The Dirty Dozen & The Clean 15

The Dirty Dozen & The Clean 15...sounds like a band, right? Nope.

You may have heard it before, to stay away from "The Dirty Dozen", but do you really know what that means? Maybe you haven't heard of it at all. Here's a basic breakdown of  what that even means, and why you should avoid them.

The dirty dozen is a list of 12 fruits and veggies that you should avoid at all costs if they're not organic. These evil 12 are the worst when it comes to pesticides and toxins, and we're not just talking about your backyard bottle of Round-up. These pesticides can leave a residue on your produce that doesn't always wash off, and can even be absorbed into the plant.

Here's the dirty line up:

*Apples
*Celery
*Cherry Tomatoes
*Cucumber
*Grapes
*Hot peppers
*Nectarines
*Peaches
*Potatoes
*Spinach
*Strawberries
*Sweet bell peppers
(Plus collards, kale, summer squash & zucchini get an dishonorable mention)


Now for the good news! Yay food good news on Fridays! There is also a list of "The Clean 15" which is produce that is safe to purchase conventionally. This doesn't mean that they don't use pesticide at all during the growing process, but it's a low residue and can typically be removed with washing.

**One of the best ways to wash your produce to ensure that you're removing as much as possible is to soak it in a water and vinegar mixture. Mix 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water either in a large bowl or in your clean kitchen sink. Let the produce soak for a couple of minutes, then rinse and dry. If you'd rather wash them before you eat them, you can mix the same ratio in a spray bottle, wash, and rinse.

Here's a list of the Clean 15:

-Asparagus
-Avocado
-Cabbage
-Cantaloupe
-Corn (beware of GMO's here)
-Eggplant
-Grapefruit
-Kiwi
-Mangoes
-Mushrooms
-Onions
-Papayas
-Pineapples
-Frozen sweet peas
-Sweet potatoes

Naturally if you're trying to avoid any and all pesticides then you may prefer to buy all organic. But if you're trying to eat healthy and clean on a ramen noodles budget, then you can breathe a little easier and buy these items conventionally.

I also highly, highly recommend growing your own food even if it's only an herb garden or tomato tree. Also check out your local farmers market. Not only are most of the items there organic (even if they're not certified), but they're also locally grown and you can find a great variety there as well. If you're interested in canning or preserving your produce this is also a great option as most vendors will offer a better price when you buy in bulk, and may even have some "scratch & dent" victims for even less.

Of course I want to remind you to not get discouraged. Even if you can't buy organic, don't have an organic market near by or just plain don't care to buy organic, I have to agree that at least you're getting your fruits and veggies and you're trying. That's another step you're taking towards cleaner living and better health, so good job!