Jess Ainscough - The Wellness Warrior


It's pretty safe to say that if it were a financially viable possibility, almost everyone would choose to eat organic food. Am I right? Thought so. You don't count, Colonel Sanders. For some of us, stocking our fridge and pantries with organics is already a top priority; while others find it difficult to justify the extra spend. If you fall into the latter category, you will probably yell obscenities in excitement over the news I'm about to share with you. The wonderful people at the Environmental Working Group (EWG) have created two lists, dividing common conventional foods into those that are heavily sprayed with chemicals (The Dirty Dozen) and those that receive minimal toxic sprays (The Clean 15). In other words; foods that you can get away with eating from the supermarket and foods that should only be eaten organic. According to EWG, you can lower your pesticide consumption by nearly four-fifths by avoiding the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables and instead eating the least contaminated produce, according to EWG calculations.

"We recommend that people eat healthy by eating more fruits and vegetables, whether conventional or organic," says Ken Cook, president and founder of Environmental Working Group. "But people don't want to eat pesticides with their produce if they don't have to. And with EWG's guide, they don't."

So, if you're not willing to commit to a 100% organic shop just yet, splurge on the items from the nasty side of the list and you can still pat yourself on the back for easing yourself into your new healthy lifestyle.

The Dirty Dozen (from worst to best)
1. Celery
2. Peaches
3. Strawberries
4. Apples
5. Blueberries
6. Nectarines
7. Capsicum
8. Spinach
9. Kale
10. Cherries
11. Potatoes
12. Grapes (Imported)

The Clean 15 (from best to worst)
1. Onions
2. Avocado
3. Sweet Corn
4. Pineapple
5. Mangos
6. Sweet Peas
7. Asparagus
8. Kiwi
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Cantaloupe
12. Watermelon
13. Grapefruit
14. Sweet Potato
15. Honeydew Melon 

Click here for a printable shopper's guide.

This info comes in handy when you're agonising over whether it's worth sacrificing pretty things for healthy things. However, if you are really keen to only feed your temple with clean, nutritious, sparkling food then it is a good idea to gradually build up the amount of foods you buy from the organic market. Even if a conventional item hasn't been heavily sprayed, it is not grown in organic soil and therefore is nutritionally impotent compared to its organic cousins. Click here to learn more about buying organic on a budget.

Positive affirmation for the day: Today I will release old habits of pessimism and cynicism, and choose to be grateful.