Hello Everyone. Newbie with lots of questions

[michelle0708]

I am thinking about going organic, but haven't yet. I am not that educated about it. I saw a little blurb on TV about the chemicals that are put into our foods and thought ewww. Today I went to my local food store, Stop and Shop and noticed that they have their own brand of organic/natural foods. So I have been thinking about making the switch. I know this will raise my food bill and it's going to be hard to make that adjustment. If I know it's worth it, it will be a lot easier to give up that extra money. Can someone tell me exactly what the benefits are of eating organic? I need some education on the whole organic thing. Thank you!!!!! Michelle

[kristen.c]

Hi Michelle, welcome to OGD!

As a new organic shopper, we can definitely help soften the blow when it comes to the cost. When it comes to organic, being an informed consumer is definitely a plus so you can spend your money on the things that are most important to you.

One of the tips we have is to choose organic alternatives from the most polluted produce. There is a list called the dirty dozen, you can view some info about it here on the board. Something else you may want to check out is the Environmental Working Group website about organics: Environmental Working Group || foodnews.org There is a comprehensive list of conventional produce and information about how contaminated different things are with pesticides. It's a real eye-opener. That's a good place to start. There is a lot of information to absorb, so take it slow and don't hesitate to ask questions if you have any!

We're doing a chat event tonight from 9-11 pm EST so stop by if you're interested, you can meet some of the mods here and ask any questions you might have.

Again, welcome!

[mmandjsmom]

Welcome!

Ask as many questions as you can think of....I need the answers too. I just started moving towards healthier foods, like staying away from the the dirty dozen, a couple weeks ago.

Everyone on here is so friendly & helpful.

[OHeather]

Welcome to OGD!

The best advise I can give you without typing a book is to read. read, read all the threads here. There is a ton of information. Everyday you will learn something new and then try to incorporate that into your life/diet/etc. For me, it is a process of moving to 100% organic food, clothing, and more. But right now, that's just not feasible. Do what you can for your family, and you will see the payout as a healthier bunch of people.

[ocean_brez]

Welcome to our group! I agree with the rest in that reading is a must! The more you read, the more everything makes sense and somehow slips into place. My grocery bill did go up when I first started buying more organic/natural, but the trade off has been worth it and now that I have been at it for a little while, I am more savvy to the deals and know what is a good price and what is not.

A good idea is to start comparing your local stores organic/natural prices and to maybe keep a price list (journal or spreadsheet?) of who has what and for how much. HTH.

[Prizm99]

Welcome!! I'm sure you'll find out lots of information here! I see Kristen already linked you in the right direction.

[RedSoxRosie]

Welcome!!
Definitely browse the website as often as you can and you will find SO much to educate you!
Keep the questions coming because it can lead to information and also opinions from people who have experience.

[jujubee]

Welcome to Organic Grocery Deals!

[michelle0708]

Thank you to everyone with your great advice. I will start to read anything I can. This weekend will be my first official organic grocery shop. Hopefully, I will stay within some sort of budget.

[kristen.c]

Good luck! Start out small, focus on the dirty dozen, dairy, and meat (if you're not a vegetarian) and it should be a little less overwhelming.