Do you know all of the items on the Dirty Dozen list? I don’t, and the list changes, based on the most recent studies. In 2010, celery topped the list. In 2009, peaches held the number one spot. In 2011, it’s been apples who have held the title of the most chemically contaminated produce. If you don’t already know, the Dirty Dozen (and the Clean 15) is a report that is published each year by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). They are a non-profit, focused on public health. They test produce for chemical and pesticide residue and then issue their list based on their findings.
Why am I publishing this now, when it’s almost time for the 2012 list to come out? Well, it’s because recently, I have heard the same comment over and over – “eating healthy is so expensive”. Well, let’s face it. Eating, period, is expensive nowadays. Food prices have continued to go up, while our paychecks have stayed the same, or in some unfortunate cases, have disappeared.
Well, there are a couple simple tips that I always tell people:
1. Buy organic varieties of the Dirty Dozen, and if you need to, buy commercial produce for everything else.
2. Spend your money in areas where you’ll get your biggest nutritional bang for your buck – grass-fed meats, pastured poultry and eggs, and grass-fed (raw if possible) dairy. These are the items that are worth spending the money on.
Check out one of my past posts for more tips on how to eat real food on a budget. You can also print out a pocketbook size version of the EWG’s Shopper Guide to keep handy when you’re buying your groceries.
For now, here’s 2011′s Dirty Dozen list, courtesy of the Healthy Times Blog.
Delicious Obsessions was founded by Jessica Espinoza in 2010. Jessica is passionate about real food, natural living, and more. She helps people see how to eat nourishing food, without breaking the bank. Her motto is "baby steps" -- making small, lasting changes, one at a time, is the best way to ensure long-term success. This website contains "affiliate links" where appropriate, on which, I may earn a small commission or referral fee on your purchase. This has no effect on your price. The monies earned help maintain and support this website's hosting, maintenance, and the development of free content. The content shared on this site is for informational and educational purposes only. Statements/products discussed have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease or illness. Please consult your own health care practitioner before making changes to your current diet or before beginning any herbal or vitamin supplement regimen or exercise program.
I’d be lost without the Dirty Dozen iPhone app.
[...] buying organic produce is not always necessary. There is a list of produce items, known as the Dirty Dozen. These items have the highest level of pesticide and chemical residues of all commercial produce, [...]