It's official. My family has become the latest victim of "green noise," that cacophony of conflicting environmental messages and concerns lobbed at consumers by marketers, environmental groups, and well-intentioned do-gooders. It's simply become impossible to decide which eco-friendly choice is the best.
Here's how it goes for me. I walk into a grocery store with a vague idea of what I need to get. I head to the produce section and meet with my first roadblock: which organics should I buy? The ol' grocery budget forces me to pick and choose. The organic bananas seem like a steal at 89 cents a pound--but I've read that the less expensive conventionally grown bananas have only minimal levels of pesticide residues, and if I'm worried about the environment, don't I need to consider that the bananas have racked up a considerable carbon footprint after being transported from South America? Hmm...peaches? The peaches are almost in season and at least were grown in the continental US. Easy decision 'til - good Lord! Who can afford organic peaches?!
And so it goes. Down in the cereal aisle I deliberate over organic Weetabix (I swear it's good with honey on top, and my kids love it), organic peanut butter puffs (but let's be honest, they're practically candy, even if it is sweetened with cane juice instead of corn derivatives), and organic Cheerios. I want to support the smaller companies that are working so hard to bring us more organic choices - and General Mills doesn't need my money as much as the little guy does - but the Cheerios are cheaper, and I want to support General Mills' organic line too, so the company will be inclined to make more of its products available organically. Egads.
The frozen meals are easy; my family loves Amy's products, they're organic, and they cost the same as any other frozen meals. But. If I'm being honest, I think it's probably more important to reduce the amount of processed foods we eat than to eat organically. Then again, am I really inclined to prepare a batch of cheese enchiladas with a side of corn and black beans? And if I were, would they taste good? Should grocery shopping be so hard? What is the meaning of life?
Some groups are trying to help confounded consumers like me weigh their priorities and make decisions. For example, the Natural Resources Defense Council launched Simple Steps, which helps consumers make choices based on their level of interest and commitment to specific environmental causes. And the Environmental Working Group (EWG) developed a list of produce--the Dirty Dozen and the Cleanest 12, based on pesticide residues--to help consumers get the most bang for their organic buck. And wouldn't you know it, there at the top of the list, the produce with the highest concentration of pesticides? Peaches.
Image: davitydave (Flickr)
If you want to add your family's health to your environmental concerns, I would strongly recommend to read " In defense of food" from Pollan.It might in fact simplify your quest.
Thanks for the book recommendation. I've just started The Omnivore's Dilemma by Pollan, and In Defense of Food is on my short list.
From what I know of Pollan, these books will strengthen my resolve to help my family eat healthfully - but I wonder if they’ll help me achieve the balance I’m looking for. My conviction to eat well must be balanced with my budget, my time, and all things practical. That’s why it’s so tricky.
I agree that it is a bit disconcerting at first.
On budget, what happened is that we swapped our food and health care budgets in the past 15 years. We spend in Heart desease, Cancer, diabetes and other treatments what we used to spend in food in the past.
A weekly visit to a market is not too unpleasant and I really prefer a chat with a farmer than a doctor...
Also interesting is David Servan-scheiber's Anticancer. It will be released in the US this fall and is a convincing doctor's take on the same subject.
He is giving practical advice on how to get what we need to be healthy on a budget.