Organic?? All Natural??

The grocery store shelves can be tricky. The snack aisle is like a land mine! You have to be careful what you buy!! The only way you can be sure what you are eating is to READ THE LABELS!

Advertising is a billion dollar industry for a reason! Cute pictures and the right "wording" can make you buy a product without putting a lot of thought into it. Organic food is all the craze right now. Organic products are wonderful and I highly reccomend them, but you still have to read the ingrediants.

ORGANIC:
When a product says it is "organic", make sure you see the USDA certified organic seal. Usually products are governed by two agencies that will certify it as organic. You also want to make sure the product is 100% organic, not just contain "some organic" ingredients. Again, read the ingredients.

Organic doesn't always mean healthy either. If there is something that is high fat that you normally don't eat, then you probably don't need the organic version either. Organics are great because they are chemical free, antibiotic free and artificial ingredient free. Those are huge reasons to look at these products! Especially with children. Their bodies can absorb the chemicals even quicker!!!

Items that you should consider buying organic:
*Fruits and vegetables (fresh or frozen) especially leafy veggies and fruits without a
rind
*Rices (absorbs a lot of pesticides)
*Meats and dairy (HUGE benefit-you and your child absorb the tons of antibiotics that the animals ingest)

ALL NATURAL:

Sometimes products are labeled "all natural" and not organic. I still consider these, once I read the ingredients. All natural should mean that artificial ingredients (ie: High fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated anything...) are not in there!

If there are any things on the box or bag that you can't pronounce or understand, chances are, you don't want to eat it. If it is peanut butter, the first ingredient should be peanuts and should only have one more ingredient (oil).

EXAMPLE:


OREOS!!
Check out the ingredients of Chocolate Oreos:

Sugar, flour, hydrogenated soybean oil, cocoa, high fructose corn syrup, whey, corn starch, baking soda, salt, soy lecithin, vanillin, chocolate

Organic Newman O's
Organic Unbleached Flour, Organic Sugar, Powdered Sugar, Organic Palm Oil, Canola Oil (Expeller Pressed), Organic Cocoa, Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Organic Unsweetened Chocolate, Natural Flavor, Salt, Sodium Bicarbonate, Soy Lecithin, (an Emulsifier)

Bottom Line: Always read labels and when in doubt--MAKE IT FROM SCRATCH. That is the only way you can know what is going in your body! You will feel so much better once you cut out the artificial stuff.

If you are concerned about the price: Shop store brands, clip coupons and sacrifice some things. It is cheaper to make chocolate chip cookies than to buy a box of cookies!!!