The Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit consumer advocate group, recently updated their rankings using recently released 2009 data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture pesticide tests. I think we all know that pesticides are not good for us, after all they are designed to kill things. But the question is really how bad are they? EWG suggests avoiding exposures that are a thousand times less than levels that are known to be toxic. A 2009 study let by EPA researcher Devon Payne-Sturges found that about 40% of U.S. children have levels of one type of pesticide well above this 1,000-fold margin of exposure.
Adults and children get exposed to pesticides primarily the the fruits and vegetables that we eat. It is important to remember that people should eat more fruits and vegetables, not less, regardless of the Dirty Dozen report. "The health benefits of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables outweigh the risks of pesticide exposure," EWG notes in a news release.
The EWG calculates that by choosing fruits and vegetables from the clean 15 list instead of the Dirty Dozen list, people can cut their pesticide exposure by 92%. No one is telling you to avoid apples or other pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables, but it is recommended to choose organic produce when eating items on the Dirty Dozen list. That won't totally cut pesticide exposure, but it could help.
Washing off Pesticides?
It can help to wash produce well before eating, however the depressing news is that most of the produce was carefully washed before the USDA/FDA tests.
The EWG rating system is based on a score given to each item in six categories:
- Percentage of samples with detectable pesticides
- Percentage of samples with two or more pesticides
- Average number of pesticides found in a single sample
- Maximum number of pesticides found in a single sample
- Total number of pesticides in the fruit or vegetable
Dirty Dozen: Produce with the Most Pesticides
- Apples
- Celery
- Strawberries
- Peaches
- Spinach
- Nectarines (imported)
- Grapes (imported)
- Sweet Bell Peppers
- Potatoes
- Blueberries (domestic)
- Lettuce
- Kale/Collard Greens
Clean 15: Produce with the Least Pesticides
- Onions
- Sweet Corn
- Pineapples
- Avocados
- Asparagus
- Sweet Peas
- Mangoes
- Eggplant
- Cantaloupe (domestic)
- Kiwi
- Cabbage
- Watermelon
- Sweet Potatoes
- Grapefruit
- Mushrooms
More Fruits and Veggies
Are you struggling with how to get more fruits and vegetables into your family's diet? Tired of boring steamed veggies and want to learn how to make them more flavorful and more appealing without making them unhealthy? As a mother, chef and healthy lifestyle consultant, I can help you get your family to eat more fruits, veggies, and whole grains. The issue is often both a power struggle and the affects of undesirable cooking and flavoring methods. I will hold your hand through both issues and help you make a sustainable transition to a healthier lifestyle. Contact me or visit my website for more information.
WHAT'S FOR DINNER?
How about breakfast for dinner? If you have never tried breakfast for dinner, then you might be surprised at how much fun it can be. Kids especially find it entertaining to eat breakfast for dinner - a special treat even if it is healthy breakfast food...
Servings: 11
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup white flour
4 T sugar
6 T baking powder
4 T flaxseed, ground
1/2 t salt
4 large eggs
3 cups skim milk
1/4 cup olive oil
3/4 cup fresh blueberries (optional)
Any extra waffles can be easily frozen and reheated in toaster or toaster oven for a great weekday breakfast. You might even consider making a batch of these and storing instead of buying frozen waffles at the grocery store. Store in a resealable freezer bag or air-tight container.
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