Changing Life Habits

It's been a while since the last blog post! Probably because Emet and I have been very busy with work, settling into Denver, a trip to Atlanta for Thanksgiving, and other things.

Our big initiative that we've been working on since the beginning of December is a natural cleanse. We've made the decision to only buy organic foods, reduce the products and cleaners in our home that contain harmful chemicals, and overall try to live a cleaner life. It's not without its difficulties, of course. Cost is a major concern of ours, and this month, we are tracking all expenses related to this. We've been tracking expenses since we got married with Mint.com, and now we're just making sure that going clean won't break the bank!

You might have heard about the Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen. These are lists of produce that should be bought or avoided. While we are buying all organic produce, it's still very important to know about them. The Environmental Working Group ranks produce based on pesticide residue.

The following fruits and vegetables rank the highest for pesticide residue (Dirty Dozen):
1. Apples
2. Strawberries
3. Grapes
4. Celery
5. Peaches
6. Spinach
7. Sweet Bell Peppers
8. Nectarines - Imported
9. Cucumbers
10. Cherry Tomatoes
11. Snap Peas - Imported
12. Potatoes

Now, for the Clean 15 - those fruits and vegetables that retain the least amount of pesticides:
1. Avocados
2. Sweet Corn
3. Pineapples
4. Cabbage
5. Sweet Peas - frozen
6. Onions
7. Asparagus
8. Mangoes
9. Papayas
10. Kiwi
11. Eggplant
12. Grapefruit
13. Cantaloupe
14. Cauliflower
15. Sweet Potatoes

The Clean 15 have the fewest pesticide residue, which means that it's possible to buy non-organic if you are worried. However, we figure - how much are we really saving if we buy these non-organic? A few dollars? We want to make sure that we are eating the best choices for our bodies and that's worth more than a few dollars. The complete list is available over on EWG's website.

Reducing your intake of pesticides and chemicals is proven to promote a healthier outcome in the long run, and that's what we are hoping for. All the chemicals contribute to illnesses and allergies. These chemicals and pesticides are things that our ancestors didn't have to deal with, and they suffered from significantly lower incidences of allergies and illnesses.

I have suffered from allergies since childhood, and because food allergies have increased dramatically since then, I want to make sure that I don't develop any more allergies, many of which have come about as a result of the pesticides and chemicals present in our food.

Emet has reactions to oats and wheat, so we are trying to eat more frequently a Paleo-Vegetarian diet. Emet will sometimes have kosher meat, but not too often. (I'm not trying to convert her to my vegetarian diet, I promise!) We have cut back our intake of breads and pastas, and we are focusing more on vegetables and beans. We all know I have a problem with sugar, so that is something we are also working to eliminate. Instead, we're eating more fruits, which is great for the digestive system!

With all these changes, we are working to plan our meals better, which I've found very difficult. What if I don't want a salad for dinner? Planning to have variety is most important so we don't get bored with our food. The more variety, the happier the belly.

In the future, we are hoping to phase out unnatural sunscreens, lotions, shampoo and body wash, and cleaning supplies by making our own! I'll keep you posted!