it would make a difference, but yes, I feel a lot better when I eat organic. And I can tell if something is NOT organic. You do pay quite a bit more for the organics. You need to figure out if it is worth paying 2-3 times more than usual for it, but I really feel for me, it does make a difference. We just cut back in other ways to make up the difference. The article does a good job of summarizing the "must have" organics, but even the stuff that isn't on the list tastes better in organic form, IMO.