Organic foods - do you buy the hype?

sommerrayne · January 2011

So I go back and forth about organic foods and beverages. Most times I feel "YES YES YES" they're totally worth it and I completely buy into the benefits and justify the price difference because I view it as "superior".

Then there are other times where I don't really believe that some things can be as organic as they say. For example, processed foods - How do I know that all of the components are organic - like Blueberry Yogurt for example: How do I know the cows were fed a completely organic diet, not exposed to pesticides, or antibiotics. How do I know that the bulk tank used to store the milk wasn't used for NON-organic milk before? How do I know what chemicals they use to clean the truck tanks to transport the milk? What about the Blue berries? How do I know the soil wasn't treated with pesticides or herbicides (for weeds)? What about how they were processed and shipped?

So what about you? Are there foods you "believe" are more organic than other? Are there some foods you REFUSE to buy non-organic?

charmcitygirl · January 2011

I have a friend who worked for the USDA and now for Eli Lilly in their food division. He is the guru of organic versus non organic. He said that 99% of the things that we consider to be organic are not - for the reasons you listed along with creative marketing/packaging.

I don't buy into the organic hype. Not that I'm feeding him all processed foods. But we do not buy organic.

nicolita14w · January 2011

I don't buy the hype. This was actually going to be my "unpopular opinion" in last Friday's poll but I got distracted and couldn't post!

howleyshell · January 2011

We don't do 100% organic.

Instead we focus on the "dirty dozen" of fruits and veggies. (things where you eat the skins that are directly exposed to pesticides mostly. I see a big difference in an organic apple vs an organic banana.)

I've got HUGE issues with hormones in meat and dairy products. When we went thru our IF struggles I read some books that discussed hormone contents of modern meats vs. the good old days before we started pumping all of the animals we eat full of steroids.

You can see and taste the difference in non-steroid beef, chicken and milk IMO.

To answer your question: "Do I buy the hype?"

For some products, yes. For other's no.

dundasgirl · January 2011

I try and buy from a farm near us in the summer time. Other than that, I try to buy as local as possible.

I don't buy the hype with "organic" in the grocery stores because I know some background information from when I used to work.

We sold organic kitchen towels to bloomingdales and they cost a fortune because the cotton REALLY was organic.

I love the people who say that they make things on etsy out of organic polar fleece...hahahahahahaha.

sasa625 · January 2011

I try to buy organic dairy and meat products as much as possible, and some fruits/veggies. I do question how different they are from the non-organic foods, but it just makes me feel better

However, I don't think that I need to feed DD organic snack foods, bread, cereal, etc... I would rather look for the most natural, least-processed foods regardless of whether they are organic.

kimberic · January 2011

Thank you so much for this post!! We are starting to feed DDs table food here and there and I want to start making some of their food. I've been stressing for weeks about this whole organic foods thing...

The hormone stuff really freaks me out the most. I'll probably buy organic meats and milk when the time comes. I'm also looking forward to shopping at the farmer's market this summer.

laura1 · January 2011

sasa625:
I try to buy organic dairy and meat products as much as possible, and some fruits/veggies. I do question how different they are from the non-organic foods, but it just makes me feel better
However, I don't think that I need to feed DD organic snack foods, bread, cereal, etc... I would rather look for the most natural, least-processed foods regardless of whether they are organic.

Ditto this. I tend to buy organic milk for DS, and I have been buying Earth's best baby food for DD. Not really because I buy the hype, but because it makes me feel better. I also try to buy things that don't have tons of artificial colors/flavors/high fructose corn syrup, and buying stuff from the organic aisle at the grocery store makes that easier to find (cereal, graham crackers, etc).

GreenEyedGal · January 2011

The only things we buy organic are eggs, milk, yogurt and fruits/veggies that have thin skin. (Blueberries, grapes, apples, pears, potatoes, peaches...you get the idea.) I think buying organic processed foods kind of defeats the purpose, no?

jmkatz · January 2011

Ehh... I have mixed feelings when it comes to produce. I don't do 100% organic produce, but I have read up about the dirty dozen and try to keep that in mind when food shopping. I also like to buy produce from the farmer's market when it is in season, but I have no problem using frozen fruit in the dead of winter.

I do tend to be a little more freaked about hormones in dairy and meat products. DD hasn't had any meat yet (I don't eat a ton of meat, but we are planning on introducing it to her soon) but when she does, it will most definitely be free range organic. I also do organic milk, yogurt, and cheese.

ladychicago · January 2011

We focus on buying organic fruits and vegetables. I buy organic milk for us when the store I am at has it (we need lactose free milk, and finding the organic lactose free can be hard). For DD, I kind of insist that a dirty dozen food is organic, but I will buy regular produce if it is on the list of foods where organic is less important. When it comes to processed or preprepared foods, I definitely don't go out of my way to get organic. If it is an option, I might, but not because I believe it is actually organic. I just figure it has to be at least a little better than the non-organic!

GenRN45 · January 2011

WE also focus on the dirty dozen and organic dairy/meats.

As far as processed foods, etc... well, we don't eat them. We focus on all natural and don't eat preservatives (especially sodium benzoate), artificial flavors or food colorings.

GypsyEsq · January 2011

I don't buy the hype on organic foods b/c I try hard to buy from local farmers (in season) and for obvious reasons they are not organic producers yet I'm far more comfortable with their produce than what is commercially available. Ditty Howleyshell -- antibiotic, grass fed meat is amazingly delicious. So much flavor that it allows us to use and eat far less - which has its own health benefits. I'm trying hard to lose weight this year and revert to a more whole foods based diet. I feel better that way. But whether or not the items I'm eating or organic seems to make little difference as long as I'm eating foods as close to the way nature made them as possible.

emmyloustu · January 2011

jmkatz:
Ehh... I have mixed feelings when it comes to produce. I don't do 100% organic produce, but I have read up about the dirty dozen and try to keep that in mind when food shopping. I also like to buy produce from the farmer's market when it is in season, but I have no problem using frozen fruit in the dead of winter.
I do tend to be a little more freaked about hormones in dairy and meat products. I also do organic milk, yogurt, and cheese.

This!! We try to purchase only grass fed beef and free range poultry. Seeing FOOD, INC was really eyeopening for us.

firsttogo · January 2011

We have family who Dairy farm. They have part Organic, and mostly not! They say that the "antibiotic free" is all hype. I will get more info from her in the AM, but it is really interesting to hear it straight from the farm!

WhiteysWifey · January 2011

I don't buy into the organic.....that said, I do buy organic milk (even though I used to work for one of the largest organic milk producers in the US and KNOW that there is no difference between organic and non-organic...since they've gotten rid of the antibiotics and have RBST-free milk for regular milk).

I try to buy local/fresh and all-natural foods (at least meat) over regular stuff.

LuckyH · January 2011

howleyshell:

We don't do 100% organic.

Instead we focus on the "dirty dozen" of fruits and veggies. (things where you eat the skins that are directly exposed to pesticides mostly. I see a big difference in an organic apple vs an organic banana.)

I've got HUGE issues with hormones in meat and dairy products. When we went thru our IF struggles I read some books that discussed hormone contents of modern meats vs. the good old days before we started pumping all of the animals we eat full of steroids.

You can see and taste the difference in non-steroid beef, chicken and milk IMO.

To answer your question: "Do I buy the hype?"

For some products, yes. For other's no.

This is exactly how I feel about it. Especially for DD.

We buy half a cow from the butcher each year. It is grain fed and kept in humane conditions with no hormones. I do my best to get organic/hormone free chicken too, although that's not always available.

DD is a nut for strawberries, so I only buy those in organic because the skin is so thin. I don't want her to eat a ton of pesticides.

We're not crazy about it though and buy the majority of our food non-organic. I just try to limit DD's exposure when I can.

Want a personalized experience?

Organic foods - do you buy the hype?

Re: Organic foods - do you buy the hype?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards