Organic Update

We have had many people ask us how the organic switch is going. So far, so good! We have been sticking with the new plan for the most part for almost 3 weeks now! We have even done fairly well considering we have had multiple family gatherings during that time. We must admit, however, that this organic way of life is not totally organic. We are merely trying to make better choices for ourselves and our family. In terms of organic, we are following the "dirty dozen" list:

The “Dirty Dozen”:
Must-buy organic foods

Fruit
Apples
Cherries
Grapes, imported (Chili)
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Raspberries
Strawberries

Vegetables
Bell peppers
Celery
Potatoes
Spinach

These produce items are the "dirtiest" in terms of pesticide exposure.

Besides produce items, we are also buying organic milk, butter, & eggs. We have gotten rid of our peanut butter and exchanged it for almond butter. One of the tips we received is to stay at the perimeter of the grocery store when shopping. This has really proven true for us. The whole foods are located around the perimeter. Truth be told... our grocery bill has increased... probably about 50%, however, we were also eating out 3-5 x's per week which has nearly stopped so it all probably evens itself out.

In terms of what we are eating... here is our menu of dinners for the last week:
Sizzling salads (teriyaki chicken on top of lettuce with fresh veggies, eggs, cheese and dressing)
Spaghetti & garlic bread(wheat or whole grain pasta with organic sauce, bruschetta bread with evoo and garlic)
Turkey salad in a pita (diced turkey with grapes, dried cranberries, almonds, cheese, and a little dressing)
Chili (with ground turkey)
Grilled chicken with steamed veggies
Pork chops with butternut squash (Ryan's first time eating squash... he loved it!)

I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that we are eating weird foods... it's really just about eating healthier and choosing whole foods instead of processed stuff. We aren't perfect and I am sure we are bound to fall off the wagon at some point, but for now we are going to stick with it!