Let's start out with a few basics that you can apply to your every day life to get started on a path to cleaner eating and living.
First, start buying organic. Years ago, I'd laugh at those "quacks" thinking there's no difference but price. Boy was I wrong. Sure, not all conventional produce is bad, there are a few things that are still "clean". But how do you tell? The Dirty Dozen. There is a naughty list for produce out there called the Dirty Dozen. Each year that list is updated with the most chemical, pesticide, and fertilizer laden produce that should be avoided at all costs unless it's organically grown. At the same time, there is also a Clean Fifteen list of conventionally grown produce that is typically much ower in chemical residue or those practices aren't normally used.
If you're not buying or using a lot of produce so that really doesn't apply to you, then start eating your damn veggies!!
Second, make switches with your dairy and meat products to organic and grass fed. Most "regular" grocery stores will have these products, however they'll be insanely expensive. Instead, opt for a local co-op grocery store, or even better, a local farm. Many times just by asking around with friends or at the co-op, you can find a local beef cattle farmer that will sell you a quarter or even half of beef. Same thing with chickens, pork, etc. With dairy products, almost every grocery store and co-op will have a full variety of cheeses, milk, yogurt, butter, cream, anything you need from a grass fed source. The reason in a nut shell? So many conventional, large scale dairy farm operations are consistently using hormones and antibiotics to keep their cows producing large quantities of milk for a higher profit. Where do you think those drugs end up? In the milk.
Don't keep all your eggs in a conventional basket. Organic, free range eggs are actually healthier for you than regular, cage raised, factory eggs. Free range eggs are lower in cholesterol and sodium, and tend to have higher levels of Vit A, Vit D, and omega-3 fatty acids. Did I mention that they're fresher, too? Ordinarily, the eggs at the store are up to two weeks old before you even purchase them. By the time they're collected, cleaned, inspected, packaged, shipped to, and unloaded in the grocery store, they're no longer fresh. Ideally, you should be able to find them from a local farm for anywhere from $3-$5 and even better, they could be as fresh as that morning.
Speaking of mornings, are you a coffee drinker? If you are, then you're going to want to switch to organically grown coffee ASAP. Did you know that coffee is one of the most chemically treated crops in the world? Up to 250 lbs of chemical fertilizers are sprayed on each acre of non-organic coffee. (Think of it this way: that's FIVE fifty pound bags of chemicals spread on land the size of an average house lot!). That is unbelievable! Those chemicals leave a reside in the beans that cannot be removed, and that gets brewed into your daily cup or two. Decaf is just as bad, or worse, as the decaffeination process usually uses chemicals that are known to be carcinogenic. Just like produce, organic coffee is more expensive, but it's definitely worth it when you think of the amount of chemicals that are sprayed on each single acre of those fields. Organic coffee can be found at almost every grocery store and co-op.
Already have these changes under your belt? Good! You are definitely on the right track to eating cleaner. Just getting started or still have a few things to work on? Start with one thing at a time. It's hard to change your lifestyle and it takes time. Don't overwhelm yourself and start with simple changes, I know that helps me to stick with it and it makes it much easier to make changes.
Stay tuned for my next set of steps to further your clean living.
That's all for now,
Katie
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