What Is the Consensus on Organic Foods?

From a recent magazine:
"The Dirty Dozen: These earn the distinction as the most contaminated by pesticides; buy organic when possible! Peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, lettuce, grapes, pears, spinach and potatoes."

We buy as much as we can (including milk, meat, poultry) from farmer's markets/vendors. Much more affordable than grocery store prices!

They are a waste of $ IMO. The foods are washed and scrubbed very well when being prepared as baby food. Some foods are rejected by the companies based on the soil that they are grown in, they contain e-coli or other bacterum based on location. There are regulatory boards for food and drugs. There are acceptable and unacceptable levels for all foods.
And if you are buying baby food, you didn't buy local. If you didn't buy local, then you had to have it shipped in. Having it shipped in increases that carbon foot print of the item you are consuming....plus the plastic containers have a recycle #6 or 7 at the bottom....still not recycled in many markets because its needs a higher processing. And it costs a bunch to recycle a number that high. So it would be put in a landfill any way because they don't/can't recycle a number that high around here.

Point???? We all do the best we can. There is no right or wrong answer on this, only personal preference. I'm not spending extra cash on baby food. I spend it on my diaper service :)

Here's a helpful link to the "Dirty Dozen" AND some foods that aren't as likely to be exposed to pesticides and hormones. Basically, the order they suggest is buy organic butter first (b/c the bad stuff is concentrated in fat, which butter mostly is), then meat, then the "dirt dozen" fruits and veggies, and then the rest.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/0...

We've fed 95% organic (except my milk, lol) for the first year. I really think the first 3 years is the most important, since kids absorb more environmental contaminates during that time. Buying local is another option for people who can't afford organic (like WIC, which doesn't cover organics). Local farmer's markets are a great source of locally grown produce, which have up to 40% fewer pesticides.

Yes, it sucks that the cost is higher, but I look at it that I am making an investment in my son's health and the health of the planet he is inheriting.

It sounds like you are doing a great job at doing the best for your baby. I think it is always better to buy organic when you can. I find it almost impossible to buy organic all the time....Lets face it, sometimes you hanker for a strawberry and the only ones you can find were grown in California and not organic.... I compromise and I have found a recipie for a pesticide-b-gone so to speak. It is a mixture of vinegar(1 cup), Water (1cup), and 20 drops of grapefruit seed extract. I make it and pour it in a spray bottle. I spary this on my fruits and vegetables that I buy which are not organic. Wait 5-10 minutes and rinse. This does help to rinse off some of the chemicals and pesticides. Of course, organic is best, but that is what I do when I cant buy organic. Best of luck.

Hi S.,

I would say it is probably best to give your daughter organic foods whenever possible. Here is a great site where you can learn more about making her environment safter: http://www.healthychild.org.

J.

A Mother's Boutique
Maternity & Breastfeeding clothing, Nursing Bras, Breast Pumps, Slings and Accessories.
MamaSource members save 10% off their first order (excluding breastpumps) with coupon MAMASOURCE
http://www.mothersboutique.com

I too am all for organic food when possible,especially milk and fruits.However,I encourage you all to have a look at what else you are using in your home.If you are using regular cleaning and laundry products,bath and body items etc from the store,you may also be poisoning your children and yourselves.If you truly want to make a difference for your family,you need to look at what you use on a daily basis,anything that comes in contact with your family.
Check out www.concernedmoms.com
Go to my website for more information on a healthier place to shop as well.
www.SwitchStoresForHealthyLiving.com

Hi S., I buy organic for 2 reasons: it's healthier for me and my family, and it can be healthier for the environment.

Some foods, like apples and strawberries and peppers, have such thin skins that pesticides seep right into them--thus you are just eating straight pesticides.

Other foods, like broccoli or bananas, have such thick skins, that the pesticides can't penetrate.

This link lists food by pesticide concentration and is really helpful: http://www.foodnews.org/fulldataset.php

However, there are other things to think about. I know that one of the local apple growers is not rated organic, but they really do work at being sustainable (using the least amount of pesticides), and I tend to buy their apples to support local farmers.

And as far as bananas go, the pesticides used on banana plantations render the workers sterile. They've tried to sue in this country and haven't been all that successful. My huub had cancer and we had to do IVF and it cost us a fortune, but we have our son. I know that the thousands of workers who've been sterilised on banana plantations can't afford to do that. So, I can't in good conscience buy non-organic bananas knowing the human cost contained in them.

Check out http://www.panna.org/ for more on what pesticides really do. Understanding how they work really cahnged my mind about organic, and unless I am supporting a small local farmer, i go with organic.

Lastly, my dad was raised on a farm long before the EPA was around, and he and half of the kids in his highschool have all come down with some type of lymphomatic cancer in their 70's and they all think it was the pesticides.

Thanks for listening. R.

Hello,
My daughter, now 15 months, was given only organic formula, baby food, and now whole milk and meat. We try to give her as much organic fruits and vegetables as possible. We know this decision is very costly, but we feel that it is worth the cost. Organic food has no added growth hormones, insecticides, and pesticides. We question that if a cow is given hormones to bulk up and produce more milk and meat then perhaps that is what is causing girls to develop faster. The industry uses the word persistent to describe the pesticides and insecticides because they linger in the body for a long time. Why would we want to put anything "unnatural" in our little ones? The only reason any of those products are allowed to be used is to grow bigger and more fruits and vegetables and to breed bigger cows that can produce more milk and larger cuts of meat. The only people who are benefiting from non organic is the companies making all the money. I wish you well in your decision. As a side note there is an organic farmers market in Emmaus on Main Street. It is open thru Thanksgiving on Sunday from 10-2. All local growers.
Take care, T.

I struggled with the same dilema. What I did as I need to balance health with my check book. (Organic is more expensive). I always buy Milk, cheese & yogurt organic. I believe that is what little ones consume the most of, & was fear for of hormones in them. Veggies when they are avail in season. The rest of the list I don't worry about as much. I try to buy what I can, when I can. My daughter did eat Earth's Best foods when she was a baby. Good luck.

Hi S.,

I fed both my girls organic foods most of the time, and mixed in some all natural, no additive foods. I also did the organic rice. I continue with mostly organic foods today and they are 6 and 2. I believe that organic is best, but if you buy local, conventional and wash the food well it is also good. If your child has a mixture it will still give a solid foundation for good health. Some children with major allergy issues have to choose all-organic elements in their diets, but otherwise I wouldn't stress over the decision if you choose conventional sometimes. Also, I recommend buying fresh, organic squash, and banana and pureeing it yourself. Make a batch, then deposit into ice cube tray, seal well, and use the cubes to mix in with her rice cereal. Then you KNOW it's fresh and natural. Hint:when the cubes are frozen, you can pop them out and put into a freezer safe container or zipper bag. It's saves money, and makes less waster (all those cute jars).
Steer away from additives, that's my rule.When she's older, and ready for peanut butter, buy one that includes: Peanuts. That's it! Another Hint: I recommend getting the book "Super Baby Food" by Ruth Yaron. It has so much nutritional info and how-to info on how to feed baby with the best healthy foods. Even if you don't have time to make ALL of your babies food, you can pick up excellent info and try to make some of it.
Enjoy your baby!

Good for you. I wish I had been better informed when my children were growing up as I now know, years later, that it would have benefited in decreasing, if not eliminate, my son's emotional/behaviorial issues. My kids are now in their 20's and now how much better they feel when they eat organically. There are so many choices at Whole Foods and similar stores that it can still be easily incorporated into our busy lifestyles. The old saying is true, "You are what you eat." So keep in mind, if you are not happy with what you are seeing (physically, emotionally or behaviorally), take a moment and review your child's diet to see if it could be a contributing factor that would be easily corrected. Best of luck to you. L. N., RN(Avenues 2 Wellness, LLC)

first of all if you really want to be healthy buy a food processor and make her food. the processed baby food you buy in the store has a lot of preservatives, when it is made. it is also a lot cheaper. i would not go too crazy about the organic thing. my son is 14 months old and has eaten a variety of foods both organic and non organic and he is doing well.watch how much sugar she consumes when you feed her juice,buy the baby juice it is lower in sugar. also watch out for that when you give her applesauce. i buy the no sugar added kind.

I struggled when my kids were small. I made their baby foods by purchasing fresh fruits, veggies and meats and pureeing them myself. There are some great websites with recipes. I purchased some organic, some not. There are some great references on the web that state which ones are really better to buy organic and which are still pretty safe with washing. The most important thing is to make healthy food choices overall. Some things are still made really well although don't contain the label organic. I know an orchard near me will tell you that they follow the guidelines to be organic, but don't go throught he process to get the actual certification, their food is delicious. Wait until they see the other kids eating fruit snacks and candy, those will be much harder days!

HI S.,
I actually work in the organic industry and have a pretty hefty job of overseeing the natural/organic division of a distributor. So, probably know more about organic food than most people. I have a 16-mo old at home and I can share what I do.

Yes, we feed our daughter primarily organic, but not always. We make sure her dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt) is all organic or hormone-free. Eggs are organic or from a local farm. Veggies and fruit are organic when it makes sense. For example, we always buy organic frozen fruits and veggies (not that expensive) but may deviate when fresh because sometimes its not available or cost prohibitive. I am also a big fan of buying local, so often I buy local over organic (esp when buying direct from the farm) but you may find me picking up a conventional NY state apple in a ShopRite. Grocery items are easy to purchase organic, so her cookies/crackers/cereals/breads etc are almost always organic.

The thing is that as your daughter gets older, you will have her in other situations where you will drive yourself nuts trying to control her diet. While I am firm about not giving my daughter "junk" foods with sugar, salt, preservatives, and colors at this young age(aka cake and cheese doodles), we still need to feed her at restaurants and celebrations where the food may not be organic. My mother-in-law may give her a non-organic pretzel (she knows to rub the salt off) and my mother gave her some rotisserie Perdue chicken for dinner. I let them, knowing it will create tension if I try to control everything, and I don't want to be an obessive role model for my child. Yes, my daughter has had a few bites of cheese cake, ice cream, and pound cake in her life, and she loved every little bite of it. Eventually she will go to school where children eat things other than what I feed her at home, so I need to learn to learn to relax now as while she will eat mostly organic/healthy at home, she will learn to eat the "junk" in moderation.

I hope this answers your question.

Give organic whenever it's an option. Mix in regular foods when it's not an option. The most important thing is for your baby to get all the proteins and nutrients and veggies possible (when she's older-around one year). If they aren't always organic it won't hurt...sticking to organic where we live would leave the baby food options very limited as far as jars/cereals and variety is important. You can also grind your own veggies, then you have more organic options.

S., I am all for organic. It does cost more, but it does not make a very big difference overall.
Since your baby is only 5 months, I would say to give her organic only. Instead of getting the Gerber jars, get some organic fruits and/or vegetables, cook them and puree them. It will probably end up cheaper and much better for your baby.

There is a really helpful article in the last issue of Parenting Magazine, for October. It gives the most important or "dirty dozen" items that you should reaaly aim to use only organic. You can get it online at their website. It opened my eyes a bunch. It is more important to give infants organic as their systems are more sensitive and change only after 3. Gooid luck with your decision.

We couldn't afford to buy all organic food for our son, but I just bought my own regular fruits and veggies and made babyfood myself. I think it's the additives and preservatives that are bad and making his food myself at least gave me the control of what I put into his food.

Organic is about the way the produce/fruits were grown, Without pesticides and other chemicals.
Of course it is the best, esp. for kids with a growing body and developing brain. Pesiticides and herbicides are linked to all kind of cancers and illnesses.
They have found very high concerate of pesticides in baby food, you can read studies about that fact.
There are some veggies/fruits that are OK even if non-organic. You can find a list of them online, just put Dirty dozen fruits and veggies in the search, it should come up.
We are an organic/all natural family as 90% of the time. Do your reseach and try to buy local, organic produce as much as possible. Ask the farmers at the market to see if they spray their crops or not. Sometimes they do not but they can not sell their produce as organic bc it would e a lot of paperwork and certification that costs a lot.
Organic milk and meat are the same way, the animals are fed with organic hay and grains and they receive no antibiotics and hormones. Also, they should be free ranged.
Good luck.
I.

Whenever you can keep your family from pesticides, chemicals, extra hormones, you are protecting them and their nervous system. Wash the vegies, especially be careful about what you are using, spraying and washing with at home. It is crazy to be all organic and spray lysol and bleach around. Not everyone can grow their own food and process at home for baby, but if you look around at local farmers it may be easier than you think to buy organic locally and inexpensively, and use Gerber when you are out and about. Then you have the best of both.

S.,
This is an issue that I have stressed over for some time. I prefer to buy organic food for my family, but with sometimes it is not financially feasible. I ensure that buy dairy products that are organic. I try to buy fresh fruit and veggies that are grown locally.

My 4-year old has behavior and sleep problems whenever he is exposed to foods with red dye so there are a lot of things that he cannot have, including some cake, muffin and pancake mixes. I have grown accustomed to making most foods from scratch so that I know what is in them. It quite an effort, but you get used to it after a while. I hope this helps.

I chose an organic diet for my daughter due to the amount of pesticides used in commercial non-organic farming. Studies show that trace amounts of various pesticides appear in jarred baby food. Now, that may not bother some people, and the government allows for a certain amount of trace elements to appear in all of our foods, but I believe that it is important to start her out with as much natural food as possible so that the cumulative effect of trace carcinogens and other harmful substances that you mentioned remains relatively low over her lifetime. It's also important to me that commercial farmers practice treatments that are cleaner for the environment and so by buying organic, we encourage commercial farms to change past practices.

That being said, the price of jarred organic baby foods is outrageous in comparison, and I often had trouble finding them in the flavors I needed. My solution was to simply buy fresh organic produce for my daughter and cook and puree it myself. It was so easy and I was able to make some items for less then 5 cents per serving. Just steam, puree with a little water until smooth, and freeze individual servings in ice cube trays. Once frozen, you can transfer the cubes into freezer bags, or better yet vacuum seal them if you have a machine. It would take me less than an hour to make a month's worth of sweet potatoes. Organic bananas, avacados, and kiwis were just mashed with a fork and ready to eat. Easy. In a few months, she was old enough to eat chunkier foods so the cooking and pureeing process was only temporary. I was also able to expose her to fruits and veggies not available in jars, and at 13 months she is enjoying a wide variety of healthy, organic foods. I am well aware that in the years to come she will make her own choices, but at least I know I have given her a healthy start.

I'm sorry I got a little carried away there, this is a topic that is important to me and if you'd like to discuss it further, I'd be happy to get a message from you. Good luck, and know that your decision will be the right choice for your beautiful little girl.

Going all the way organic is a noble ambition, but many of us fall short. I did my own baby food, that way you know there is nothing in the food. Boiling carrots, broccoli etc is really easy, and then you just puree it in any type of food processor.
Mostly a lot of moms I know try to do organic as much as is reasonable for their incomes. Having done some research the most important food to have organic are milk, eggs, and meats. Just find the right balance for you and your family.
Good luck!

I stumbled with this one as we don't do a lot of processed foods in our house, but wonder if "organic" really is organic at times (esp. with produce). So I came to this happy mediumm for us - each "intro" was organic, each followup was whatever the rest of the house ate. In other words, she had organic apples, celery, strawberries, peaches, etc. the first 3-5 days she was on them, then no special shopping. I have been waffling on the milk thing due to cost, but so far, I do have her on organic milk and YoBaby organic yogurt (she's 18 mos. now) since those are her two biggest calorie sources in a day. But there are weeks I don't buy organic (like if I don't have a coupon!)! Don't beat yourself up - try your best, steer clear of added sugar, make some of her food if you can, and remember to enjoy it all:)

Ok i am not againt the whole orgainc thing. But have many of u truly read the labels? And what is the differnce u make the food your self? What about the shots that are given to you childern every mnth or every two mnth? Do u ever stop and think that they might have an evvect on the childs deflompent?

I had to do the soy milk thing with my first 2 when it came to potty training. And evey so offeten we will go to the whole food store, and p/u a thing of cookies. But i have stopped and read the ingedenits, and sometimes they have more stuff in them and them non-orgainc stuff.

S.,
If you can afford to feed entirely organic food to your baby, why not? If cost is an issue then be sure to scrub your produce to minimize pesticide exposure. Just buying local produce does not mean it is organic or pesticide free. I have been told that if you use organic milk, you are supporting an entire ecosystem of organic growth (the grain for the cows, the cows themselves, etc) so it is O. small change most of us can make!

Hi S., when my girls were little this really wasn't an issue. At this time I think that a happy balance between organic and "regular" foods is your best option. All in moderation seems to be the best corse of action for every aspect of life anymore! Good luck and best wishes!