Organic vs. natural: Tips for parents who want to go green

We’ve written in the past about consumers’ confusion over food labels like “organic” and “natural.” And, I would argue, the group that struggles with labels the most is parents: We want the best for our kids but may not have the time to pore over every ingredient or educate ourselves on whether organic is, in fact, always better.

I was happy, then, to see a recent WebMD feature on “green” parenting.  It contains a simple description of the terms “organic,” “natural” and “made with organic ingredients,” and it outlines the foods for which organic may be the best bet:

If you can’t see the extra cost to buy all organic fruits and vegetables, you can lower your child’s pesticide consumption by nearly 80% by avoiding the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables and eating the least contaminated produce, according to the Environmental Working Group. The EWG recommends the organic versions of the following produce items:

• Celery
• Peaches
• Strawberries
• Apples
• Blueberries
• Nectarines
• Bell Peppers
• Potatoes

Previously: People equate “organic” with “healthy,” risking poor food choices, “Organic” doesn’t necessarily mean “good for you” and “Natural” or not, chicken nuggets are high in fat, sodium
Photo by Yogue_style