Eating organically can make you look and feel better. GMO’s and pesticides have built themselves quite a home in our food supply, and chronic illnesses have seen an increase in the years since. Going organic allows you make sure what you’re putting in is exactly what nature intended. Not to mention, most people think organic tastes better too.
So which fruits and veggies should you focus on when buying organic? The Environmental Working Group has a guide to the “Dirty Dozen” and the “Clean 15” which lists the fruits and vegetables most — and least impacted by chemicals.
For the biggest nutritional impact, cook your organic fruits and veggies less or better yet, eat them raw. The nutritional boost with leave you glowing from the inside out.
Try the two easy summer recipes below that require no cooking to beat the summer heat and get you glowing, organically.
The Dirty Dozen
Strawberries
Spinach
Kale
Nectarines
Apples
Grapes
Peaches
Cherries
Pears
Tomatoes
Celery
Potatoes
The Clean 15
Avocados
Sweet Corn
Pineapples
Frozen Sweet Peas
Onions
Papayas
Eggplant
Asparagus
Kiwi
Cabbages
Cauliflower
Cantaloupe
Broccoli
Mushrooms
Honeydew Melon
Summer Watermelon and Feta Salad with Cucumber and Mint: Serves 2
Ingredients:
1/4 watermelon diced into bite-sized chunks
1/2 organic cucumber, diced into bite-sized chunks
2 ounces organic feta, crumbled
1 lime
1 Tbsp. Organic extra virgin olive oil
4-5 fresh organic mint leaves, chopped
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
Toss the watermelon and cucumber together in a large bowl. Sprinkle the cheese on top. Whisk olive oil, lime juice and black pepper, drizzle on top. Sprinkle the chopped mint leaves over the salad as a garnish.
Acai Morning Breakfast Bowl:
Ingredients:
1 packet of frozen organic acai berry
2 heaping handfuls of organic spinach
1 frozen banana
1/2 cup coconut milk, unsweetened
2 tablespoons of chia seeds (soaked for at least 20 minutes in some of the coconut milk)
dash of cinnamon
ice as needed to thicken
Directions:
Simply add all ingredients into your Vitamix or high-speed blender until thick and creamy. The texture should be very thick, if too thick then add more almond or coconut milk.
If you stick a spoon into the mixture the mixture should be able to be thick enough to stay on the spoon, if not add ice or more frozen bananas. Eat right after making!