Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in cincinnati, OH

Considering Buying Organic Food? Start Here...

by Amy Mumper

April 13, 2009

First of all, I'd say that eating healthy and all that it entails is an investment.; like fees for sports, mommy and me classes and the like.  You're doing these things to reach a particular goal.  If you're going to start with organics I think you're best to consider it an investment.  So sticker shock is not your first reaction.  Just imagine the savings when you're not buying all that mass produced carby-sugary stuff. 

Now, I'm no expert.  I'm not even much of a cook.  But, recently I've tried to take our family in a new direction:  I'm starting with healthier snacks.  Biggs has organic produce on sale 5 for $10 and I didn't feel so bad about investing with that deal.  We bought celery, strawberries, broccoli and cauliflower (the produce offered with the deal does vary).  Another thing you need to know about me and my kids:  we LOVE sweets!!!  I try to be a good example (I really do!) but I think they inherited the "sweets" gene.  BUT, surprisingly, when I offered a carb and a fruit/veggie for snack, they totally went for it!  They ate so much cantaloupe and strawberries it made my head spin!  For carbs, I offered peanut butter on wheat bread or flipsides, or one granola bar.  If they wanted more, I'd offer more fruits and veggies or another food group (Stonyfield Farm yogurt smoothies or cheese).  With these new "rules", we've done a lot of talking about different food groups, variety and balance in your diet.  Another great place for cheap produce is Country Fresh Market on Springfield Pike in Hartwell.  It's a bit out of the way, but if you have any reason to already be over there, check it out!

I know that organic milk is a plus.  I worry about the hormones in regular milk (which my kids used to love on a  4x daily basis!)  Each of my kids are in the high percentiles for weight and height.  My husband and I are not.  So, maybe I'd feel better if I had started with organic milk.  I didn't and I'll always wonder about organic milk.

I guess the next step is using organic meats for meals - advice anyone?  You're one step ahead of me!