Vegetables

Vegetables work in much the same way as fruits. Tomatoes, while technically a fruit, are usually found in the vegetable isles and are important to buy organic because of their thin outer covering. The same applies for bell peppers, mushrooms, corn, green beans, cucumbers, and leafy greens. Vegetables like asparagus, avocado, broccoli and onions are fine to buy au-natural.

According to the theory above, asparagus and broccoli should not be on this list, as they do not have thick skin. There is a reason for this we will get to in just a second. Grains are also slightly different. While most grains do not have thick outer shells, they are not as important to buy organic because there are fewer pesticides used on that type of crop due to their delicate growing conditions, which is the same reason for the asparagus and broccoli. Not many pests bother these crops, therefore no pesticide needed.

Meat/Dairy

In the meat and dairy section, beware the term ‘Natural’ as it means absolutely nothing. ‘Natural’ is not an officially monitored term by the FDA and anyone is allowed to put it on their packaging without any repercussions. The only label to look for is ‘Certified Organic’ which has been approved by the FDA to mean the packaged food is, well, certified as organic.

Just remember that produce with thick outer shells or rinds are less important to buy as organic because the outer layer will be removed before eating. As with meat, just remember that there is no guideline to go with the ‘Natural’ designation – so look for the ‘Certified Organic’ label to be sure you are getting the best protein.