The holidays are here, and for many of us, that means food, food, and more food. We are a fortunate bunch to be able to enjoy the holidays in abundance. I am always grateful that my family can participate in these holidays of plenty. I know that times are hard for many, and simply getting enough food may be a challenge. While I normally strive to feed my family as organically as possible, I know that it is sometimes difficult to find or afford organic foods. However, I just can't bend on keeping the most heavily sprayed foods away from my children's plates. For instance, if conventional (non-organic) strawberries are on sale for a great price, and there are no organic strawberries in sight, I am not willing to compromise my children's health just to save a little money. We simply skip the strawberries in this case. If you can keep your children's diets organic, that is wonderful. If you can only afford to purchase the "Dirty Dozen" organic, that will make a tremendous difference in the amount of pesticides you keep out of your children's diets. Pesticides can compromise our children's health even more than our own because their bodies are smaller and still developing. Not all produce have equal levels of pesticides, however. For instance, a non-organic avocado or banana is rather low in pesticides compared to the high pesticide levels found on non-organic (conventional) strawberries, bell peppers, and potatoes. The Environmental Working Group has a printable list of the "Dirty Dozen" and "Clean 15". Print up your copy for your holiday shopping trip, and keep pesticides off your plate.
By now, you have probably heard something about GMOs and the health issues they have been found to be linked to.
There is so much evidence that GMOs are dangerous to the health of humans, animals, and the environment. http://www.carighttoknow.org/ But with the upcoming election, we have a chance to change this. California voters can vote YES to Proposition 37 and get GMO foods labeled. If you don't live in California, you can still help by financially supporting this movement, with as little or as much as you can. With large corporations pouring money into opposing the passing of Prop 37, every dollar to get it passed helps. Learn more about Proposition 37 and/or donate here: https://prop37.nationbuilder.com/donate_to_know Let's get GMOs labeled and let companies know that as consumers, we want to know what we're eating and what we're feeding our children. In the meantime, you can take precautions by avoiding the most common GM foods, or only purchasing them when listed as organic. Cotton, papaya, soybeans, corn, canola, and cow's milk are some of the foods to be aware of. To avoid the genetically modified version, choose organic. For a Non-GMO Shoppers' Guide from the Center For Food Safety, click here: Non-GMO Shoppers' Guide. By: Jennifer Gloodt |
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Jennifer is a compassionate Plant-Based Lifestyle Coach and Holistic Doula. Jennifer's passionate interest in vibrant health and nutrition is the driving force behind The Avocado Mama.
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July 2014
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