Green Tea
I have always been an avid drinker of green tea. Many studies tout the antioxidants and health benefits it has to offer.
I have been trying to find a brand of green tea that I enjoy. Surprisingly, this has been rather difficult.
I have tried out several different brands and so far the one I have like the most is a brand called Yogi. However, I am still not completely satisfied with this.
The problem is that I already have a favorite green tea, its just not organic. It has been really easy going organic, but giving up my favorite iced green Tazo tea may be the one thing I am not willing to sacrifice.
Better than Organic?
A lot of times as a college student I find my self browsing around on the internet trying to avoid homework.
While doing this on Monday, I came across an article stating that locally grown food is better than organic food.
Alachua County has plenty of farmers markets. I decided to visit one and see what I could find.
I came across an abundance of produce, so I was determined to make a salad out of what I could find.
There is definitely a taste quality difference between commercially farmed, organic and locally grown produce.
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Organic Reminded Me to Recycle
Many people who go organic look for other ways to purify their life. They seek out alternate ways to do something that are good for the environment and them.
In the spirit of eating organic and healthy, I decided to start a recycling system in my apartment which my roommates took to surprisingly well.
The apartment complex we live in makes it relatively easy, since they provide us with separate bins for each kind of recyclable.
We collect our cans, bottles and glasses in a laundry basket on the patio and take turns taking it out when it gets full.
This was a change I was really proud of because I hated the fact that we were throwing away recyclables, since recycling is something I did at my parents house.
Certified Organic
Anybody can claim that they have and sell organic products. That doesn’t mean that it is true.
The United States Department of Agriculture defines how a product is classified as organic and that classification is guaranteed with a seal.
Organic farmers are required to follow rules set by the USDA in terms of how to maintain their soil, how produce must be grown and the treatment and wellness of their livestock.
Breaking these rules can result in a fine and the certification being denied.
When you go grocery shopping, ensure that you are checking labels correctly. Identifying a product as a USDA certified organic product confirms that you are indeed eating organic.
From Scratch
I am known for being a very good baker. It is something I inherited from my mother.
Apple pie is the dessert I make that I take extreme pride in. I have been wanting to try out an organic recipe but had not been able to find the time.
After a stressful day on Friday, I went to the store and bought all the organic ingredients the recipe warrants.
The pie was absolutely delicious. I was successfully able to impress myself with an organic apple pie.
No Excuses
As I continue this journey of eating organically, I’m slowly realizing that leading a healthier life style adds up. So I went on a hunt to find ways to minimize my spending while maximizing my purchase.
There is one key factor to food shopping and that is learning how to budget and plan. Know how much you want to spend and what you want to buy. This limits the amount of extra goodies jumping into the shopping cart as you walk down the isle.
The simplest way to save is to home cook your meals. Eating out and prepackaged dinners are the fastest way to watch your money dwindle.
In Gainesville, local organic stores are much more likely to offer coupons and deals in order to keep up with its competition. Make sure to keep and eye out and take advantage of this.
Shop in season to get the best value on produce that is available. Varying your diet and trying new food is a great money saver.
Admittedly it is a little pricey to lead a organic lifestyle. However, the benefits you obtain from it far outweigh the cost.
What’s a GMO?
The organic food industry throws around a lot of terms that are difficult to understand, especially for someone new to the lifestyle.
Browsing through articles and doing research on organic food, I have come across the term “GMO” countless times.
A GMO is a genetically modified organism. Essentially this means that you take the gene of one organism and insert it into another.
Many are concerned with GMOs because of their unpredictability when it comes to peoples reactions with allergens. Groups argue that the public should know when their food contains GMO’s and fight that they should be labeled so.
I do not care to be eating anything that has been modified. When I chow down on a strawberry, I want it to be entirely strawberry and not enhanced with chemicals and extra genes.
The food we consume should come from the ground and not a lab.
Check, Please!
One of the food pleasures I have been missing out on since striving for an organic lifestyle is eating out. There’s something enjoyable about sitting down and having your food brought to you, as well as not being responsible for the cleanup accompanied with cooking.
So I grabbed my roommate and we headed to this restaurant called The Jones Eastside on a recommendation from a friend.
The menu boasts a slew of organic and fresh entrees, as well as organic juices.
The food was absolutely spectacular. I ordered a caprese panini and a cup of tomato soup.
There was nothing strange or intimidating about the menu. I really enjoyed that they made organic food more appealing.
I am definitely inspired by what they had to offer and will try recreating some of their menu items!
Struggles of the Organic Variety
There is nothing more frustrating than trying to obtain a goal you set for yourself and struggling while doing so. However, the struggles are what make it worth your while when you do reach your goal.
So far the biggest struggle on my quest to go organic has been the food shopping.
Publix has done a great job at trying to incorporate organic items into its’ food isles. That said, you really can’t do a complete shopping trip there. It’s best for when you need to pick up an item or 2 that you forgot.
So what I did, with the help of the internet, was research some local stores that sell nearly everything organic.
The 2 stores I have been using are Earth Origins Market and Ward’s Supermarket.
Both stores offer deals and coupons to offset some of the pricing due to the food being organic. This is something I really appreciate, because it is more motivation to lead a healthier lifestyle when it is comparable to eating food loaded with preservatives.
These stores have definitely been a great tool I’ve been using in my new dietary change.
Why Eat Organic
As I get older, I have been wanting to change my lifestyle habits. Eating healthier and working out 30 minutes at least 3 times a week have been the two biggest changes I am trying to make. The biggest change in my diet has been to switch to organic foods.
But why go organic?
My reasons to go organic are varied, but the biggest one is because it is just better for you. There’s no pesticides or hormones injected into the product, your produce wasn’t genetically modified in a science lab and the nutrients retained through organic growing is significantly more than commercially farmed foods.
Hopefully I will be able to convince you to change to leading an organic food lifestyle, as you follow me on my journey to maintain my own organic diet.
