Taking care of your body and eating healthy is the best investment you can make for your future. It is true that we are what we eat, and if we eat an abundance of pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, genetically modified, and artificial foods; we're just asking for health problems and suffering later in life. With rising healthcare costs, the money you saved early on from eating fast food will not even compare to the emotional toll on your body and dent in your bank account!
I know what you're thinking. How can a college student afford to eat healthy and organic? You're right. It's expensive, and even though it's the right choice, what do you do if you don't have the money right now? I'm excited to tell you about a few options and choices you can make to keep your grocery shopping costs to a minimum while still taking care of yourself!
When it comes to eating organic; there are a selected few that are incredibly high in pesticides that you should always purchase organic, or not at all. These items are known as 'The Dirty Dozen':
The Dirty Dozen - always purchase organic
Celery
Peaches
Strawberries
Apples
Domestic blueberries
Nectarines
Sweet bell peppers
Spinach, kale and collard greens
Cherries
Potatoes
Imported grapes
Lettuce
On the other side of things, we can count on 'The Clean 15' that contain little to no pesticides, and are okay to buy conventional.
The Clean 15- The outer layer provides protection from pesticides
Onions
Avocados
Sweet corn
Pineapples
Mango
Sweet peas
Asparagus
Kiwi fruit
Cabbage
Eggplant
Cantaloupe
Watermelon
Grapefruit
Sweet potatoes
Sweet onions
Better than buying organic is buying local. When buying local; you are supporting your local farmers, investing in the community, and reducing the environmental impact of congestion and pollution. Here are some Farmers Markets in the Full Sail area:
Also, check out Homegorwn Local Food Cooperative who's mission is "to ensure convenient access and consistent supply of locally grown foods that are ethical, organic and sustainable in production to the communities of Central Florida. Our mission is to support the production, promotion and distribution of these foods throughout our region. We also strive to educate the community about the products we sell (and choose not to sell). This is our contribution to a healthier, better informed community."
With all of these options, you can feel good about saving money and knowing you're making the right choices for your health!
If you have more to add to this list, please respond in the comments section so everyone can know where to buy more local and organic food. That way, we can make better choices together!
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