Why I Choose to Eat All- Natural and Organic Foods as Opposed to Conventional Foods.
Nicole Rocke
Organic foods have been under this huge debate as to whether they are healthier or there are significant health benefits to eating them as to conventional foods. I believe that that topic alone is almost a personal opinion as to a scientific fact. All – natural foods seem to fall under this gray category that no one really pays attention to. I think you should eat what tastes best to you, if you prefer Kraft macaroni and cheese to Annie’s Natural’s organic macaroni and cheese then go for Kraft; to me they taste pretty much the same and I don’t believe the nutrition facts are that different from each other.
First let’s go over some basic definition about this subject:
• Organic- Foods that are produced under strict standards. Crops are grown without the use of conventional pesticides, artificial fertilizers, human waste or sewage sludge and are not genetically modified. The crops are then processed without the use of ionizing radiation or food additives. Animals are raised without the use of routine antibiotics or growth hormones and are fed an organic feed.
• All- Natural- Foods that do not contain any artificial ingredients and are minimally processed without using artificial methods such as chemical ripening, food irradiation or genetically modified organisms.
• Artificial Ingredients- refined. sugars, refined flours, hydrogenated oils, artificial sweeteners, artificial colors or artificial flavors.
• USDA Certified Organic- Produce must be grown under all the organic farming standards and must not of come in any contact with a conventional product and are unwaxed. Processed foods to be certified 100% Organic must contain a minimum of 95% organic ingredients (water and salt do not count). To be labeled with ‘Made with Organic Ingredients’ a minimum of 70% of ingredients must have been organically produced. Any non-organic ingredients must be all natural. Anything under 70% the ingredients may be listed as organic in the ingredient statement.
Now remember my opinions and views are based on my knowledge on the subject and my feelings toward this matter. I am also a chef so the quality that I can see and taste also come into play. I do not want to preach or push this lifestyle on anyone. I just hope to shed some light on this subject so that people can look differently at the food that they eat on a daily basis.
I used to work in the Prepared Foods department at Whole Foods Market. There I could create just about any dish I wanted out of what the store carried on its shelves. If you have ever been to a Whole Foods and saw all the items on the shelves you could only imagine the racing that my mind was going through on a daily basis. There I learned a lot about the quality and the difference of Organic foods to everything else. They are not an Organic grocer- they are an All-Natural grocer. They carry just about everything that you would see on a regular grocery store shelf. The exceptions would be margarine or other items with any artificial ingredients.
My fiancée is mildly lactose intolerant. Cheese on a burger is not going to affect him but a bowl of ice cream will. When I started bringing home natural milk and ice cream home he had very minimal to non-existent issues eating the bowl of ice cream he loves or the large glass of milk with cookies. If anyone out there is mildly lactose intolerant I suggest trying this- you may surprised.
Many dairy and meat products on store shelves come from animals pumped with rGBH, a bovine growth hormone. This hormone can be completely harmless to us but the fact of the matter is there are no long term studies, that I am aware of, to say what the affects may be. This is enough uncertainty for me to stick with the hormone free versions until more is learned.
Most conventionally raised animals are fed routine antibiotics to prevent them from getting sick yielding in a larger healthier stock of animals. As a child I used to get numerous sever ear infections and routinely had to change antibiotics, I believe this may have been from the antibiotic fed animals increasing my tolerance to antibiotics. Humanely raised, all-natural meats are raised without antibiotics and they taste so much better. The small amount of money more is so worth the extra flavor that you receive. Since I believe that meals should not be centered around the protein you may actually save money for a much better quality product.
Now I am a huge specialty cheese fan. There are many nights where I will make a meal out of crust breads, artesian cheeses and cured meats. If you can find raw milk or un-pasteurized milk cheeses you will be amazed at the flavor difference. They have this earthiness that you can’t get anywhere else. After trying raw milk cheeses and experiencing the flavor the pasteurized counterparts flavor is very flat. If you are pregnant or elderly be wary of these because it is an un-pasteurized product. If you have a healthy immune system there is absolutely nothing to worry about.
If you are lucky enough to have a local farm stand near you, you should be there all the time picking up the local produce that is unwaxed, and are usually organically or at least naturally farmed. If you don’t, try to buy what is in season. Chances are if you buy an apple in May it was picked last summer and put in a gas controlled room to inhibit the ripening process until it is going to market. To me this produces an inferior product, it is not as sweet, the flesh is too firm, skin is too thick and it is mealy and almost dry. Now if you live in a part of the country with very distinct growing seasons like I do here in New England, it doesn’t mean that you can’t have fresh produce year round. It just means that you can’t have local produce year round. If in May the apples come from California, which has almost any climate available they were probably picked fresh they were just trucked across the county before getting to the market. If your produce guy cannot tell you where the produce came from then find another market. If a store is not knowledgeable about the product it sells than it is not a store that you need to shop at.
The quality of all-natural and organic products seems to be better than conventional products. You can taste nuttiness from the flour in baked goods, sweetness in local produce, canned tomatoes seem fresher. Meats and fish have more flavor, cheeses and even wines and chocolates have more subtle flavors that shine though because that extra processing hasn’t killed them. A lot of people say that all-natural and organic product cost a lot more, which is what gave Whole Foods the nickname “Whole Paycheck”. There are some things that cost more, others are the same and some are even less.
Last week I made a run to my local regular supermarket to pick up some juice, many national brands are carried at both places. I was walking through the dairy aisle when I saw my favorite yogurt selling for 99¢. I buy the same yogurt at Whole Foods for 89¢! I may spend 50¢ more on my orange juice but I buy about 10 yogurts a shopping trip. Right there I saved 50¢. Where it will really hit your pocket book is in the meats and seafood. If you buy smaller portions for everyone and larger servings of vegetables or add a side salad on to the meal you will probably spent the same amount of money and you will get much better cuts of the protein. Most natural grocers with a meat and seafood counter will cut you meat however you would like it. While the pre-packaged may be more convenient, I would much rather talk to the butcher or monger, get to know them and they will hint you along to the best cuts for your money and help you with tips to prepare it. Definitely worth the extra time!
Well, this is why I choose to eat this way. There are some reasons why I see it better for me health wise but really it is the quality and selection that I adore. If you are not ready to venture to an all natural grocer look at your local store and read the labels. Many companies are excited to be an all natural product. Bring it home and compare it to you old standard. See what you like better, you never know.
